Cash Game Advice for chips needed for 50c/$1 $20 Buy-In NL Game (4 Viewers)

broadstone

Sitting Out
Joined
Dec 12, 2020
Messages
11
Reaction score
17
Location
Central FL
Hi Guys

I'm wanting to buy our game some CPC chips so trying to figure out how to keep cost reasonable and not buy more chips than we need.

We play $20 buy in 50c/$1 NL. Usually 10 players.

I was thinking 300 - 500 chips would work or is that overkill? Our total bank is usually $300 or $400 a night.

How many of each chips denom would be optimal?

Thanks
 
If you're only doing $20 buys/rebuys at .25/.50 and usually need less than a $500 bank, you don't need too many chips. Depending on players preferences for having big/giant stacks or not, you could easily get by on 400 chips. 100 quarters, 200 $1s, and 100 $5s. That would give you a $725 bank which would even cover a crazy night if guys were to go nuts and rebuy more than usual.......or if the game ever got bigger. If guys like having giant, tall stacks you could add another 100 $1s too.
 
Not to skip @Mr Winberg 's important question above, I will add some other answers.

My rule of thumb is 50-60 chips per player is usually plenty when thinking of the whole size of a set. (If you are looking for low end pricing, but decent quality, the Claysmith offerings like "Desert Heat" are probably worth checking out.)

Normally I would recommend some combination of 0.50, 1, and 5 denominated chips for a 0.50-1 game, but per the question above, if you are only doing buy-ins of 20 you game plays very shallow and you really wouldn't need a lot of big denomination chips at all.

Usually for a $20 buy in game, PCFers would recommend blinds of 0.25-0.25 so that's at least 80 BB deep. Then you would want chips of 0.25, 1, and 5 (I would recommend a 100/300/200 breakdown for such a game, that would give you an overkill bank of 1325.) Others would even recommend blinds as low as 0.05-0.10 for a 200 BB deep game on a $20 buy in, in which case you would want denominations of 0.05, 0.25, 1, and maybe 5. The problem with this is that I don't believe anyone makes "stock" nickels anymore so you would have to do some chip customization.

So think over the actual buy in and blinds for your game.
 
We won't use anything lower than 50c chips. It's just a low stakes dealers choice NL game with super low buy-ins and unusually high blinds (they won't change this). Most players do 1 or 2 rebuys and then quit. The rest of us degens keep going :)

Sometimes we play 50c ante games too

This is just 20 BBs deep. Cashgames are usually at least 100 BBs deep, often deeper. Is there perhaps a typo here?
No typo, it's a very shallow game

A more common blind for $20 NL would be .05/.10. Many of us have nickels for this purpose.

I’d do:

100 * $.05
200 * $.25
200 * $1

For value you could do $5s, or just $20s. It depends on how your game plays. If you expect it to grow get $5s.
They won't change the blinds. It will always be 50c/$1
 
Based on the stakes, I’m not sure I can recommend any usable breakdown. Curious to know if your game lasts longer than 15 minutes. Lol.

10 players with $400 on the table maybe
100 - .50
160 - $1
40 - $5

of course you can do 100/200/100 but that’s overkill based on your average bank. I’d personally just get a 500 set and future proof unless you’re just attempting to be conservative (which is perfectly fine).

Good luck building your set.
 
Thanks for answering the question @broadstone.

So while your game is unusual, it does somewhat work in your favor of limiting the set to 400 chips or so. You can probably get away with a pretty small set with no big denom chips needed.

I would do 60/240/100 of 0.50/1/5, bank of 770, only 400 chips.

You really don't need that many 0.50 chips because the singles also exist.

Starting stacks would be 6*0.50 and 17*1 for the first ten buy ins. Then the next buy-ins can be a mix of singles and fives and eventually all fives. 100 fives may even be overkill here since the max buy-in is so low.

Hope this helps.
 
Thanks for answering the question @broadstone.

So while your game is unusual, it does somewhat work in your favor of limiting the set to 400 chips or so. You can probably get away with a pretty small set with no big denom chips needed.

I would do 60/240/100 of 0.50/1/5, bank of 770, only 400 chips.

You really don't need that many 0.50 chips because the singles also exist.

Starting stacks would be 6*0.50 and 17*1 for the first ten buy ins. Then the next buy-ins can be a mix of singles and fives and eventually all fives. 100 fives may even be overkill here since the max buy-in is so low.

Hope this helps.
With a $20 buy-in and assuming the game lasts awhile, don’t you think more fracs would be necessary? I imagine a game with 6-7 limpers every hand and a lot of min raising. Of course, you can always throw a $1 chip in there, but I’d think people will prefer to have more chips in front of them.
 
This thread hurts my head.

Q: What should I do?
A: Lower your stakes or up your buyin.
Q: They won't do that, so what should I do?

:rolleyes:

Just buy a rack of $20 chips and play $20/$20 blinds with a $20 buyin. Leave jokers in the deck for added fun...they can be used as wild cards.
 
