Identify these chips? (1 Viewer)

[Beakertwang]

I guess the guitar equivalent could be:

Person A: "I've got $1000 for a decent guitar. What would you recommend?"

Person B: "You could buy a 60's Strat for less than $10,000, and they're way better than all these soulless import guitars. It'll have real mojo. Plus, you can sell it down the road for what you paid for it. It's a win/win!"

Person A: "But I only have $1000."

Person B: "Then I guess you're just doomed to a life of soulless music. Sucks to be you."

 

[Darson]

To me, this is sort of the downside of PCF. It's similar to the guitar gear forums I'm on, although it manifests itself differently. Often, questions like "what's a good guitar for my budget of $400?" or "What's a good delay pedal for less than $100?", are met with "You won't be happy with Brand X, just spend the extra for Brand Y, you'll be happier in the long run!" Or they have $1200 for an entire setup, but they're told they should spend that much on a nice amp. But to me, the point is for the person to be playing, not accruing the best gear.

While I get that buying a set of casino-used Paulsons (or other high-end chips) may be a better value, and possibly even an investment, a lot of us simply can't afford to drop $600, $1000, or more on a set of chips. Low-end chips sometimes are met with a sort derision here, like it's inconceivable that one could have a good poker game with cheap chips and a table topper. If you're on a budget, you're on a budget, and there are chips that players on a budget will like for less than 25¢/chip. Get some chips that look good to you and start playing poker. There'll be time for cork sniffing later.

I think you're looking at this the wrong way. To use your guitar analogy, you're asking someone who has been playing a 1959 Les Paul sunburst for the last 40 years which Chinese strat copy you should buy. Don't be surprised if the answer is "don't buy a Chinese strat copy".

The best advice given is to get some samples and see what you like. Buy some cheapies and compare them to clays and decide for yourself. I'm a new chipper myself and just got my first set of clays and honestly I don't like them. I don't care how much they cost, they're just not for me. I'm happy with ceramics and actually, I'm still very happy with my 14c Outlaws.

 

[Beakertwang]

I think you're looking at this the wrong way. To use your guitar analogy, you're asking someone who has been playing a 1959 Les Paul sunburst for the last 40 years which Chinese strat copy you should buy. Don't be surprised if the answer is "don't buy a Chinese strat copy".

The best advice given is to get some samples and see what you like. Buy some cheapies and compare them to clays and decide for yourself. I'm a new chipper myself and just got my first set of clays and honestly I don't like them. I don't care how much they cost, they're just not for me. I'm happy with ceramics and actually, I'm still very happy with my 14c Outlaws.

Maybe it's more like a guy who has a room full of Suhrs, Thorns, Kohls, Kauers, Fender Custom Shops, and PRS Private Stocks, who can't understand why the new guy can't just save up an extra $2000 to buy one decent guitar. Of course he'll need another guitar for limit, and another for tournaments, and a travel guitar.

 

[BGinGA]

Hey, we all started somewhere. Many started with dice chips with no denoms, others started with slugged budget chips that had useless denoms, and some wasted a bunch of money along the way buying cheap set after cheap set, until finally getting something decent..... and wish we hadn't taken that expensive path, and wish there had been folks around back then to provide guidance and save us from making those costly mistakes.

Get samples, get help in determining exactly how many chips you really need, and then buy the best chips that you like and can afford - even if it means buying fewer now, or saving up a bit more before purchasing at all. And especially true if you already have chips that can be used, because it's not like that new set is required before you can play at all.

It's advice from those who have already traveled the path you are on. You can choose to take it any way you like, I guess.

 

[fieldsy]

In the sub-15c per chip range (13c on Apache), I like the Monte Carlo Poker Club chips. I have since upgraded, but I used both those chips in both tournaments and cash games for several years. Since you're in college, just looking to host a game with chips your players will like, I'll assume that your audience is not exactly a group of chip connoisseurs. The MC chips, to the uninitiated, look nicer than they really are. They have a sparkly hologram-ish ring in the inlay that many casual players really like. They're cheap chips, so they certainly have their flaws. There are production issues, they're certainly slicker than clay chips, and they don't have micro denominations. But I would say they're worth a look.

More important than that specific recommendation is to echo others who have said get some sample sets before you commit. At any budget, it's worth looking at a few samples before you dump your whole budget into a full set that you end up being unhappy with. Also, while personal preference should be the deciding factor on which chips you choose, the folks on the forum can be very helpful in recommending how to allocate your set among denominations. You're likely not going to want to go with a standard set allocation, which will likely include chips that aren't useful to you.

 

[Nathanman123]

In the sub-15c per chip range (13c on Apache), I like the Monte Carlo Poker Club chips. I have since upgraded, but I used both those chips in both tournaments and cash games for several years. Since you're in college....

