Thoughts on Using Non-Standard Colors? (2 Viewers)

[grahamplayscards]

All my life I’ve played with chips that generally follow Vegas color scheme convention. $1 White/blue, $5 red, $25 green, $100 black, $1k yellow/orange, $5k greys. I don’t plan on running anything with a frac (what color do you guys use in frac sets? pink? The white/blue you don’t use for your $1?).

My question - for people that use LA color convention or people with nonstandard chip colors - do you find using different colored chips makes players misclick more or have to think more about which chips are worth what? Even with denom labels, I could see nonstandard colors to be a distraction or source of confusion.

Thanks!

 

[Machine]

Only if you use white for anything other than a 1 or a 100.

And its referred to as a California standard, not LA.

You should put the denom on the chip anyway.

 

[grahamplayscards]

Only if you use white for anything other than a 1 or a 100.

And its referred to as a California standard, not LA.

You should put the denom on the chip anyway.

Totally planning on putting denom on the chip. Don’t see a way to edit OP but my mistake for calling it LA as opposed to California, I may not follow either color convention for my personal set but for now I’m just getting design inspiration looking through threads

 

[MeridianFC]

I think using non-standard colors is absolutely fine. The only thing I would say is be careful using standard colors in a non-standard denomination set up (Green $1, Black $5, etc). Also, when using non-standard colors really pay attention to the depths dark/light), tint, and how the chips work together in the set up that you are using.

If you search around here, you will definitely find some sets that don’t follow the standard color progression and I think many of them are wonderful.

 

[Budha]

IMHO some of the best sets are the ones that break the rules!

 

[Coyote]

Semi-Californian, semi-arbitrary here

 

[allforcharity]

Private sets all over the place are made in non-standard colours. My C&J hot stamps are red quarter, off-white half-dollar, yellow 1, green 5, and blue 10.

 

[Ben8257]

This one tilts the old timers every time!

Around here we call $5s red birds! So when the $1 is red and drinking is involved… hahahaha and they are original Cali chips!

Unconventional? I don’t really think Cali had rules back in the day! These are from a little Cali card room in 1961

And for the record I am team green $1! They are my favorite!!

Ole Ventura CA!

How about Doo Doo brown $5s

Another Cali special!

Do what you want! But if trying to tilt people the red $1s are the best! Lol

 

[TheChipVault]

I really like non-standard color sets!!!

 

[SeanGecko]

I like it

 

[Ben8257]

Bring on the weird stuff!

And yes @Tonystark137 … there is one hot stamp to rule them ALL! Cisco’s!!

Even opened the capper before you asked! Lol

 

[Tonystark137]

Bring on the weird stuff!
View attachment 1540944
And yes @Tonystark137 … there is one hot stamp to rule them ALL! Cisco’s!!
View attachment 1540949
Even opened the capper before you asked! Lol

Those are some sexy cappers... I need to up my capper game...

 

[Ben8257]

Nevada did it too over the years!

Super cool old school TRK saw tooth’s
(Yup an error chip at the bottom there)

 

[AlbinoDragon]

One fan of non-standard colors here. My second set of customs:

I've had new $20s and $100s made since this photo mostly to prevent some potential dirty stack issues I've noticed when these are in play, particularly with the higher denomination chips.


If the denomination is on the chip and isn't microscopic, as long as you don't have illiterate monkeys at your game, they should be able to adapt to the non-standard colors. I rotate five different sets in my game, some traditional colors, some hybrid traditional colors (mix of Nevada and California), and this "all over the map" colors and after the third hand, everyone has adapted to what chip is what.

Have fun with it if you'd like. They are customs and you can do what ever you want to with them.

 

[cpiaaq]

 

[FreeBop59]

Even with existing Group Buy or BR Pro Designs, it’s fun to mix up colors and denominations. I used this example from @Taxi500 for my BR Pro Tiki Kings (Orange 25¢, Black $1, Purple $5):

Post in thread 'Cost for BR Pro 43mm Tiki Kings - Semi Custom?'
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...3mm-tiki-kings-semi-custom.99529/post-2077918

 

[upNdown]

I’ve definitely misclicked in a tournament where they used non-standard color chips.

Maybe I’m a little spectrummy, but nonstandard colors bother me much more than they should, especially in cash games. The pictures of the stacks in this thread tilt me a bit. I like looking at stacks and being able to eyeball how much a stack is worth. When the stacks of reds are $5s, life is good. When I see orange chips and purple chips my brain just goes WTF?

 

[FreeBop59]

I’ve definitely misclicked in a tournament where they used non-standard color chips.

Maybe I’m a little spectrummy, but nonstandard colors bother me much more than they should, especially in cash games. The pictures of the stacks in this thread tilt me a bit. I like looking at stacks and being able to eyeball how much a stack is worth. When the stacks of reds are $5s, life is good. When I see orange chips and purple chips my brain just goes WTF?

I’d probably feel the same way if nonstandard colors were the only option in a regular game, so I go with nonstandard colors as a changeup when rotating cash game sets

 

[TheChipVault]

I see a nonstandard color set in my future.

