Poker Sesh / Session recordkeeping
Make the numbers agree before everyone leaves.
A useful session record answers three questions: how much each player put in, how much they took out and whether the table totals reconcile.
This workflow works with Poker Sesh or a paper ledger. Poker Sesh records the numbers you enter; it does not hold player funds, accept wagers or transfer settlement payments. Use it only for lawful activities, and get participants' permission before recording or sharing their information.
Agree on the units and starting record
Write down the session date, participants and the unit the ledger uses. Keep chip denominations separate from currency: a chip marked “100” is not necessarily worth $100. Mixing tournament chips, cash-game chip values and dollars creates a mismatch even when every person counts correctly.
Pick one person to record entries and another to confirm them. For each initial buy-in or rebuy, record the amount when the chips are issued. A player who buys in for $25 and later adds $25 has put in $50 total. Do not overwrite the total with the latest $25, or count the same rebuy from both a message and an in-person entry.
In Poker Sesh, keep the home game and its individual session distinct. The home game is the group; the session is this game night. Check the session and player name before entering an amount, especially when several groups are active.
A complete example
The following fictional session has no fee, deductions or outstanding chips. Each player's result is their cash-out minus all their buy-ins.
| Player | Initial | Rebuy | Total in | Cash-out | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex | $25 | $25 | $50 | $70 | +$20 |
| Blair | $50 | $0 | $50 | $30 | −$20 |
| Casey | $25 | $0 | $25 | $25 | $0 |
| Total | $100 | $25 | $125 | $125 | $0 |
Alex's result is $70 − $50 = +$20. Blair's is $30 − $50 = −$20. Casey breaks even. With no deductions, total cash-outs match total buy-ins and the sum of results is zero. This does not say who has already paid whom; settlement is a separate real-world step.
Close each player's record once
- Count the departing player's chips and confirm the cash equivalent with them.
- Record the total cash-out, including an explicit $0 if they have no chips left. An unfinished cash-out is different from a confirmed zero.
- Check that their total buy-in includes every rebuy. Confirm the resulting gain or loss together.
- At the end of the session, check that no player remains unsettled in the record and compare the whole-table totals.
If the game includes a fee or another deduction, record it explicitly and explain whether it is taken from the chip pool or paid separately. A deduction from the pool changes the expected reconciliation. Do not invent a balancing entry to make an unexplained difference disappear.
When the totals do not match
A missing rebuy can look like extra money
If Alex's second $25 entry is missing from the example, recorded buy-ins fall to $100 while cash-outs remain $125. The ledger appears to have gained $25. Restoring the confirmed rebuy resolves the difference without changing anyone's cash-out.
Start with the amount of the mismatch. An exact buy-in-sized difference suggests a missing or duplicated entry; it does not prove one. Compare the ledger with the original confirmations. Then check chip conversion, an unfinished cash-out, a player recorded twice, and any agreed deduction.
Correct the underlying record with the participants' agreement. Keep a note of what changed and why in your own records. If you cannot reconcile the session, leave the difference visible and contact the host rather than assigning it to whichever player is easiest to adjust. For an app problem, email pokersesh@gmail.com with the session date and a description; avoid sending other players' private details unnecessarily.
Read longer-term statistics carefully
A session result is a net amount. An hourly rate also needs time: +$20 over four hours is +$5 per hour. When combining sessions, divide total result by total hours. Do not average session rates equally when their durations differ: +$20 over one hour and −$10 over five hours combine to +$10 over six hours, about +$1.67 per hour.
Check whether a report includes only completed sessions, only settled players or an entire live table. Different scopes can produce different totals without either calculation being wrong. A short run of results is also not a prediction of future profit. Accurate entries and enough context matter more than a flattering headline number.