Thank you so much for the informative reply. Those look like they could be a winner. What is the best way to get samples? I'm a total rookie. Also, because I'll likely be confined to small stakes (playing with college kids...) are there any cheap chips in the 13-20c range that have small denominations? (Particularly 5c and 25c). And because many of the games will either be 5NL, 10NL, or 20NL with 5-8 people I was thinking 200 5c, 200 25c, and 50 $1. Maybe I should get more in case of re-buys?
This has been such a helpful forum, I appreciate it all.

 

[MaxB]

Here's the set of chips I use that are cheap (16c each) for 5+ table tourneys .... and they are really not bad for non-casino

https://www.apachepokerchips.com/product/monaco-club-poker-chips/

 

[Poker Zombie]

For samples of the cheap chips, your best bet is to order a sleeve (usually in quantities of 25), unless the reseller has "sample sets" available.

With 25, you get the feel for the slipperiness in stacks. actual sample sets usually have fewer chips, but you get to see all the colors/denoms.

 

[Nathanman123]

For samples of the cheap chips, your best bet is to order a sleeve (usually in quantities of 25), unless the reseller has "sample sets" available.
[

Zombie do you have any knowledge of good low-denom chips, such as 5c/25c? Or would you recommend getting non-denom chips, or simply getting the cents in dollars ($5 chip to represent 5c) Thanks man

 

[WhiteMamba1646]

oh god i remember the dice chips.... the original poker scene! i actually was in a charity event that used em! came in second

 

[Beakertwang]

thepokerstore.com has sample sets available of most, if not all their sets, and offer a discount for multiple sets.

 

[fieldsy]

Thank you so much for the informative reply. Those look like they could be a winner. What is the best way to get samples? I'm a total rookie. Also, because I'll likely be confined to small stakes (playing with college kids...) are there any cheap chips in the 13-20c range that have small denominations? (Particularly 5c and 25c). And because many of the games will either be 5NL, 10NL, or 20NL with 5-8 people I was thinking 200 5c, 200 25c, and 50 $1. Maybe I should get more in case of re-buys?
This has been such a helpful forum, I appreciate it all.

I have no affiliation with any vendor, and I have purchased chips over the years from a variety of sources (including Amazon, local retailers, and several online poker retailers). But I have had great experiences buying from Apache Poker Chips, who happens to be a vendor on this forum. If I were you I would start by looking at designs on this page, where they have it looks like 9 designs at $0.16 per chip or cheaper. If there are any that suit your fancy, wander over to their sample page and look for a sample in the design(s) you are considering. Based on a quick glance I didn't see stock designs with printed denominations below $0.25, although the Showdown Club chips (never seen in person, not vouching for them) do not have the dollar sign. You can certainly play $0.05/0.10 with $5 chips representing nickels. It's just personal preference there.

Your proposed allocation seems a little light if you're going to play with $20 buyins, because that's only $120 in the whole set. I would think even with 5 players in a $20 game it won't be uncommon to have $200+ in play with people reloading. Not saying you can't make it work, especially if you fall back on "money plays." I haven't played much $0.05/0.10 (or $5/10 for that matter), but I think in a casino $5/10 NL game there are relatively few $5 chips in play because they're mainly for the blinds and change, with most of the betting done in $25 chips. So I would definitely include more $1 chips (200 wouldn't be a bad idea IMO), and if you have to cut down on a denomination I think you could live with fewer of the 5c chips (don't cut down on the 25c).

 

[BGinGA]

I'll likely be confined to small stakes (playing with college kids...) are there any cheap chips in the 13-20c range that have small denominations? (Particularly 5c and 25c).

Very few sets will have a 5c chip, but that doesn't mean that you can't order a different denomination chip and relabel it as a nickel, or just order $5, $25, and $100 chips and use them at 1/100th face value (probably the best and cheapest solution, tbh).

IAnd because many of the games will either be 5NL, 10NL, or 20NL with 5-8 people I was thinking 200 5c, 200 25c, and 50 $1. Maybe I should get more in case of re-buys?

If playing 5c/10c with less than a full table, you don't need 200 chips of the lowest denomination. 100 would be plenty, and probably overkill for just 8 players. 150-200 x 25c is fine, and having 50 x $1 chips should be plenty at those stakes with $5 or $10 buy-ins. Pass out all of the remaining quarters with initial reloads, adding $1 chips later if needed. On rare occasions where you have more than $90 in play on the table, you can always let $5 bills play (or $1s, or $10s, or $20s). A 20NL game is 4x bigger than a 5NL game, and would require substantially more chips imo.

A 300-chip set* should be fine for your purposes. Which if you have a $150 budget, puts you into the 50c-per-chip bracket, where quality and playability starts to go way up vs 15c chips. Just sayin'.