Hi Guys

I'm wanting to buy our game some CPC chips so trying to figure out how to keep cost reasonable and not buy more chips than we need.

We play $20 buy in 50c/$1 NL. Usually 10 players.

I was thinking 300 - 500 chips would work or is that overkill? Our total bank is usually $300 or $400 a night.

How many of each chips denom would be optimal?

Thanks
We've been playing .50 / $1 for years.

Do you limit the buy ins to $20, or is it a choice?

Our buy ins range from $20 to $200. Often plays more like a $1 / $2, but 500 chips will work great for your game....and will give you room to grow.

Here's what I recommend.

.50 x 100
$1 x 200
$5 x 200

If there's any chance your game will grow, I HIGHLY recommend adding $25s or $20s upfront because adding them later will be hard on a CPC order.

$25 (or $20) x 100
 
I would argue it’s quite possible to have a night of fun playing in a shallow game. I’ve done it for many many years and although different it can still be a fun and sustainable form of poker. I suspect many players who started during the Holdem boom can’t imagine a game like this and that is fine. I think these games tend to be more about bro time and less about trying to win all the money.
As far as chips I’d do 100 50 cent 200 dollars and 200 fives. Plenty of room for when guys start buying in for $40. Or even 200 quarters because I like them better than 50 cent due to more flexibility.
 
Thanks for answering the question @broadstone.

So while your game is unusual, it does somewhat work in your favor of limiting the set to 400 chips or so. You can probably get away with a pretty small set with no big denom chips needed.

I would do 60/240/100 of 0.50/1/5, bank of 770, only 400 chips.

You really don't need that many 0.50 chips because the singles also exist.

Starting stacks would be 6*0.50 and 17*1 for the first ten buy ins. Then the next buy-ins can be a mix of singles and fives and eventually all fives. 100 fives may even be overkill here since the max buy-in is so low.

Hope this helps.
^^^^ This is my vote.
 
This isn’t as crazy as some of you may think. We played 25/50¢ for ages with $20 buyins. It ends up being more of a limpfest with a lot of shoves but it can be done.

my game has gotten much better going to 25¢/25¢ with those $20 starting stacks, or 50/50¢ with $50 buyins.
 
Last edited:
I would start with a rack each of $.50, $1, and $5. This will provide minimal change and 3.25X Buy-Ins for each of ten players ($650). From there, you should decide if you need more change based on how the game plays. Once you have decided if you have enough $.50s, add some $1s, again for change and playability. Fill up the rest of your trays with $5s or $20s for backup chips.

In other words, 300 may do it, but it may be better to have 400 or even 500.
 
This isn’t as crazy as some of you may think. We played 25/50¢ for ages with $20 buyins. It ends up being more of a limpfest with a lot of shoves but it can be done.

my games gotten much better going to 25¢/25¢ with those $20 starting stacks, or 50/50¢ with $50 buyins.
I played in a game exactly like that too. But there were a couple of guys who would always get it all in, in the first orbit. Very often on the first hand. People would keep rebuying, so, toward the end of the night, there was enough money on the table to play poker. The average person was probably in for $60 per night. But even then, at .25/.50 the game was still way too short. I can't imagine it being twice as short, with .50/1 blinds.
We can be nice and respectful and offer our best advice, but the truth is that a game with 20 bb stacks is ridiculous.
 
Unconventional game needs unconventional chips
If this was a a $1/$2 game we would have you get
200/$1’s
300/$5’s
100/$20’s
So why not
200/$.50’s
300/$2.50’s
100/$10’s
 
Based on the stakes, I’m not sure I can recommend any usable breakdown. Curious to know if your game lasts longer than 15 minutes. Lol.
Same here. Sounds more like lucky turbo bingo rather than quality skill-based poker.

the truth is that a game with 20 bb stacks is ridiculous.
Exactly. I think I'd rather just do $10 progressive flips with my Jacksons.
 
I played in a game exactly like that too. But there were a couple of guys who would always get it all in, in the first orbit. Very often on the first hand. People would keep rebuying, so, toward the end of the night, there was enough money on the table to play poker. The average person was probably in for $60 per night. But even then, at .25/.50 the game was still way too short. I can't imagine it being twice as short, with .50/1 blinds.
We can be nice and respectful and offer our best advice, but the truth is that a game with 20 bb stacks is ridiculous.
Agreed.

I guess I just know how hard it is to get people to switch. Whatever the OP does I hope he future proofs the set and gets something that works for his desired stakes when the players eventually learn.
 
With a $20 buy-in and assuming the game lasts awhile, don’t you think more fracs would be necessary? I imagine a game with 6-7 limpers every hand and a lot of min raising. Of course, you can always throw a $1 chip in there,

I really don't, when I host 0.50-1 (we play 150 max, btw) I only put 60 fracs in play and it seems like plenty. Part of it is you never need more than one chip so long as the dollar exists and the change is easy.

