If you and your poker buddies are tired of the kitchen table look, a folding poker table top might just be what you need. Playing Hold’em on a blanketed kitchen or dining table is like playing darts with the target drawn on a wall. The game just lacks something somehow.

Sure you could buy a felt poker layout and spread it out over the table making it a little better, but the creases where it folds drive me nuts and catch the cards when you try to deal, and forget about sliding chips across the table even if you have the corners taped down.

A poker table top adds a nice casino feel to your game and really does make it a lot more fun. You can pick from many designs and shapes, so your needs will dictate which top you should choose. I will cover the main things to consider before you make the purchase to be sure you are going to get out of it what you hoped for.

1. Size and shape: If you currently are playing on a kitchen or dining table that is either round or square, and around 48 inches plus/minus 8 inches, you would want to look at the octagon poker table tops. The rectangle shaped table tops should be used on similar shaped tables. Size does make a difference as well as the material the poker top is made of. Foam tops should not extend over the sides of your table more than a couple of inches. A wood top should be able to hang over the edge of the table up to six inches with no major issues. Why it matters is your chips could be disturbed when someone were to lean on the table or bump it. This can really irritate you.

Some have asked if a 3 foot card table would be ok to use, I would not do it. Due to the wobbly legs on most card tables, the large table tops would be to much for them.

If you just don’t have a table that is suitable to use, you could go with a poker table that already has legs like an octagon poker table instead. For people who have the room for it, a large folding poker table is even an option.

2. Materials: There are 2 basic materials used to make poker table tops. The less costly, lower weight foam tops. If your game moves to other houses often, the storage case and the fact that they weigh much less make is a great benefit. They can be folded nicely and weigh under 20 lbs making the very portable. Replacing these as wear out is one detriment when compared to the more enduring wood table tops. They are also a cheaper priced gift for someone who is really a poker nut.

Since they usually consist of about 1/2 inch plywood, the wood tables will last longer than foam. Many of the best features of genuine poker tables are also available on these like padded felt. Their heavier weight makes them much less vulnerable to being knocked over when you lean on it or leave the table.

Since it’s much easier to transport the foam tops I use them for games I host, and wood for ones hosted by buddies. I also have a folding poker table but that is another topic.

3. Features: Once you have determined what size, shape, and material your table top should be, the most fun part is to select the colors and designs. Some tops are designed to be used for more than poker, like roulette and craps layouts included with them. The foam tops do actually have more interesting choices even though they cost less. The poker tops on the top end have padded felt, cushioned armrest, and a plywood base just like the poker tables. The casino quality felt is more like what they use on actual tables.

The best wooden tops’ felt padding gives them a more realistic sound and feel. The chips have less bounce and a better more muted sound when they hit the pot. The cards slide better on the higher quality felt when you deal too. When your game seems to go on forever, the armrest becomes an important feature. If you can swing it you should look at the premium tops, even though they are not as portable as foam since they are much heavier.

I hope this article has provided you the information you need to select a folding poker table top that suits your needs whether as a gift or for yourself. I can assure you that you will never want to go back to playing on a blanket on the kitchen table once you play on one of these. Have a great poker party!

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