Get samples, get help in determining exactly how many chips you really need, and then buy the best chips that you like and can afford.

*
75 x 5c (or $5)
125 x 25c (or $25)
100 x $1 (or $100)
-----------
300 chips = $135 bank, or about $17 per player in an 8-player game (roughly 3+ $5 buy-ins per player at 50bb each)

 

[Old State]

If you could swing a little more and don’t need 1000 chips you could go with unlabeled Milanos and not break the bank. For .5 and .10 maybe pick uncommon colors like blue and yellow (usually $10&$20 chips) I say that because when you get out of school you will probably play higher and this would still allow you to incorporate white red and green as traditional colors for $1,5,25.

https://www.apachepokerchips.com/product/blank-milano-poker-chips/

Then save some cash and get custom labels later on.

 

[Nathanman123]

Very few sets will have a 5c chip...

*
75 x 5c (or $5)
125 x 25c (or $25)
100 x $1 (or $100)
-----------
300 chips = $135 bank, or about $17 per player in an 8-player game (roughly 3+ $5 buy-ins per player at 50bb each)

This is really useful, and I definitely agree with your points. After looking around I think that Majestics could be a really good, and they even have the 5c/25c denoms coming back in November which I'm willing to wait for.

That being said, I will primarily be playing 5/10NL, and the 20NL games will feature less (5-6 prob). I feel that a measly 75 5c chips won't be enough for 6-8 people in 10NL where that will require 2 chips to call the blind at least. Can you explain the reasoning? Also, in 10NL but especially 5NL it's much rarer to bet with $1, so why would I want as many? I don't mean to come off as disagreeable, I'm just trying to learn the rationale

 

[WedgeRock]

oh god i remember the dice chips.... the original poker scene! i actually was in a charity event that used em! came in second

Please identify this event... I'm about to be the chip leader...

 

[WhiteMamba1646]

This is really useful, and I definitely agree with your points. After looking around I think that Majestics could be a really good, and they even have the 5c/25c denoms coming back in November which I'm willing to wait for.

That being said, I will primarily be playing 5/10NL, and the 20NL games will feature less (5-6 prob). I feel that a measly 75 5c chips won't be enough for 6-8 people in 10NL where that will require 2 chips to call the blind at least. Can you explain the reasoning? Also, in 10NL but especially 5NL it's much rarer to bet with $1, so why would I want as many? I don't mean to come off as disagreeable, I'm just trying to learn the rationale

Good call, love the majestic's. They look really chalky when you receive them but once they have been oiled up once, they are golden.

 

[WedgeRock]

I feel that a measly 75 5c chips won't be enough for 6-8 people in 10NL where that will require 2 chips to call the blind at least. Can you explain the reasoning?

We play mostly 25¢/50¢ games and 12x25¢ per player is plenty in starting stacks. Sure, you could do 16x25¢ or 20x25¢ and make less change, but the need to make change with 12x25¢ is not cumbersome. As players pull pots, they are replenishing their 25¢ chips.

75 nickels for 8 people might be a little light, particularly because the jump to the next denom (25¢) is 5x (as opposed to 4x going from 25¢-->$1) but it's workable. I've played 25¢/50¢ with only 8 quarters in the starting stack.

And for rebuys, there's no need to put more low chips in play. There should be enough from the starting stacks. Our rebuys for a $100 buying are either all $5's or, later in the night, $25's. You make change from what's on the table, usually from the guy who just felted you.

And I think the recommendation for 75 nickles was a budget-conscious decision. You'll get more mileage having more if the workhorse chip than the SB chip.

 

[Poker Zombie]

For my 5c 10c game (1 table) I use 20 nickels, 12 quarters, and 6 dollar chips per person. Is it overkill on the small denoms? Maybe, but the players sitting at a 5c 10c table aren't exactly the same people you'd find in a $1 / $2 game. These players are trying to maximize fun (i.e. play into every hand) and aren't looking at strategy to maximize the value they get from each hand (thoughtful raises).

You can get away with less obviously, but depending on play styles, more little chips may be the correct answer.

 

[Nathanman123]

We play mostly 25¢/50¢ games and 12x25¢ per player is plenty in starting stacks. Sure, you could do 16x25¢ or 20x25¢ and make less change, but the need to make change with 12x25¢ is not cumbersome. As players pull pots, they are replenishing their 25¢ chips.

......

That makes sense, no need to answer BG, WedgeRock has quelled my worries! I might get 100 5c but I definitely see what you mean, seems very doable. Can't wait now!

 

[BGinGA]

I feel that a measly 75 5c chips won't be enough for 6-8 people in 10NL where that will require 2 chips to call the blind at least. Can you explain the reasoning? Also, in 10NL but especially 5NL it's much rarer to bet with $1, so why would I want as many?

