Newcomers should always have house rules explained to them. Remember that the object of house rules is to ensure fair play in a congenial atmosphere. No check and raise betting.
Ties share the pot.
A card laid is a card played. Quarter, half- dollar seems to work pretty well for most people, especially if you limit raises to three. Stick with games everyone knows. Esoteric games with lots of blind flips, wild cards, extra buys and passes are social games, not poker games, and usually find favor only when the game is thoroughly coed. For a good, smooth game, stick to draw and stud games and their variants.