Questions before your first poker night

Is PRIVATE TABLE really free?

Yes. There is no paid plan, no in-app purchase and nothing to unlock. The English site carries no ads.

Is this real-money poker?

No. Ever. Chips are points on a scoreboard: you cannot buy them, cash them out or win anything for them. It is not a gambling service and there is no prize.

Do my friends need an account or an app?

No. PRIVATE TABLE is a website. Nobody signs up, nobody installs anything and nobody types an email address. Each player picks a display name and enters the table's 4-digit PIN.

Can iPhone, Android and a laptop share one table?

Yes. It runs in the browser, so iPhone, Android, tablets and computers can all sit at the same table. It is built for a phone held in one hand and also works on a bigger screen.

How many players can join?

2 to 6. Two is enough to start; the host can begin as soon as a second player is seated, with or without the other seats filled.

How do I invite my friends?

Make a table and tap Share. The invite carries the link, the six-letter code and the 4-digit PIN; send it to your group chat on WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord or wherever your friends are. They open the link, enter the PIN and a name, and they are seated.

See the four steps with screenshots →

Can we talk at the table?

Yes. The speech-bubble button sends a line that floats across everyone's table for a few seconds: one of six quick lines or up to 20 characters of your own, once every 2 seconds. Players who have busted out can still heckle. Table talk is never stored.

What happens if my phone locks or I close the tab?

You get your seat back. Open the site again in the same browser on the same device and it offers to return you to the table. The game keeps going while you are away, and if your clock runs out on your turn you are folded automatically.

How much data does a game use?

Roughly 0.4 MB per game for two players and about 2 MB for six. Loading the page is about 70 KB, and the optional background music is about 0.5 MB the first time.

What format is the game?

No-limit Texas Hold'em as a short sit-and-go. Everyone starts with the same stack, the blinds go up on a fixed schedule of hands, and the last player standing wins. With the standard settings a game runs about 20 hands. Each decision has a 90-second clock.

I don't remember the hand rankings. Can I still play?

Yes. The table shows your current hand next to your cards and settles every pot for you. The hand rankings list all ten hands from strongest to weakest, and the tie-break examples explain kickers and split pots with card pictures. You can save the list as an image.

Can I try it alone first?

Yes. Try a hand vs. bots on the home page seats you against three computer players at the real table. No code, no PIN, nothing sent to a server.

Can the other players see my cards?

Not while they are still in the hand. Players who have busted out and are watching can see every hand. At showdown your cards may be shown to the players you are up against, as in any poker game.

What do you store about me?

Almost nothing. On your device: the data to return to your seat, plus your sound and display preferences. On our side: the table itself, which is deleted 24 hours after it was last used, and a daily-salted count of how many people played. No account, no tracking cookies, nothing sold. Terms & privacy →