 

[Kam]

I have a vegas and cali set that I alternate for each game:

No plans to host a tournie at home really, and playing around with another cash set build but non-standard colors just for the fun of it to have in the mix. I think if you have clear denoms on the chips the players will get used to them.

GL!

 

[grahamplayscards]

I have a vegas and cali set that I alternate for each game:

View attachment 1541152
View attachment 1541154

No plans to host a tournie at home really, and playing around with another build cash set build but non-standard colors just for the fun of it to have in the mix. I think if you have clear denoms on the chips the players will get used to them.

GL!

omg the tiger set is amazing

 

[Taghkanic]

... do you find using different colored chips makes players misclick more or have to think more about which chips are worth what? Even with denom labels, I could see nonstandard colors to be a distraction or source of confusion.

1) No — assuming your game consists entirely or almost entirely of regulars, they will get used to your “unusual” colors the first couple of times they play, and then it will become second nature.

2) If however you are hosting a new set of players every time (unlikely) or a large, very occasional tournament with a lot of casuals, then I suppose maybe it is better to use more standard colors.

But!

3) Standard colors, denoms, cards listing chip values on each table, giant signs posted around the room... None of these actually guarantee that some people won’t make mistakes and act befuddled. They don’t prevent... shall I say euphemistically... oh who am I kidding... SELF-CENTERED DUNCES from still asking “How much are these worth?”

Even after they have been told over and over again the values, in seven different ways.

Players who have this problem don’t read the chips, don't pay attention to colors, don’t listen, and don't watch the action to see what chips others are using for their bet sizes, etc.

(Blinds are 100/100, The guys in the blinds each have a black chip in front of them. I announce 300 and toss in three black chips... Pretty likely the black chips are worth 100 each, right? Next I bet 700 and push in two black chips and one purple... Pretty likely the purple is worth 500.)

A few people just have to learn either the hard way (by making a costly mistake) or by force of repetition. You don't need to accommodate these people by ordering chip colors you don't actually like.

You’re going to have a struggle with 5% of the player pool no matter what. So I say use whatever colors you want.

 

[Santa123]

Non standard is fine if there are no more than two or three denominations on the table. I consider cali colors as a standard.

 

[Big_Bear]

I'm pretty adamant about using standard colors IF the denoms are not indicated on the chip.

I'm in a game where the guy's tourney setup is
White 250
Green 500
black 1,000
Red 2,000

The denominations are not marked.

It gets me pretty frustrated.

Casinos across the nation (yes a couple of exceptions) use the standard colors.

In a hand I have to translate his bet, then decide my action and translate it back into his colors.

It's weird, unnecessary, and definitely affects how I play.

 

[Taxi500]

I can absolutely understand from a 'purist' perspective how a color change might disrupt a game. Our biggest issue at my game has not been the colors, but chip sets swapping from $20 to $25 chips.

However, in a friendly home game environment, nothing is ever a problem and we let people bet or change bets if a mistake occurs. Still love my Tiki set and hope @FreeBop59 enjoys the setup too!

My only critique of what I did was not ordering enough plaques.. after my purchase the game got bigger and I wish I had a $25 chip and did $100 plaques in blue. But the people go crazy for plaques and especially in a smaller stakes game they're awesome to have at $25.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Non standard all the way. Old timer who joined us pointed to the green $5s and said 'arent the $25s usually green?" And I said yes, and that was the last I heard about it. Crisis averted.

 

[springbox]

Only if you use white for anything other than a 1 or a 100.

And its referred to as a California standard, not LA.

You should put the denom on the chip anyway.

I use white quarters and blue 1s and it hasn't been an issue. Agree though, put a denomination on the chip and that'll solve most problems.

 

[jamesjkim]

do you find using different colored chips makes players misclick more or have to think more about which chips are worth what?

In a home game setting, I won't bind the player's action if it was an honest mistake. I've had this happen even with standard Vegas/Cali colors. My game is not overly serious and mostly for entertainment and getting friends together so YMMV.

 

[chochips]

For cash game, we like to stick with standard color, white/blue, red, green, and black. No confusion and easy to tell.

 

[warewulf]

I have no problem with non standard colors. Usually the only people that would mind are people on this website. I have OCD and still like using colors depending on what I have. Most 'standard' colors are for cash chips. AFAIK, there are no real standards for tournament chips. Especially since the larger tournaments have many different colors to allow for color ups. You just see people on this site using cash color standards for tournaments because those chips are mostly what's available. Cash chips are usually nicer than tournament chips. If you play tournaments in a casino, they often use solids or simple edge spots because they're less expensive and don't need as much security for tournaments.

I've had a few sets with random colors and just used colors that worked for the game. So the non-denom in my avatar were used for both cash and tournament at some point. I've had a green T500, red T100, etc.

I've had people complain that the denoms aren't on the chips, but don't recall many complaints about color.

I have a closed casino 'cash set' with black $100 being used as $1, red $5. I've used a cash set for tournament: $1 can be T100, $5 can be T500. Whatever works if the price is right and I like them.

A thread I started a while back:

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/tournament-sets-with-non-standard-colors.53525/