Ace-sist

Ace-sist Home poker game service. for up to 8 players. How it works. This is so we can have an idea of how to space the tables to ensure comfort for all players.

The basic package provides a Dealer, professional 13.5g poker chips, table top, tournament structure and tournament software for up to 5 hours of game-play (plus 1 hour of set-up and take-down.) As a service provider we take care of all the setting up tables and chairs, chip distribution and management throughout the game, software set up including prize-pool distribution , hosting the game, overs

eeing the dealers at work, ensuing rules are adhered to, balancing of number of players at the table, re-draws for Final Table and also the packing away of equipment. You will make payment in full of the chosen package, which secures your event date and time and the appropriate staff needed. Initially you will need to provide some basic information like date, time, location, approximately the number of players, as well as contact details. We will discuss the games set-up of things like Buy-In (how much each player will pay to enter the game), the cost and number of Re-Buys (purchasing another stack of chips to continue in the game) and Add-Ons (a top-up of chips which all players have the option purchasing) which help increase the total amount of money which is able to be won.

3-7 days prior to the event you will need to send of confirmed player numbers and names (christian + surname), any picture of the venue space where the game will take place or a time when we can visit the venue at least 24hrs beforehand. Any additional tables and dealers required must be arranged 5-7 day at least in advance. Each Dealer+Table combo is £50 extra to the cost of the package. Any additional game time required at the event outside of the package price is £10p/h per Dealer, Tournament Directer is £15p/h and is to be paid on the night.

Our package price is for the hire of equipment and staff only, we can advise on what would be an affordable but attracti...
19/09/2025

Our package price is for the hire of equipment and staff only, we can advise on what would be an affordable but attractive Buy-In for the players and whether you would have a Re-buy and Add-On options to boost the prize-pool for the players.

All our multi-table options include 8-seat poker table tops, dealer, 13.5g numbered poker chips, timer software which can be connected to a large TV screen or Projector, 100% plastic playing cards, tailored Blind Structure and Pay-outs with a 4-6hour game time.
1 table - £100
2 tables - £190
3 tables - £280
4 tables - £370

The Premium "Home Game Hero" package includes a single, 10-Seat pro table with Led lighting, 10g Ceramic poker chips, up to 9 players, timer software and Dealer/TD and winners trophy. - £180

Disclaimer: All products I use are purchased or already owned by myself for the sole intention of using for the business...
12/06/2025

Disclaimer: All products I use are purchased or already owned by myself for the sole intention of using for the business if I find them suitable. Reviews are based solely on my experiences with them in the course of the business. I have not been paid for, nor currently asked to review in return for products unless otherwise stated
Links provided at the end.

Review #8

This review is for the Blinds Are Up! poker timer available on Android from the Google Play store.

Basic Version - Free, limited to 6 players, ads and limited customisation of backgrounds, sounds and notifications.

No Ads Plus - £2.99 year subscription or £14.99 One-Time Purchase (O-T-P).
No ads, tournament entries limited to 36, total players database of 50 players, Change Background image, early warning alarm for the timer, supports an option for additional bonus chips, import/export tournament/league/player database, automatically select number of prizes, blinds notification on lock screen.

Pro-Tournament - All the benefits of the No-Ads but with an increased database of 200 players, Hide the system bars in full screen and the ability to cast only the tournament screen to the TV/Projector etc.
There are three option to choose for the amount of players you need:

50 players is £0.99 p/m or £29.99 O-T-P, 100 players is £1.99 p/m or £44.99 O-T-P and 200 players is £2.99 p/m or £59.99 O-T-P.

With that out the way lets get onto the features.

You have the obviously usual game set up options for name, buy-ins, rebuys, add-ons, chip stack settings, colour customisable chip display, auto-generated or custom blind schedules, shot clock options, pre-set or custom prize money options including 'Guarantee' and 'Bounty' options.

You can decide on how to set-up the game screen with what particular options you want displayed, although I found it quite limited and no way of increasing the size of the text in each option and you can only select whether the item goes on the left or right of the screen and how wide you want the areas of the display. You can change the colour of the text and and if it needs a shadow or outline on the text. The background colour can also be changed and if you have an upgraded subscription you choose an image from you photo collection. A couple of custom text boxes for whatever messages you might want to display but again the text size cannot be adjusted.

The 'Alarms' option allows you to change the sound for different notifications such as next level, break and one-minute warning but the choices are limited and with speech-to-text voice announcements. The voice is very robotic and to change the pitch and speed of the voice you have to that via the Android system settings. You can apparently upload your own sounds via .wav file but I'm not going to bother as its a likely only to be used as a back timer for me.

Player database is quite simple with the option to assign 'Flags' to players names for database purposes.

The user-interface is, while functional and looks straight-forward, a little outdated and confusing. For the purposes of game set-up I keep having to go into different sub-menus to find the option I need as I might forget where the option is. I know the more I use it the better acquainted with the layout and the interface I get.
Its just not as user-friendly as I would have liked and especially if you're new to tournament manager apps. Other more basic apps are better in this instance.

