What to buy for a poker tournament

A poker tournament needs more than cards and chips. You will also need clear registration supplies, enough tableware, drinks, snacks and equipment to keep the tournament running on time. Buy or gather game materials before you set the blind schedule, and check quantities against your confirmed player list. This checklist covers the practical items people often remember too late, including chip storage, cooling space, printing supplies and power connections.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 48
Registration desk
Prize table

Game materials

Poker cardsqty 16
Poker chipsqty 2500
Dealer buttonsqty 6
Blind discsqty 12
Chip traysqty 6
Break cardsqty 50

Equipment

Tournament clock
Laptop
Printer
Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 4
Microphone
Speaker

Tableware

Glassesqty 60
Mugsqty 40
Platesqty 60
Cutlery setsqty 50

Kitchen

Coolersqty 3
Pitcherqty 3
Bottle openersqty 3
Serving traysqty 4
Snack traysqty 12
Coffee maker
Kettlesqty 2

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 8
Name badgesqty 50
Table number cardsqty 6
Prize table sign

Lighting

Table lampsqty 6

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Dustpan and brushqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Mints - 1 box
- Milk - 5 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Lemon - 4 pieces
- Spa Blue - 48 bottles
- Spa Rood - 24 small bottles
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Tonic - 6 bottles
- Beer - 48 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 12 bottles
- White wine - 4 bottles
- Red wine - 3 bottles
- Non-alcoholic wine - 2 bottles
- Ice cubes - 10 bags
- Sandwich rolls - 60 pieces
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilogram
- Back ham - 1 kilogram
- Chicken breast slices - 750 grams
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Cream cheese - 4 tubs
- Cucumber - 6 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Lettuce - 4 heads
- Butter - 500 grams
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Tortilla chips - 6 bags
- Salsa - 4 jars
- Salted peanuts - 3 bags
- Mixed nuts - 3 bags
- Olives - 4 jars
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Baby carrots - 2 kilogram
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Brownies - 40 pieces
- Sugar packets - 100 pieces
- Napkins - 250 pieces
- Paper cups - 100 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 1 roll
- Cling film - 1 roll
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 30 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 10 pieces

Tips

Prepare at least one complete deck of poker cards for every active table, plus one spare deck. Check the cards before guests arrive; marked, bent or incomplete decks can delay the first hand.
Sort poker chips into chip trays before setup and prepare enough chips for every starting stack. Keep blind discs, dealer buttons and break markers together so they are not searched for during play.
Plan tableware from the confirmed guest count: provide one glass or mug per person, plus extra drinking vessels for replacements. Buy or bring plates, cutlery and snack bowls before the food is put out.
Cool drinks several hours before registration opens, not just when setup starts. Provide coolers, pitchers and bottle openers at the serving area so players do not need to leave the tables repeatedly.
Print the participant list and tournament rules before the event day, and test the printer, laptop, tournament clock, microphone and speaker at least 60 minutes before the first registration.

Frequently asked questions

How many poker cards do I need for a tournament?: Plan one complete deck for each active poker table and keep at least one spare deck available. For example, four tables require four working decks plus one backup.
How many poker chips do I need per poker player?: Prepare the starting stack defined by your tournament format for every registered player, then add a small reserve for replacements. Sort the stacks before the event so registration does not become a bottleneck.
How much food and drink should I buy for a poker tournament?: For a three- to four-hour tournament, plan roughly two to three drinks per person for the first hour and one to two per person for each following hour. Buy snacks that can be eaten between hands and calculate plates, cutlery and glasses for every registered player plus about 10% extra.
When should I print the player list and tournament rules?: Print both documents after registrations close or no later than the day before the tournament. Keep a few blank copies available at the registration desk in case the player list or rules need a last-minute correction.

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