| Over the past fifteen years poker has become very | | | | a downstairs bathroom, a comfortable sofa or a |
| popular. It has moved from a back room casino | | | | couple of recliners, a background music system with |
| game into the homes of many who invite their | | | | wall mounted speakers and of course a top notch |
| friends over once a week or twice a month for a | | | | poker table with comfortable seating. |
| poker party. As with many leisure pursuits, some | | | | Cold beer is a staple of boys' night out. It is tough to |
| people are content with the temporary set up; a | | | | constantly run upstairs for a cold one so, a man cave |
| card table in the living room, a fresh stock of cold | | | | refrigerator is definitely a necessity. The large, $3000 |
| adult beverages and plenty of pretzels, chips, dip and | | | | Refrigi-Kelvinator is not necessary. The ultimate man |
| cheese doodles. On the other hand, there are the | | | | cave only needs one large enough to keep the beer |
| die-hards. These are the guys who have that innate | | | | cold. Just remember, no girley colors! |
| need to have and be the best. No wimpy, portable | | | | Near the refrigerator should be a bar and wet sink. In |
| set-up will be satisfactory. These guys turn the | | | | the past these would normally be built-in but recently |
| basement into a Man Cave! During boys night out in | | | | portable wet bars have become available at very |
| the basement there will be grunting, growling, | | | | reasonable prices Check in the various recreation |
| scratching, drinking, eating, cursing and snarling all in | | | | room furnishing stores in your area to find one the |
| the name of good clean fun. | | | | fits your space requirements. |
| Today's Man Cave is not the dark, dank place that | | | | In every poker game one or two guys will get |
| the name implies. Most men of means will remodel | | | | knocked out or simply want to take a break. In |
| and supply the basement with the best they can | | | | these instances you'll need comfortable furniture |
| afford. It's their place, the secret hide out. No girl's | | | | away from the table. A couple of recliners and a sofa |
| allowed! With the rise in the popularity of poker | | | | where guys can sit, relax and brag to each other |
| parties many man caves have become the ultimate | | | | about what would have happened if they'd have |
| poker room. It's the place where men gather to | | | | drawn the right card. |
| wager money on cards and their own skill. | | | | Most poker centered man caves will not have a TV- |
| Competition is the real name of the game and not | | | | however, a stereo system playing background music |
| only will guys try to outdo each other with the cards; | | | | is almost a necessity. No heavy metal music and the |
| they'll also compete to have a better man cave | | | | volume should be low enough to allow normal |
| poker room than their buddies. Here is a short | | | | conversations without having raised voices. |
| checklist to help you beat out the other cave men | | | | To have the ultimate poker room you'll need the |
| and have the ultimate poker room. | | | | ultimate poker table. Don't cheap out here! No folding |
| For brevity's sake let's assume you already have a | | | | card table will do. A solid, sturdy table is required for |
| dry, well lit basement area. The first step to building | | | | the ultimate poker room. Get a table made from |
| your poker room is to section off an area, preferably | | | | wood, preferably oak. You will want a felt table top, |
| away from laundry equipment, sump pumps, water | | | | padded sides, built in chip trays and drink holders. |
| meters and other distracting equipment normally | | | | Spare no expense on the table. It will be the |
| found in the basement. Serious poker players hate | | | | centerpiece of the poker room and in the completion |
| distractions. The ultimate poker room will need the | | | | for the ultimate poker room, the man with the best |
| following equipment a refrigerator, a bar, a wet sink, | | | | table wins! |