The 'Seating' configuration was the one of the most frustrating things to work and use. You select how may tables you need and once you start adding players to the game you cannot change it unless you remove all the players then start again. EDIT: I did find the option to add and delete tables in the Seating Configuration but as I allude to here I find I spend time going in and out of various options to find what I need, its not as simple as it should be.
Also when you need to to 'bust' a player out of the game it just seemed a bit slow waiting for the system to recognise your selections.
You can have the table list displayed before and during the tournament on the main screen, do table management mid game and re-draws and breaking of tables.

The Poker League section will track all the player stats (if you select this option when setting the tournament up) including for all points, expenses, winnings, profit, average points, bounties, 1st/2nd/3rd places, league standings etc and has a variety of ways to display this information by overview, player, points history etc.

The 'Tools' tab has some nice additions in it like the Deal Calculator, side pot calculator, game history, random selector, Poker Dictionary, Poker Quotes and Official TDA Rules reference and import/export options.

Pros:
Timer works well.
Full of game options
Cast/Mirror display to external device
League Management
Great Player/Game Statistics
Really good value money for subscriptions.
works without internet connection for the tablet display unless you want cast/mirror to a TV.

Cons:
Slightly out-dated design and slow responses to controls.
Interface is not as user-friendly as I first thought it would be, but its fine if its the only app you're going to use.
The limited customisation for screen layouts and information is disappointing.
No uploading of chip images, only a colour picker.
Cant change the size of the text displays so some things are bigger than others.
No phone/tablet sync control.

Verdict: 8/10
A really, really good tournament manager and probably the best one on Android. Packed with features but in my opinion its a little out-dated in appearance and needs more screen layout customisation features.
A great backup or secondary timer if you have more than one tourney running on separate devices.
So if you only use Android, get this one.

https://blindsareup.com/

Are you a venue thinking of starting a weekly poker night?Not sure how to begin?Do you want to join a poker franchise or...
21/05/2025

Are you a venue thinking of starting a weekly poker night?

Not sure how to begin?

Do you want to join a poker franchise or keep it in house for your customers

Well I will help you out with my top recommendations for running a successful night.

Like the Scouts “Be Prepared”. Failure to anticipate problems will impact on the success of the game.

First of all decide what night of the week you want it to be on and what time you would like it to start and end. A 4hr game is generally the best way to start so a 7-7:30pm starting time is what you should aim for and the end of the game will be around 11:30pm. Be advised that some games may run shorter or longer than this on occasions so some leeway should be given if the game runs a little long.

The quieter early to midweek nights, Monday to Wednesday, are probably best and try to avoid clashing with other events like a snooker, pool, darts or quiz nights especially if you have limited space as you will need a big area to host the poker.

Secondly, think about who will run the game, whether it would be yourself, a designated member of staff or hire someone like me to guide the staff member on how oversee the set up, player registration, collect buy-ins, enforce rules and pack away the equipment after the game is finished.

Thirdly you will need to reserve a large enough area to set up at least 2 to 3 tables (8 or 9 players per table) with enough seats to comfortably sit the players. Make sure there’s is enough space between the tables for players to easily get up from their seat without inconveniencing the other players. Cumbersome large chairs will make it awkward to fit everyone around the table and possibly leave little space for for people getting past.

Now that you have decided on a night, reserved an area and have figured out who is running the game here comes the expensive bit - the equipment.

You can buy your tables and chips independently from eBay, Amazon or a poker specialist like Redtooth Poker or Riverboat Gaming among others, although the cost can quickly grow depending on the quality of the items as well as how quickly the game could grow.

I recommend you get chips with the denominations on them as players will hate having to keep asking what the chips values are worth. You want be buying chips that weigh around 10 to 14grams and come in values of 25,100,500,1000’s. I also recommend buying extra higher valence chips in 5000 and 10,000 values to help with chip management throughout the game

100% plastic playing cards are essential as they are less prone to marking or bending and easy to keep clean so they will last longer than basic playing cards with less replacements needed. Players will bend and mark the cards, albeit without deliberate intention.
I recommend the Dark Knight cards by Redtooth Poker. Great value at around £6 per deck or 12 decks for £35 via an offer on their website.

Table-tops are ideal for most most venues as they fold out and set up in mere seconds onto existing tables. They are also easy to storeGet ones that are at least 180cm in length to accommodate 8 players. Avoid at all costs the basic hexagonal poker tops as these are just horrible to play on, are really crap to deal cards on or even for the players just trying to pick them up.
Make sure you have large enough tables to lay the poker tables on as laying them across smaller tables pushed together can cause an uneven surface and in the long term cause the table fabric to stretch. The fold-out oval tables are 180cm so you want the tables to around this length.
If you have the storage space and space in the venue , then invest in free-standing tables, a little more expensive but you can fit more players around them.

Invest in a decent poker timer app that you can connect to a TV to display the current blinds, next blinds and upcoming breaks. It will give a more professional feel to your game. Nothing annoys players more than keep having to ask what the blinds are or the game runner forgetting to tell people. In some cases players who are using their phone to run a timer may get knocked out the game and go home and someone else has to take over.

