Friday nights are the best since your poker buddies are coming over and you are going to finish them off on your poker match. Get that poker table ready. Get the popcorn.  Get some food ready. Ready the beer. Better make your provisions in large quantities as this poker game might stretch onto the next day.

But wait, the poker table can't be found. Somebody might have borrowed it and not yet returned it? Maybe call up the neighbor and ask him to return the poker table now? Or ask one of your poker buddies to bring his poker table with him? Is there still time left? How about making an improvised poker table with that banquet table folded up in the garage? That is a great idea!

Better get your tools and materials ready because we are transforming that old, run-down banquet table into a semi-professional poker table for that big event.

Poker tables are mostly rectangular that are 30 inches high and 40 - 42 inches wide. Poker table lengths vary ranging from 84 inches to 110 inches. Most poker tables are 28 - 29 inches high. If there is a full table, remember that it is difficult for a player seated at the opposite end to be the dealer since the player at the other is too far away and the chips would also be difficult to maneuver into the pot. Thus it is but logical to make a dedicated dealer or a dealer player to be seated in the middle of the poker table.  For these reasons a dedicated dealer, or dealer/player, usually sits in the middle of a rectangular poker table.

When transforming that banquet table into a poker table, allot, at the least, two feet of floor space between each player. If you have a minimum three foot wide table, the seating dimensions should be seven feet width by ten feet length. Knowing the floor space requirement of each player, you would have an idea of how many players the poker table can accommodate.

BUt if your poker buddies insist, they can squeeze into that poker table anytime. However, we must make sure that the poker table can withstand the abuse it would be easily getting. If the banquet table you are transforming into a poker table is very much scarred, try adding a sheet of plywood to level the table. Then put on the padding and felt.  These materials can be bought in your local department store just go to the linen/tablecloth section.

The padding and felt are taped, tacked or stapled underneath the table top. The padding is supposed to make it easier to lift the cards from the table while the plastic guards the table from spills.  You can also make a portable poker table top. Just by a sheet of plywood with the following dimensions: four feet by eight feet. Staple the padding and the felt and you're ready to bet your Franklins away. The portable poker table is easy to maintain since you can keep in the basement or in the garage. Just make sure to guard it against moisture and heat as the wood may warp. When you are ready to play, just place the portable poker table top onto the dining table and it's time to play.

Poker tables are not that difficult to make nor to maintain. Although proper care and use can extend their usable life longer.