u/TeejTTS

One issue we’ve run into is that unlimited rebuys and bigger bankroll players can dominate the standings simply because they’re willing to put far more money into play over the course of a night. I’m less interested in rewarding pure profit and more interested in rewarding consistency, attendance, and strong finishes while still keeping the game fun/casual.

Curious how other home leagues handle this:
- Do you heavily reward single bullet wins?
- Penalize multiple rebuys?
- Use tournament-style scoring?
- Weight ROI over raw profit?
- Reward attendance separately?

Would love to hear structures that have actually worked long term in real home games.

Curious how other home poker games handle stake creep over time.

Our game has been running for about 8 years. It started as a pretty casual $50 buy-in game where losing $100-$150 felt like a rough night. Over time, unlimited rebuys + bigger stacks + looser play styles have pushed the game into a spot where $400-$500 swings are becoming normal, and it’s slowly pushing out some of the more casual players.
The tricky part is that the bigger action players are also core members of the group and help keep the game alive, so I’m trying to find a structure that keeps the game fun and social without turning every night into a massive bankroll swing.

Currently considering:
-$50 buy-in
-max 2 rebuys before break
-one optional add-on at 10:30 for everyone still playing (or anyone busted)
-no rebuys after that
-max exposure capped at $200

For those who host long-running home games:
How do you balance action players vs recreational players?
Have you found structures that keep games deep/fun without spiraling?
Did your game naturally split into different stake groups over time?