Show Me Whatcha Got – Home Game Resources

There are several reasons to form and play a home poker league: camaraderie, something fun to do or to win some coin are just a few.  Aside from these aspects one founding idea for our home league was to improve our players’ games.  If our games become great so will our poker bankrolls – at least that’s the theory.  Hence, an additional aspect of play in the CPL is player improvement.

That leads us to today’s Home Game Resource Tip.  In our league we implemented what we call the “Missouri Chip”.   As we all know (okay, maybe not more than 10% of the population outside of Missouri) is that the Missouri state nickname is “The Show Me State”.

What does that have to do with poker, you ask?   Implementing a Missouri Chip gives you an opportunity, once per match, to force an opponent to show his/her cards.  Most players hate to show their cards and will often go so far as to try and wait for a caller to show down first so they can muck their losing hand (if need be).  The Missouri Chip forces an occasional show.

For leagues that are dedicated to player improvement as a goal the Missouri Chip is an innovative way to add an educational element to the game.  No, not teaching trivia to your members about all 50 state nicknames, but allowing a player to learn just what forces them to fold.  Did they get the pants bluffed off of them? Did they make the lay down of the century?  Does Tina really go all in during the first level any time she’s dealt 8/3 off suit on the button and she’s first in? The Missouri Chip gives players a chance to learn a little something about playing styles, difficult situations and their “reading” ability.   A player winning the hand also benefits from needing to monitor the times a Missouri Chip is used against him/her so that they can adjust their game in future similar situations.

Obviously, each league needs to create their own rules for usage of such a device.  For our league, it’s one chip per person per match. You may only use your chip immediately prior to (or with) your fold. If more than one other opponent is still in the hand (say a bet from Tom and a raise from Jane) and you fold you must designate which player’s cards to see (for example, “I’m going to use my Missouri Chip on Jane and fold.”).  Finally, if a player doesn’t use their chip and gets knocked out the unused Missouri Chip goes to the player winning the hand – giving that player a little bonus on top of knocking someone out. There are a few more minor rules regarding the chip but this gives you a starting idea for your home poker league.

Use the Missouri Chip in your league to add an extra element of learning for your players and improve everyone’s game.

Be sure to check out our latest podcast – Episode 75 – covering Minnesota Bar Poker updates, Listener Mail, CPL Casino Review (Aria Las Vegas), plus the CPL Minnesota Music Segment features The Khakis!  Minnesota’s ONLY poker podcast.