The key to a good game, of course, is a friendly, fair game that people will want to keep coming back to on a regular basis. This section shows you some key considerations for establishing a fair and fun game. A good home game has rules established well before the game begins to avoid any controversy. Try to follow the rules that normally apply in card clubs and casinos so as to not confuse people who play in both. Your rules should encompass answers to at least the following questions:

Is checkraising allowed?

How will antes be put up? By each player or only by the dealer?

What is the best low hand? (The great majority of card clubs say that A-2-3-4-5 is the best low, even though it's a straight.)

If you play a high-low game, how will the parties declare their hand? (Chips in the hand is the most common method.) V In a high-low game, if one person goes both ways, what happens if he ties one way?

Who splits the pot if a player going both ways wins only one way? V What constitutes a misdeal?

What happens if there is a misdeal?

If the pot is split up between two players, who gets any odd chip?

Think about putting your rules on paper. Memories fade as to what was agreed upon, so it's helpful to bring out the rules in the event of any controversy. Dealer's choice Many home games involve a variety of poker games, but dealer's choice is usually the deciding factor on the actual game to be played. That is, the dealer can choose the game she wishes to play for that hand or for a round.

The dealer may also designate any special rules such as:

Whether there will be a high-low split.

Whether the betting will increase in certain instances.

Whether there is a wild card.

Whether there is a bet or not after there is a "declare" of low or high in split games.

Of course, the dealer's decisions should be reasonable. You can't have a situation where the rules unduly favor the dealer.

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