Rounders, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Boiler Room; these are the movies that come to mind when we think of poker because, after watching them, we want to become pros at the game as well. Knowing how to play the game is like a requirement of machismo, a vindication of manhood.

On poker night, anything can happen; guys are free to be themselves. It's not about the money, the snacks or the beer. Okay it's about the money, but it's also a chance to celebrate being a man.

What's that? You want to organize a poker night? Here's what you have to do to make it happen.

The night
Before you can sit down and start dealing the cards, you must set aside a date on which to hold the event. First, it helps if you pick a date when all the guys can attend. If you pick a Monday during football season, the turnout might not be what you expected.

Ask around about an ideal time for your friends. Be willing to move the date around for optimal results, but then again, you may not be able to please everyone.

Once you have everyone's opinion, set a date and stick to it. Friday evenings are perfect for poker night, because they allow everyone to wind down after work and, because no one has to go to the office the next day, the game can last longer.

The players
Although you don't plan on having a frat party, you still need to invite more than just a couple of friends to make the game interesting. I recommend having between four and eight players at the poker table.

Extra players can be kept on hand as replacements for when other guys get tired, want a break or go broke and opt to leave. If there's way too many people, and they all want to play poker, why not simply set up two poker tables?

The accessories
Playing poker doesn't require as much equipment as hockey or fishing do. All you need to start is a few decks of cards. Have at least two decks per table. This way, if some of the cards get damaged, the game can continue without interruption.

Then make sure you have a suitable table to play on. You don't necessarily need a professional felt table; the kitchen table will do just fine. Just make sure you have another good table if there's going to be another game going on.

The next thing you need is poker chips. You can always play with bills and coins, but chips make for a better, more authentic game. Lastly, be sure to have ashtrays readily available for the cigar smokers. Come on, what's poker night without cigars?

You can't forget the food and drink...

The food & drink
A party isn't a party without some booze. You'll want to have beer close at hand, as well as a selection of spirits such as whiskey, cognac and vodka. In addition, because there might be designated drivers or guys who want to take it easy, have some water and soft drinks available. Be sure you have a hefty supply of ice as well.

Since you should never drink on an empty stomach, snacks are mandatory. Time-honored munchies include potato chips, pretzels and peanuts, and you can get creative by serving finger foods like mini pizza bagels, pigs in a blanket and other original, microwavable hors d'oeuvres.

Whatever you serve, make sure you have plenty of napkins handy. While you likely won't be serving up any messy snacks, it's important that everyone keep their hands dry and clean when handling the playing cards. Not only can dirty fingers make the cards sticky, but dirty fingers can mark the cards and thus give some players an unfair advantage.

Now that the night's set up, the players have been invited, the food's ready, and the accessories have been laid out, it's time to get down to business.

Choose games
Repetition is annoying, so offer the guys the chance to play different types of poker. There are many to choose from, but the more popular ones include Five-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud, Let It Ride, Pai Gow, and Texas Hold 'Em.

Change dealers
To make the night enjoyable for everyone, a different dealer should start each game and pick the type of poker that will be played. This deters cheating and ensures that everyone will get to play their game of choice.

Establish rules
Before each game starts, make certain everyone understands the rules. If you don't, losing players will likely complain that the rules aren't clear. When starting a new game that certain players aren't familiar with, play a practice hand to make sure everyone understands how it works. But be careful: If the table is populated with serious players, they might not be interested in trial runs for the little girls.

You might also find it useful to keep a rulebook nearby to keep confusion to a minimum. Arguments often erupt at poker games over trivial matters, like what the absolute best hand is.

Set cash limits
Not everyone has the same financial resources so it's important that all the guys come to the poker table on the same financial footing. For instance, a guy with money to burn doesn't have a problem making $20 bets on bad hands to scare the others into folding, but that's not fun for the guy who can't keep up.

To avoid this, make each guy buy in with a maximum amount of cash. That way, when one guy's money is gone, he has to sit out and watch the others play. The ante should also be determined in advance. Pick an amount that everyone can live with and will make the pot interesting.

Make sure everyone knows when it's over...

Establish an end
If you've ever been to a casino poker room, you know that people who are serious about their poker playing can keep at it for more than 24 hours with quick bathroom intermissions.

In the event that you don't want your buddies to stay over for the weekend, set a closing time -- midnight sounds good. Make this clear to all the players before the games begin to avoid arguing and fighting at closing time.

It's one thing to have the guys playing, drinking, eating, laughing, and having fun, but it's important to know how everyone, including you, should behave during poker night.

Don't leave the table after winning
Luck is a concept that's often debated, but sooner or later, every man gets his share of it. If you start winning hand after hand, it's tempting to stop while you're ahead and leave with your considerable gains.

While this is sound economic advice, you need to play at least a few more hands to give the other guys a chance to win back their money. It's a matter of politeness and civility. You don't want everyone hating your guts, do you?

Coordinate bathroom breaks
If possible, arrange for bathroom breaks to be taken at the same time by everyone so that there won't be multiple interruptions of the game. For example, every hour or so, ask if anyone needs to go paint the lavatory walls.

Don't trash talk
Friendly banter is perfectly acceptable as long as everybody accepts it as such. But when someone starts taking offense -- perhaps a losing streak has upped his estrogen levels somewhat -- it's time to stop. Also, don't be a sore loser. You lost some greenbacks? Take it like a man.

Without going over every word in the poker vernacular, let's take a look at some of the more employed words heard around the poker table.

Blind: A bet, or partial bet, that players next to the dealer are forced to contribute at the beginning of a hand.
Cap: A bet is capped when it has been raised three times in a single run. As a result, betting is limited and players can only call or fold.
Check raise: A player checks and then raises in a following round when a player behind him has bet.
Community cards: In some games, such as Texas Hold' Em and Let It Ride, community cards are dealt face up, which can be used by any player to make the best hand he can.
Pocket cards: These cards are the ones each player is dealt and keeps hidden.
Run: A run, also known as a round, is a cycle of betting, from the first player to the last.
Showdown: This occurs after the last run when the remaining players (assuming there's more than one) compare their hands to determine the winner.

As you can see, setting up a poker night isn't exactly rocket science; all it takes is good organizational skills. While these tips won't necessarily get you ready for the World Series of Poker, you'll certainly be a champion to your friends.

If you want to perfect your poker skills and have the upper hand on your buddies before game night, check out FullTiltPoker.com to learn from the pros and play a variety of poker games.

Resources:
PartyPoker.com
AskMen.com