No pressure, but planning a great poker night party just might save your life.

Ok — that’s probably overstating it. But a poker night is a fun, electronic-device-free way to hang out with people. It’s a cool opportunity to turn acquaintances into new friends or to bond with lifelong pals as the game rolls on.

And since experts say strong friendships can help you live up to seven-and-a-half years longer, you now have a better reason than ever to host that party or regular game night you’ve been talking about.

Even better: With these poker party ideas, pulling it together is easy.

Preparing for the Poker and the Party

When you’re planning a poker night with friends, you’re actually organizing two things: a poker game and a get-together. Each has its own gear requirements.

To host a poker game, you’ll need:

Two decks of cards (one for the first hand, the second in reserve) and chips for wagering (you can get both in a ready-made poker set).

A table to play on. There are custom-made poker tables and table toppers designed for poker, but a regular dining or card table works fine too.

Eight poker players (aka guests). You can play with other numbers of people, but regular poker players say this size is great for an exciting, fast-moving event. So, get those invites out early!

To make that poker game a party, you’ll also need:

  • Easy-to-eat food that guests can enjoy without getting distracted from their cards. (Bonus points for setting the scene with on-theme napkins or paper plates.)
  • Beverages, whether you’re serving old-school Vegas cocktails or fresh fruit smoothies.
  • Music to keep the party vibe going (there are several poker night playlists to inspire you on Spotify).

Playing the Game

Your goal with a poker party is to host a fun, friendly event. So set the ground rules and expectations in advance to keep your guests on the same page.

As your RSVPs roll in, talk to people about things like:

  • Which game or games you’ll play: As you likely know, there are multiple “poker” games. Find out your crew’s favorites, and decide which games you’ll play at the party. After you’ve finalized your poker lineup, send guests a list of games you’ll play, and — if you’re feeling really helpful — offer links to info on how to play those games or the rules you’ll follow on game night (YouTube can be really helpful here).
  • Who you’re playing with: Card games are like tennis — the best matches are played between people of comparable skill. So, find out how poker-savvy your guests are, and if you see that some players are more much more skilled than others, pair people up so they have someone savvier to talk to if they fall behind.
  • What you’re playing for: Chips can represent money, but they certainly don’t have to. Decide if your poker games are for prizes or for money. And, whichever you choose, keep the stakes low. Make sure people know what the buy-ins and the limits are. And don’t accept money as the host for the game — it’s almost certainly illegal.
  • What the ground rules are: Talk to your guests about how you’d like them to behave to keep the atmosphere light and fun (you could even post the rules on a sign). Suggest high-flyers, sore losers, or other overly serious types leave the attitude at the door.

Now that you’ve set the stage, kick back and have some fun. You might just start a winning tradition with your friends.