Creating a Poker Club with PokerStars Home Games

PokerStars recently announced a new feature they are beta testing, PokerStars Home Games. The Home Games feature allows you to create your own Online Poker Club to set up private games for only the players you wish to invite.

You can create your own ring games as well as tournaments. Just like with a real poker club members earn points based on how well they do in tournaments. These points are tracked in the club lobby.

Right now it looks like it's only available in the play money client but from what I hear and the way things appear to be set up, it looks like it will eventually be available for real money too.

Setting up Your Own Poker Club

It's pretty straight forward, first thing is log into the PokerStars.net client and click on the Home Games tab on the right.

Underneat the Home Games logo are two buttons, click the one that says Create A Poker Club.

This will bring up the following window that will allow you to give your club it's name and specify the invitation code that people you invite will use to join your club. Don't forget to agree to the Terms and Conditions then click the Create Club button.

You'll be able to change the invitation code later but the name you assign to your club seems to be permanent so give it some thought before deciding on it.

Once you're club is created you'll be presented with a message that lets you know what your club id number is. That's it, you're pretty much done creating a club.

Now send the club id number and invitation code to your family and friends to sign up.

Creating Club Tables and Tournaments

Now that you have your club you'll want to create some tables for your club members to play at.

Double click on your club in the Home Games lobby to bring up your Club lobby if it's not already open and click on the Manage Games Tab. You should see a screen like the one on the right.

You have the option of creating ring games or tournaments. 

Ring games are pretty simple. Click on the Create a Table... this will bring up a window that allows you to choose the options for your ring game.

You can choose from all the different types of tables PokerStars supports including Hold'em, Omaha, 8-game and more. Then choose if the game is no-limit, fixed limit or pot limit (if applicable), the number of seats at the table and the currency (only play money available right now). Then select the stakes from the list on the lower half of the window as shown below:

Creating Club Tournaments is just as easy and you have a lot of different options available. You control the date the tournament will start, the type of game, the buy-in, the payout structure, blind intervals, starting stacks and even if it's a knockout, rebuy, shootout or regular tournament. There's also an option to have the tournament count towards the club leaderboard.

When you create a ring game table or tournament your members will receive an email letting them know that a new game has been set up, unless they disabled email alerts.

It looks like a fun new feature and might be even better once it's available for more than just play money.