Cards: Standard
Anglo-American playing cards are used. In home games it is common to have
two decks with distinct backs, and to shuffle the unused deck while each hand
is in progress. Casinos typically change decks after 15 minutes of use as they
become soiled. Have extra decks on hand to replace soiled, marked or bent
cards as necessary. High-quality plastic cards last much longer than paper
ones, especially for such games as
stud poker, where players often bend up the corners of cards lying on the
table rather than holding the cards in their hands.
Chips: Currency is difficult
to handle, so most poker games are played with chips, which
are coin-shaped tokens of uniform size and weight, often made of clay or other
similarly-textured heavy material allowing them to be easily stacked and
unstacked. Inexpensive lightweight plastic chips are sold in many places, but
these are nearly as difficult to use as currency. Different colors of chips
are usually used to represent different amounts of money.
Table: It is convenient if
every player (a typical poker game will have 2 to 10) can reach the center of
the table where the pot is built, so tables are generally
circular or only slighlty oblong. It helps if the table is padded with a soft
material that makes it easy to pick up cards, coins, and chips. Many tables
sold as "poker tables" for home use have hard surfaces that are less
convenient than a simple circular dining table with a soft blanket and
tablecloth, and so are often not worth the price.
Lammers: Miscellaneous plastic
tokens with text markings are handy for various uses. In a typical home game
only one is used to mark the current dealer as the deal rotates (in which case
it is called a button or buck). In a casino
they are used to remind players of which game variant is being played, who
owes blinds or house commissions, and other uses.
Cut card: Not generally used
in home games, but universal in casinos and recommended. This is a thick
plastic card the same size and shape of a playing card upon which the deck is
placed before being picked up for the deal. This prevents any accidental
exposure of the bottom card of the deck during the deal.