With quarters you may need 3 on some bets so it pays to have a full rack of those in play.
 
I really don't, when I host 0.50-1 (we play 150 max, btw) I only put 60 fracs in play and it seems like plenty. Part of it is you never need more than one chip so long as the dollar exists and the change is easy.

With quarters you may need 3 on some bets so it pays to have a full rack of those in play.
For some reason I thought he was using .50 fracs, but I guess with quarters I’d still want more than 60. I assume your game is not very limpy.

Depending on the game I’m hosting, my game gets really limpy at times, and I find that a lot of times the quarters seem to make their way to one person and then everyone is making change with said person when she wins a hand.
 
Based on the stakes, I’m not sure I can recommend any usable breakdown. Curious to know if your game lasts longer than 15 minutes. Lol.

10 players with $400 on the table maybe
100 - .50
160 - $1
40 - $5

of course you can do 100/200/100 but that’s overkill based on your average bank. I’d personally just get a 500 set and future proof unless you’re just attempting to be conservative (which is perfectly fine).

Good luck building your set.
I know the game seems odd but it usually lasts for hours and the players keep it pretty low key, lots of limping and folding on the flop. They also play a nutso game called 7 Burner so money flows around the table.

7 Burner (may be called something else) is a 5 card poker hand played using position where 3 cards dealt, 7's are wild, players decide whether they want to play or fold, if they play, they are dealt two cards up, if they are dealt a 7, their hand is toast. Also, have to play against a dummy hand which can also win. If the player(s) who stay lose to another player(s) or the dummy, losing player has to match the pot. The 7 Burner game ends when one person beats the dummy hand.

We've been playing .50 / $1 for years.

Do you limit the buy ins to $20, or is it a choice?

Our buy ins range from $20 to $200. Often plays more like a $1 / $2, but 500 chips will work great for your game....and will give you room to grow.

Here's what I recommend.

.50 x 100
$1 x 200
$5 x 200

If there's any chance your game will grow, I HIGHLY recommend adding $25s or $20s upfront because adding them later will be hard on a CPC order.

$25 (or $20) x 100
The $20 limit has been in force since the game started. It's because some guys in the game aren't flush with cash and so the game host wants to keep the stakes low. There is talk of some higher stakes games outside of the main game so I should probably think of throwing a few higher denom chips in.

I would argue it’s quite possible to have a night of fun playing in a shallow game. I’ve done it for many many years and although different it can still be a fun and sustainable form of poker. I suspect many players who started during the Holdem boom can’t imagine a game like this and that is fine. I think these games tend to be more about bro time and less about trying to win all the money.
As far as chips I’d do 100 50 cent 200 dollars and 200 fives. Plenty of room for when guys start buying in for $40. Or even 200 quarters because I like them better than 50 cent due to more flexibility.
Exactly this...it's more about the bro time. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
7 Burner (may be called something else) is a 5 card poker hand played using position where 3 cards dealt, 7's are wild...
when-someone-wont-stop-talking-to-you.gif
 
I know the game seems odd but it usually lasts for hours and the players keep it pretty low key, lots of limping and folding on the flop. They also play a nutso game called 7 Burner so money flows around the table.

7 Burner (may be called something else) is a 5 card poker hand played using position where 3 cards dealt, 7's are wild, players decide whether they want to play or fold, if they play, they are dealt two cards up, if they are dealt a 7, their hand is toast. Also, have to play against a dummy hand which can also win. If the player(s) who stay lose to another player(s) or the dummy, losing player has to match the pot. The 7 Burner game ends when one person beats the dummy hand.


The $20 limit has been in force since the game started. It's because some guys in the game aren't flush with cash and so the game host wants to keep the stakes low. There is talk of some higher stakes games outside of the main game so I should probably think of throwing a few higher denom chips in.


Exactly this...it's more about the bro time. Thanks for the suggestion.

I think you could probably get away even with 300 chips.

60x $0.50
180x $1
60x $5
Bank $510

Better with 400 chips. Spread around the extra rack between the $1 and $5 to secure your bank needs on exceptional nights.
From what you describe, I agree, I think you can get away with less, but I think you are planning to go with CPCs (yes/no?). I believe requires a minimum of 100 chips per denomination. It's been a long time since I ordered, so I might be wrong. If that's the case, and since the game stays low, I agree with @allforcharity that you should go with 400 chips.

.50 x 100
$1 x 200
$5 x 100

$750 bank seems adequate for what you have described.

Good luck!
 
I really don't, when I host 0.50-1 (we play 150 max, btw) I only put 60 fracs in play and it seems like plenty. Part of it is you never need more than one chip so long as the dollar exists and the change is easy.

With quarters you may need 3 on some bets so it pays to have a full rack of those in play.
Silly question but why use quarters when our min bet is 50c?
 

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account and join our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Back
Top Bottom