Tips on starting a poker home game?

[assert]

I will be having 5 other guys over for our first poker party. It is impromptu. Everyone knows at leas two people, but no one knows everyone, except me. We will probably play hold 'em.

Any general tips, as well as specific tips on limit vs. no-limit
and amount of blinds. I would probably do .25 - .50 but we have some newbies.
You guys and gals all had some good comments. I like the idea of starting with some practice hands and maybe having a second table if we do a tourney. I think everyone is planning on losing no more than $20, so we will keep the blinds small.

[Blofeld]

Are you talking about a low stakes ring game or a tourney style game?

[roshey12]

:S baffled

[dodge]

like to divide up my chips to the number of players +2 so there is to "Buy backs". I usually put a limit on the time that buy backs will be available (ie:11pm).

The more chips you have, the longer the game will last.

denominations - 10, 20, 50, 100 or 500

Also have a couple of spare decks in case someone spills on one

Print out a copy of "Poker hands" so no-one can argue/misunderstand

I start blinds at 10/20 and double each time someone goes out

As roo said, have same buy-in amount

Thats about all I can think of right now
From a previous post
by fiddler

For more ideas use the search box at the top of forum page.
hope this helps

[Blofeld]

Here's something I use quite a lot for tourney style games, very easy to set up and use and totaly configurable. I wouldn't recommend the "suggested" blinds though.

http://www.thetournamentdirector.net/

[KendoUK]

When i play we use 100 200 500 1000, start blinds at 100/200 and set an alarm on phone every 20 mins to increase the blinds, if theres only 5 playing then i would do winner takes all, or if fiver a head could do first second 15 10, dont forget to have plenty of beer in

[decboieire]

i agree wit kendo he read my mind da style of play nd da BEER!!!

[malleusdei]

What kind of beer? Now that's a tough one.

[matty98789]

have a list of hands so there is no arguements of whos gt wat x