Full disclosure first: idea number one is our own book, so we are obviously not neutral about it. None of the other ideas have anything to do with us.

1. A book they will retell at the table

Most poker books are textbooks. The Ultimate Poker Book of Useless Facts is the opposite: 111 true stories about legendary hands, crazy bets, scandals and bad beats. Each chapter takes a few minutes to read and carries a label saying whether the story is documented, lore or disputed. Perfect for anyone who does not need another strategy guide. A taste: What are the odds of a royal flush?

2. Really good playing cards

Paper cards bend, stick and are worn out after a few nights. Plastic cards last far longer and can be wiped clean when a drink goes over at poker night. A gift that sits on the table at every home game.

3. A proper chip set

Anyone still playing with light plastic chips will appreciate a set of heavier chips. They sit better in the hand and sound the way poker is supposed to sound when you stack them. Make sure there are enough chips for the usual group and a case to keep them together.

4. Dealer button and card guard

Small things every player uses: a heavy dealer button and a card guard to protect their hole cards. Fun fact: the button is called the "buck" because a knife with a buckhorn handle used to be passed around the table, which is where "passing the buck" comes from. More of that in our useless poker facts.

5. A poker mat for the dining table

Not everyone has room for a poker table. A felt table top turns the dining table into a poker table in a minute and disappears back into the closet afterward.

6. A poker night as an experience

The most personal gift is a whole evening: invite the regular group, add snacks, drinks and a small trophy for the winner. Experiences instead of things work especially well for people who "have everything".

7. A tournament buy-in

For players who like to play live: cover the buy-in for a tournament at a local casino or card room. Casually find out beforehand which tournaments they would actually want to play. And remember that gambling is only for adults.

8. Poker art for the wall

A print of the famous "Dogs Playing Poker" is a classic for the game room. Hardly anyone knows it is not a single painting but a series: in 1903 an advertising printer commissioned sixteen paintings for cigar ads, and nine of them show dogs at a card table.

Which gift for whom?

  • Home game hosts: playing cards, a chip set, a poker mat
  • Tournament players: a buy-in, a card guard, a book for the breaks
  • Poker fans who prefer to watch: the book of 111 true stories, poker art
  • People who have everything: a poker night, or a story they have not heard yet