Cash Game $1/$2 - adding $2 chips (1 Viewer)

iceypoker

Sitting Out
Joined
Oct 13, 2022
Messages
27
Reaction score
25
Location
los angeles
Hello. Was looking around at denoms and buy-ins, and i held my first cash style game with friends a month ago in September and all went well. Most of the buyins from an 7-8 person table was about $100 max. I wanted to incorporate $2 chips into the game and the break down would be like this. Would this be good or to just leave the $2 chips out?

Starting Stack: $100
$1 x 30 = $30
$2 x 10 = $20
$5 x 10 = $50


normally we do:
$1 x 40 = $40
$5 x 12 = $60

Do you think playing with an extra denom would be more fun rather than just having two colors of chips out. Nobody really colors up, and there might be MAYBE 3-5 green $20 chips out in play from a re-buy or someone who just wants to color up from the 'bank'. Im pretty set on trying it out. Our cash games our pretty friendly so i think we'll be okay. We dont really have any whales, maybe a rebuy here and there if someone gets knocked out super early. I always plan to rebuy once, MAYBE twice if i get beat too early.
 
As someone that is into chipping, I like having several different colors/denominations on the table. I think it makes it more fun and adds to the experience.

However, most non chippers probably don’t really care.

That said, on my next home game I am going to ask if everyone wants to play with snappers…just for fun.
 
It's not typically ideal, just because it can make counting all-ins a pain. It shouldn't be a big deal in a small game though.

Give it a try. If you don't like it, leave them off next time.
 
I've played several casino 1/2 and 1/3 games where they use $2 chips. Caesar's Palace uses mint green $2. I've personally always found it annoying. There is not enough difference in value. It makes counting out large bets more difficult and they just generally feel like they get in the way.

If you like the idea of adding a chip, I'd be more likely to try a $10 for coloring up later so you get few more in play.
 
1665802183846.gif
 
Hello. Was looking around at denoms and buy-ins, and i held my first cash style game with friends a month ago in September and all went well. Most of the buyins from an 7-8 person table was about $100 max. I wanted to incorporate $2 chips into the game and the break down would be like this. Would this be good or to just leave the $2 chips out?

Starting Stack: $100
$1 x 30 = $30
$2 x 10 = $20
$5 x 10 = $50


normally we do:
$1 x 40 = $40
$5 x 12 = $60

Do you think playing with an extra denom would be more fun rather than just having two colors of chips out. Nobody really colors up, and there might be MAYBE 3-5 green $20 chips out in play from a re-buy or someone who just wants to color up from the 'bank'. Im pretty set on trying it out. Our cash games our pretty friendly so i think we'll be okay. We dont really have any whales, maybe a rebuy here and there if someone gets knocked out super early. I always plan to rebuy once, MAYBE twice if i get beat too early.
I'll agree with the others that having both $1s and $2s on the table is somewhere between mildly unnecessary and totally annoying.

On the other hand, If you really want to add another chip, your game seems big enough to add a $20 or $25 chip to the action. You don't need them in the starting stacks, but you can bring them in when you have rebuys.

Also just my opinion, but you don't need that many smaller chips in your starting stacks at all. As stated, it makes counting all-ins difficult and you just don't need that many. In a typical $1/2 game, the $5 is considered the workhorse chip. Once you get raises above the amount of the big blind, aren't your players mostly using bet sizes that include one or more $5s?

I would hand out at most 20 x $1s and then 16 x $5s for a $100 buy-in. In fact, I would say that a $100 buy-in seems a little small for a $1/2 game. That's only 50 BBs. If your boys are hesitant to make raises of $10-25, then it could be that $1/2 is not really the right stakes for your group. Have you considered playing $0.50/1 or even $0.25/0.50? Those stakes tend to work better for most when buy-ins are $100 or less. And then you could have another chip on the table for your frac.
 
We typically only have $1’s and $5’s, so Introduced a $2 a chip to our game one night. It was a nightmare. No one is a chipper in our group but me. Mostly novice players. Everyone kept getting confused on how much was bet. They’d say 2 and people couldn’t figure out $2 or 2 chips. All kinds of confusion. Of course, we’re just a bunch of KY rednecks, so that might have something to do with it.

I sold all my $2’s the following week after that game.
 
Hello. Was looking around at denoms and buy-ins, and i held my first cash style game with friends a month ago in September and all went well. Most of the buyins from an 7-8 person table was about $100 max. I wanted to incorporate $2 chips into the game and the break down would be like this. Would this be good or to just leave the $2 chips out?

Starting Stack: $100
$1 x 30 = $30
$2 x 10 = $20
$5 x 10 = $50


normally we do:
$1 x 40 = $40
$5 x 12 = $60

Do you think playing with an extra denom would be more fun rather than just having two colors of chips out. Nobody really colors up, and there might be MAYBE 3-5 green $20 chips out in play from a re-buy or someone who just wants to color up from the 'bank'. Im pretty set on trying it out. Our cash games our pretty friendly so i think we'll be okay. We dont really have any whales, maybe a rebuy here and there if someone gets knocked out super early. I always plan to rebuy once, MAYBE twice if i get beat too early.

Don't listen to the Debbie Downers Icey. I say ignore convention. Thirty or forty ones per player for a $1/$2 game? Genius! A $2 chip? Super genius!

Have you thought about adding a $2.50 or a $10 chip for even more colors?
 
I’ve had 2s in the mix as well. No benefits, just takes extra time when stacks need to be counted for all-ins and cashouts
 
I've played several casino 1/2 and 1/3 games where they use $2 chips. Caesar's Palace uses mint green $2. I've personally always found it annoying. There is not enough difference in value. It makes counting out large bets more difficult and they just generally feel like they get in the way.

