How to run a proper cash game? *Update* please check my rules page 2!

[Vince]

So we're going to run or very first cash homegame on thurday.

I don't have my cash set yet, but I will bring my faux in, they will work I think.

My fried said "We can use my dice" "nope, we can't" I replied.

5 denom, 100 chips each..

anyway, that's the problem.

How do you cash handle the cashing in and out?

You got a cashier? who provides the change?

I thought someone brings a cashier (at best a lockable one) and the guy with the table at whose house we run the game provides the change since he keeps it in the end.

And don't have a real clue how to run it properly.

[hod]

Different folks will have different ways of doing it. However, I would think that most will have one constant rule - one person and one person only is responsible for taking money, distributing chips, collecting chips and paying out money at the end. So if there's any screw ups...

[ontheuptick]

If you are the one supplying the chips, then you should probably be the one doing the cashing in and out.

[Vince]

Originally Posted by hod

Different folks will have different ways of doing it. However, I would think that most will have one constant rule - one person and one person only is responsible for taking money, distributing chips, collecting chips and paying out money at the end. So if there's any screw ups...

very good. Actually it's pretty obvious that I will provide the chips, right? I mean, as a chiptalker...


would it make sense that let's say every regular player provides liek $5 to make change for the cashier?
So the responsible person doesn't have to "pay" for the change alone.

[wafflestomper]

Agreed. The person in charge of the chips and money should be one of those OCD types. Almost annoying about it. Otherwise, you'll come up short. We actually came up $40 over once... Weird.

I often am the cash guy, and I know that if we come up short, I'm expected to make up the difference. It makes the person a lot more likely to do it correctly. One guy that has done it before brings around an old cigar box and just keeps it with him and the chip box right next to him as well. He had over $2000 in there and there were no issues at the end of the night...

[abby99]

Originally Posted by hod

Different folks will have different ways of doing it. However, I would think that most will have one constant rule - one person and one person only is responsible for taking money, distributing chips, collecting chips and paying out money at the end. So if there's any screw ups...

Ditto that. This duty, including providing the change bank, is usually handled by the host in the games around here. The exception is when a side game springs up as people bust out of a tournament, in which case one of the players assumes the banking responsibility.

Whenever chips and money are exchanged, both should be counted twice.

Although we don't use a locking cash box, both the cash and the chips are under the control of the banker.

[Felix]

Originally Posted by hod

Different folks will have different ways of doing it. However, I would think that most will have one constant rule - one person and one person only is responsible for taking money, distributing chips, collecting chips and paying out money at the end. So if there's any screw ups...

Thats how we do it, too.
If i host a cash game, The player who wants to get chips gives me the money.
I put it in a box and give the correct amount of chips to him.
If someone wants to cash out, he hands me his chips over and says how much they're worth in cash. I count them too and give him the cash and put the chips away to the other chips. They should be stored in a box.

You should always be careful that you don't get your own chips mixed up with the ones that you give out/take from another person while you are acting as the cashier!

[Felix]

Originally Posted by Vince

very good. Actually it's pretty obvious that I will provide the chips, right? I mean, as a chiptalker...


would it make sense that let's say every regular player provides liek $5 to make change for the cashier?
So the responsible person doesn't have to "pay" for the change alone.

Regarding the change, just tell your players to bring some coins and 5€ bills. Than there shouldn't be too big problems. My regulars mostly know that, but from time to time someone pops up with a 50€ bill and no change.
If we are short on coins and somebody wants to cash out the person can fill up his chips to a working amount.
If he has got 19.70€ in Chips and there is only a 20€ bill in the pot, he just adds 30c in coins to the chips he giving back and gets the 20€ bill. The extra 30c go into the pot and everything is fine.

[MasterBrewer]

Originally Posted by hod

one person and one person only is responsible for taking money, distributing chips, collecting chips and paying out money at the end.

This is absolutely a MUST in my opinion. If you are going to be the one taking responsibility for the bank, you must make sure that only you are the one with access to the money/chips.

Also, the idea to count/recount every outgoing/incoming stack is very good as well. Just because someone tells you they have $381 in chips doesn't make it true. People can easily miscount (accidentally or purposely).

As far as providing the change goes... if I know I'm going to be the bank at a poker game I might make a quick trip to the bank or grocery store and get a bunch of 1 and 5 dollar bills prior to the game. This way you don't have to depend on anyone else to bring change.

[whataboutj]

I agree with everything already stated:

• 1 person handles the banker duties - takes cash, gives chips, cashes people out
• Usually the host but if the host but doesnt need to be
• both the player and banker should count the chips & cash when cashing in and out

As for change -- just treat it like a cash drawer in a retail store. Bring a certain amount in change (coins, $1,$5, etc) and know how much you start with. Probably $30-$50 is sufficient (obviously the numbers change based on the buy in for your game). After you are done cashing out count down your "drawer". As long as you have the amount you started with you are golden like grahams