[Dwight87]

Is there a max number of seating for a single table of Holdem? I know you're restricted by the visablilty of cards but if you can fit 12, is there any documentation that says you shouldn't?

[FreckleDaddy]

The most I've heard of is 11 handed. But I don't think there is a hard rule that says that you can't seat 12. That's either gonna be one big table, or you're playing with some seriously skinny dudes. Just remember that the more people playing at a table, the better your starting hand requirements should be.

Fd

[Ranman]

Dwight,

Funny you should ask this. I had a test game Saturday night for a new league I am starting in January. It will have a 20 max (10/table). I was expecting 9 players but word spread and I ended up with 12. I would have had 13 but one player I thought was coming didn't show. I wasn't prepared for 12 and since the game was starting late I decided to do one table of 12. It was a tight fit but it worked. Luckly I built my new table full size (4' x 8'). We all got to know each other real well . Once players started dropping it was ok. I'll make sure to be ready for this next game by having both my tables and chips ready just in case.
There is nothing I have ever seen that says you can't do 12. It's just a matter of enough room. It made the game go a bit longer than expected but no one had any complaints.

[dad604]

You are only limited by number of cards in the deck and space at your table. 52 cards - 8(board and burn)= 44 divided by 2 equals 22 players max.

[whitepotatoe]

You should only have 10 players at once, 11 maximum. More players takes the skill out and the game, and it changes from texas holdem to wait for the nuts.

[tastic]

I prefer 9, 10 is max for me...but the local casino does 11 and I'm not a fan...no more than 10 in my home game...

[OnTheButton]

For ring games we max at 10 players to start. 84"x44" table, and the 10 poker chairs we have fit comfortably around it.

However on Saturday we had a single table pre-registered 10 player tournament and a good friend was in town for the weekend, so we squeezed in 11 by busting out a folding chair. It was a little tight at first, but since it was a tourney, there is inevitably one aggressive player (as there was in this game) that busts out (with the add-on) within the first hour, making room and getting the table back to 10 quite quickly.

11 was tight, 12 would not have fit, and 10 seems just right for the room around the table we use.

I would never do 11 players at a ring game, just because of the limited table real estate for chips and drinks, as well as elbow room.

[VARoadstter]

I have nothing new to add other than I would hold the line at 11. Even then I'm begging for the table to be broken.

[Fins]

Originally Posted by VARoadstter

I have nothing new to add other than I would hold the line at 11. Even then I'm begging for the table to be broken.

Just so you can say "MY TABLE goes to eleven"... like Nigel Tufnel's?

[R Deckard]

Originally Posted by whitepotatoe

You should only have 10 players at once, 11 maximum. More players takes the skill out and the game, and it changes from texas holdem to wait for the nuts.

I agree that more players means higher variance, but you get compensated by the bigger pots if you hit. I wouldn't say it takes the skill out of the game though--let just say it requires different skills and playing styles, of which "waiting for the nuts" is one valid option.

And with twelve players, it's even more likely that you're going to have a few folks who want to gambool it up and will either be the buster or bustee in the early rounds. So another option is just waiting it out a bit. Usually the crazy-lucky ones in the early rounds become a chip reservoir for you to draw upon in the later rounds when their luck runs out.