I recommend BlindsUp on iOS as it’s almost a complete casino poker management app without the need for a heavy laptop and you don’t even need an internet connection. It can track player stats, league stats and is fully customisable. See my review including the updated extras on here for a full breakdown.

Additionally buy some Seating Cards from All In Accessories to help organise the players. Friends like to sit next to each other and discuss the hands or people argue over seats especially if there is sport on so they can watch the TV. These cards help with random seat assignments and cause less arguments.

Run 1 or 2 promotional games to garner interest before committing to a long term plan. The better run the game is the more likely you will have keeping regular players and who in turn will then spread the word and about a good game and encourage more players to attend.
A bad game experience will spread like wildfire and cause a struggle to improve player numbers.

Advertise around the venue, especially on darts/pool/quiz nights as there will invariably be a crossover over people who like poker as well the other sports.

Also you really should offer table service for drinks as players will buy less if they spend time waiting at the bar for service and miss playing poker. Drink sales will generally increase by a 30% if a staff member comes round just once every 20mins.

Other things to consider:
Offer some free food like chips, popcorn chicken, sausage rolls etc at the break for poker players as this will encourage more drink sales.
Or alternatively mayb a 10-20% discount on drinks for players with a discount card..

If you wanted to join a poker league like Redtooth Poker the will provide you with 2 tables, 2 chip-sets, guidance on how the league works and all the paperwork you need Blinds Upu started. It cost around £350 for the first season and then the subscription can be paid monthly.

The league consists of 4 seasons per year, 13 games per season, with 4 players from each venue qualifying for region finals at the end. The players play for points and/or optional low stakes prizes. The qualifiers will go to a designated casino and play for a chance to win a weeks trip to Las Vegas, USA to play for the title of UK Pub Poker Champion.

The benefits to this are players will be guaranteed a game each week, it builds a busy environment on quiet nights and increases sales and cheaper than buying all new equipment separately.

The downsides are it can take a while to establish decent numbers but don’t give upearly give it 2-3 seaons, some players aren’t interested in points and just want play for money, it quite a big upfront cost to start without any guarantee of its viability.

Read my reviews on the products I use to give you more information.

Links

https://www.allinaccessories.co.uk/

https://www.redtoothpoker.com/

Poker timer by BlindsUp iOS in the App Store or on Android use Blinds Are Up.

Disclaimer: All products I use are purchased or already owned by myself for the sole intention of using for the business...
08/05/2025

Disclaimer: All products I use are purchased or already owned by myself for the sole intention of using for the business if I find them suitable. Reviews are based solely on my experiences with them in the course of the business. I have not been paid for, nor currently asked to review in return for products unless otherwise stated
Links provided at the end.

Review #7

Here’s another product from www.allinaccessories.co.uk.

Acrylic Dealer Button.
£6.96 + £2.75 postage (combined postage for multiple purchase) from EBay. I purchased two so got a flat fee for delivery.

10mm think acrylic, 60mm diameter and 32g weight.
White background label with DEALER across the middle and a red and black border.

A ‘Puck’ style button is about 5mm bigger in diameter and about 20mm thicker and twice the weight (98g)

Your basic all white acrylic button that you get in most sets is about 5mm smaller diameter, half the thickness and half the the weight (16g)

Pros:
I like the smaller size as it means it’s less likely to get in the way of the dealer pitching cards.
It’s big enough not to be hidden by players mistakenly hiding it and it’s still indicating who is the dealer.
Good value, with quick delivery and reasonable postage.
Nice clear design.

Cons:
There could be slight imperfections in manufacturing prices in acrylic like one of mine but it’s very, very minor.
As it’s a label stuck to one side it could potentially peel away but I think it would take someone deliberately trying to peel it for this to happen or it would take a few years for it naturally occur.

Overall 8/10

Nothing to complain about in terms of price or quality.

Ok it’s not 3d printed, laser engraved or double sided but you pay more for those things but the price is great and cheap enough to replace when needed.

I only bought them on eBay as I was already on the site but you can also go to the website to order other things including All-In triangles, Time-Bank cards and even Seating Cards. (See my other reviews of a few products) or via the EBay shop. In Accessories -sist

Another successful night in Harlow last night.21 players in the end over 3 dealer dealt tables. Everyone had fun, great ...
24/02/2025

Another successful night in Harlow last night.
21 players in the end over 3 dealer dealt tables.
Everyone had fun, great banter and a decent prizepool with 1st place taking £500.

Prepped for tomorrow’s 2nd test game of the year in Harlow, Essex. 24 players.20min clock and 6hrs game time.Dealer deal...
22/02/2025

Prepped for tomorrow’s 2nd test game of the year in Harlow, Essex.
24 players.
20min clock and 6hrs game time.
Dealer dealt

Cards, chips and Table tops by Redtooth Poker

Seat Cards by All In Accessories

Tournament Timer by Blinds Up

Address

Chelmsford

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 12pm - 10pm
Friday 10am - 10pm
Saturday 10am - 10pm

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