Folding Poker Table Top - Selection Guide
A folding poker table top is perfect for turning your kitchen table game into a casino night. I doubt you would play chess on a chessboard drawn on a piece of cardboard with bottle caps for pawns. It’s just not the same.
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.
Poker table tops bring a Vegas quality to your games. You need to select a size and shape that fits your needs since there are many options. So you can make an informed decision, we will look at the most important considerations before you buy.
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. A rectangular or oval table top is used on non-circular or non-square tables. Size does make a difference as well as the material the poker top is made of. For a foam top, you should not extend over the edges of the table you will sit it on by more than a few inches. 4″-6″ is fine for the wooden tops to extend beyond the edge of your table. You do care because if a person rested their heavy arms on the edge of the top, all the poker chips would be knocked over. This can really irritate you.
I would recommend against using a typical card table as a stand for these. For one thing your game will be disturbed often as stated previously, plus the cheap flimsy legs on most of these card tables are not sturdy enough to hold the weight of the wood table tops.
If you lack a suitable table to set it up on, an octagon poker table with legs is a choice you can look at if you have the space for it. A folding poker table could be an option for you if you have the room available.
2. Materials: There are 2 basic materials used to make poker table tops. The lowest priced tops are made of a light weight foamed plastic with fair durability. If your game travels to different locations, their light weight makes them ideal. Their low weight (under twenty pounds) and small size when folded gives them portability. Since they lack the durability of the wood based tops, they will need replacement as they wear. Because of their low price they tend to be great as gifts too.
The wood tables will last longer than the foam base and generally are one half inch plywood. Just like poker tables, they also have some premium options such as padding under the felt and cushioned arm rests providing a more casino atmosphere. Heavy elbows are not so likely to disrupt the game due to their heavier weight.
I actually use a premium top for games at my house and foam table top for friends houses. I own a folding poker table also which we can discuss another time.
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. Blackjack and roulette designs are also included in addition to poker on some tops. While the foam top are a lower price, oddly enough they also have a better choice of patterns. The high end tops have poker table style features like wooden underbase, padding under the felt, and padded armrests. The quality of the felt is also better and more consistent with real casino tables.
The padded felt on the premium wood tops tends to make them feel more authentic to the touch, but the best part is the sound. There is a muted clink sound when the chips splash the pot and they don’t bounce all over the place when they hit the table. Dealing across the better felt is smoother and also a plus. For those long endurance games, I really have come to appreciate the padded arm rests. The best to get if you can pay for it are the premium tops, even though they are not as portable due to their heavy weight.
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. Never again will you revert to a blanket on the kitchen table after playing on this. Now That’s Poker!