Experienced gamblers know that a great gaming experience is not just about rules, strategies, and victories—though those are certainly important. It is also about atmosphere and ambience. Therefore, the venue in which you play also has a great deal to do with your game. This is why many players still make the effort to go to gambling “capitals” like Las Vegas and Monte Carlo, despite the presence of nearer gambling establishments, in addition to gambling sites that you can visit without even leaving your residence. Here are some tips about decorating your own poker room, so that you can bring a little bit of Vegas into the games you play with your friends.
Firstly, resist the urge to go all-out in your decorations and place poker-themed fixtures or decorations everywhere. This could be garish and distracting, and even negatively affect players’ performance. Poker is an elegant game, and your decorating scheme should reflect this. (Of course, it is a different story if you are throwing a poker party. Feel free to go all-out.)
Also, focus on decorations that will make game play comfortable and efficient. For instance, make sure that all chairs are spacious, padded, and comfortable. Poker games can last for several hours, so players should be able to sit in chairs for that length of time without developing aching limbs. Furthermore, make sure that each player has enough space on the table. Your poker table should allow each player a space that is two feet long. This is not only for comfort, but to prevent any jostling that would disturb chips, and can ensure that players will not accidentally see one another’s cards. If you use some type of fan or air conditioner for ventilation, make sure that it is operated in such a way as not to disturb cards or chips. Facilitating game play should be your priority, rather than covering the room with splashy design elements.
You should also pay attention to the actual poker-playing equipment. For instance, clay chips and wooden chip racks add a touch of class to any game. It is believed that the weight of a clay chip, or the sound it makes against table surfaces or other chips, enhances the poker experience greatly. (For connoisseurs, at least. Beginners and philistines may not care much about the difference between clay chips and plastic ones.)
If you can, try decorating your room with well-placed poker memorabilia. If you have souvenirs from trips to famous poker competitions, try displaying them. Pictures of poker superstars can also be put up for viewing at Poker30.net. You can also make reference to poker fiction. After all, popular representations of poker do a lot to perpetuate the game’s mystique. In other words, framed posters of poker-related movies might make great decorations. You might try ordering posters online. Otherwise, if you are friends with someone who owns a movie sale/rental establishment, ask if they have any posters or memorabilia relating to any of your favorite poker movies. Small, quirky touches like poker-themed wall clocks can lend an elegant room a distinctive, quirky edge.
Once again, remember that in the best poker rooms, visual panache and functionality should go together. Eye-popping design is all very well, but your first priority should be the facilitation of game play itself.