If you like the idea of adding a chip, I'd be more likely to try a $10 for coloring up later so you get few more in play.
i like that color. which is why i picked em up to test out. we are rocking $1 blues and $5reds. We'll how it goes!

Don't listen to the Debbie Downers Icey. I say ignore convention. Thirty or forty ones per player for a $1/$2 game? Genius! A $2 chip? Super genius!

Have you thought about adding a $2.50 or a $10 chip for even more colors?
thanks! gonna try it out :)
 
It depends on the game, and the players. I've played in games both ways. If it's a no limit game where bets are typically $5, 10, 15, etc. later streets, I'd say no need for the $2 chips. But I play in another game that's a little smaller stakes, mixed games, with a $1 to $5 spread limit where bets are often $2 or $3, I brought out my California Bell set with $2 chips, and it worked great for all the players in that game. No complaints. Here's a stack pic from last month.

20220904_232730.jpg
 
Don't listen to the Debbie Downers Icey. I say ignore convention. Thirty or forty ones per player for a $1/$2 game? Genius! A $2 chip? Super genius!

Have you thought about adding a $2.50 or a $10 chip for even more colors?
i like that color. which is why i picked em up to test out. we are rocking $1 blues and $5reds. We'll how it goes!


thanks! gonna try it out :)
In case you didn't catch it, I'm pretty sure Mojo's post was intended to be sarcastic.
 
1/2 no limit most places do

$200 buy in is 75 in $1s and 25 $5s.

so for $100 id do 40 $1s and 12 $5s weird for the chip racks but gets job done.

i wouldnt bother with a 2. if your going to add a $2 just go stright 4-8 limit all $2 chips!!!
 
2 things:

-your game is super shallow. At 1/2 blinds, you should at least be doing $200 buy ins....but you do you.

-$2 chips is not utilitarian at all. I would never do this....but again, you do you.
 
I’d also consider lowering the stakes to $1-$1
Absolutely! 50 BB max buy in... hope you are ready for a shove fest, and if it is NOT a shove fest then you are playing the wrong stakes! Instead of adding a $2 chip it sounds like y'all are in need of some fracs! Sure $1/$1 works but add a $.50 and play $.50/$1 (still only 100BB and most of us prefer 200 BBs for the buy in) most games we play $100 buy in are $.25/$.50 games.

I agree with @AWenger there is a time and place where abnormal denoms can be added into the mix (a $2, $3 or $10) we typically want to follow the rule of 4 - 5x increases for the next denom... so if you like weird denoms... I have debated building a $.50/$2/$10/$50 set just for something different.

Also if you get into Micro stakes poker say a $.05/$.10 game again keep 200 BBs in mind so we typically play $.05 games with a $20 buy in and it is a LONG time before you need $5s in this game so a $2 chip would be fine as it would really be your high denom/work horse chip for quite a while.

But in a regular $1/$2 game I don't understand why other than simply wanting to build a larger chip set...fir the record typically in $1/$2 the only give (10) $1 and the rest in $5s. 30 is just complete over kill and takes a lot of additional "wasted" time for counting out all ins.

Most here can tell you I used to be a advocate for "more is better" ut that is just a chip collecting obsession, keep the game efficient and moving.
 
1/2 no limit most places do

$200 buy in is 75 in $1s and 25 $5s.
Where do you play? Most places I’ve played $1/2, people are sitting down with all $5s. Maybe some $25 on top. But the $1s are like an afterthought. The dealers are constantly making change, but that’s what dealers do. But for a home game, 20 x $1 should be fine.
But yes, no to the $2 chips. No no no!

And yeah, I’d suggest playing $1/1 or .50/$1 with $100 buyins. Actually I’d suggest playing .25/.50 with $100 buyins, but that’s another story.
 
Where do you play? Most places I’ve played $1/2, people are sitting down with all $5s. Maybe some $25 on top. But the $1s are like an afterthought. The dealers are constantly making change, but that’s what dealers do. But for a home game, 20 x $1 should be fine.
But yes, no to the $2 chips. No no no!

And yeah, I’d suggest playing $1/1 or .50/$1 with $100 buyins. Actually I’d suggest playing .25/.50 with $100 buyins, but that’s another story.
If they have already been playing $1-$2, they won’t want to introduce fracs. $1-$1 should be perfect.

I would introduce a $10, $20 or $25.
 
If they have already been playing $1-$2, they won’t want to introduce fracs. $1-$1 should be perfect.

I would introduce a $10, $20 or $25.
"Want" haha, well some people "want" to play the game the game with a proper structure. It was meant to have a small and large blind that are not the same value... is it played that way of course in some games. But also seems pretty close minded to make an assumption for an entire group playing poker because they haven't "been playing with fracs" that they would not be open minded to the concept. A proper structure and double the big blinds in their starting stack may be a huge hit for some.

Giving out (30) $1 chips in a $1/$2 - $100 max buy in game sounds like the game needs a but of reconfiguration and if those 30 - $1s are the work horse then the game is playing very shallow anyways.

The OP wants to add a denom and giving out 30 - $1s, I'm willing to bet he already has $20/$25s for rebuys... there is no need to add another denom on the top end for buy ins. Sounds like this game indeed needs another denom.... but on the other end of the spectrum.
 
hey all thanks for your input! We ended up not using the $2 chips. Its a home game. Thought that introducing a big blind chip would be neat and fun but during a test run with my brother it just didnt seem and feel right. Thanks again for all your input. I got a rack of cesars to in the classifieds section lol.
 
where'd yoou get these at? are they regular sized plaques?
Well that would depend on what you consider 'regular' sized.

I would say 'No' they are a little bit smaller and are perfect

Here is a photo from @SatSuJin for size comparison. My team loves them, everyone makes over them, they are ALL the rage =)

1667488218295.png
 

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