As @WedgeRock just pointed out above, 10 blind chips per player is plenty. The most you'd use at any given time is two, and often the pot will be raised pre-flop getting 25c chips in play and eliminating their use pre-flop whatsoever. Especially if on a tight budget, you'll get more bang-for-the-buck with 25 more workhorse chips than 25 more blind chips.

Most important is to have an ample number of workhorse chips (25c chips, in your game). Most think that 20 per player is the minimum, and that more is better - you really can't have too many.

Having $1 chips ensures you have enough bank to cover the game in play, even if they aren't used significantly for betting.

Equating those principles to your game (avg 6-7 players) means 60-70 nickels, 120-140 quarters, and the rest in bank chips (dollars). Rounding to 25-increments (typically required quantities for inexpensive chips) means 75 x 5c,, 125 x 25c, and 100 x $1 chips (could also get by with 75/150/75, but your bank would be at risk of being short more often).

 

[BGinGA]

For my 5c 10c game (1 table) I use 20 nickels, 12 quarters, and 6 dollar chips per person. Is it overkill on the small denoms? Maybe, but the players sitting at a 5c 10c table aren't exactly the same people you'd find in a $1 / $2 game. These players are trying to maximize fun (i.e. play into every hand) and aren't looking at strategy to maximize the value they get from each hand (thoughtful raises).

You can get away with less obviously, but depending on play styles, more little chips may be the correct answer.

I understand, but for a budget-conscious host, that approach means a whole lot more chips are needed to cover the game.

 

[fieldsy]

That being said, I will primarily be playing 5/10NL, and the 20NL games will feature less (5-6 prob). I feel that a measly 75 5c chips won't be enough for 6-8 people in 10NL where that will require 2 chips to call the blind at least. Can you explain the reasoning? Also, in 10NL but especially 5NL it's much rarer to bet with $1, so why would I want as many? I don't mean to come off as disagreeable, I'm just trying to learn the rationale

Don't feel bad for asking questions. Everyone had these questions at one point. My quick responses:

1. If you have 8-10 5c chips per player, and enough 25c chips, you don't have to make change that much. Beginning players limp more, which maybe weighs a little bit in favor of more chips. But if you're raising to 3x the BB, that's 1 25c chip and 1 5c chip. Again, there's nothing wrong with playing bigger stacks of 5c chips, but if you are budget-constrained and have to limit your number of chips you will be fine with a rack of 5c. In theory you could play your whole game with 5c chips, but your 500-chip set would only provide for $25. I think about it this way. In many casinos, if you buy into a $1/2 game for $200, they only give you $5 chips. There are just enough $1 chips in circulation and in the dealer well to allow for blinds and the occasional odd-numbered bet.

2. Even if you aren't betting the $1 chips much, you need them to store value. If someone's stack dwindles and they run out of lower-denom chips, you make change with each other. Even a 500-chip set with four racks of 25c and a rack of 5c barely gets you over the $100 mark for your whole game, which doesn't cover 6-handed $20 buyins. Unless you want a bunch of racks of those 25s (as BGinGA points out, it's hard to have too many of those), you're going to have to have a supply of those $1s if you want to have any flexibility (or let bills play).

 

[MaxB]

I use 20 nickels, 12 quarters,

I wish I had that many nickels for a full table .... so instead I added 10c chips (cringe but the players love them).

 

[WedgeRock]

If you have 8-10 5c chips per player, and enough 25c chips, you don't have to make change that much.

This advice is on point. I just wanted to explicitly state that unless you are going to allow buyins for amounts other than even dollars, you are handing out 5, 10, 15... x 5¢. You are not going to hand out 8 nickles. Or 12 for that matter.

With 75 chips as @BGinGA suggests, you could, for example, hand out 10x5¢ for up to 7 buyins. The last buying will only get 5x5¢, but that's okay because there will be enough change on the table.

If the number of players is not firm, you could even do 15x5¢ for the first 5 buyins and no nickles for buyins after that (but again, that's okay because enough change will be on the table). And if you're worried about not having enough bank to cover the game, money can play (singles, or the occasional $5).

Make sure you have change (nickles and quarters for sure) to cash out at the end of the night. You'll need n (number of players) x4 nickles and nx3 quarters, unless someone has change to help at cash out.

 

[Nathanman123]

This advice is on point. I just wanted to explicitly state that unless you are going to allow buyins for amounts other than even dollars, you are handing out 5, 10, 15... x 5¢. You are not going to hand out 8 nickles. Or 12 for that matter.

With 75 chips as @BGinGA suggests, you could, for example, hand out 10x5¢ for up to 7 buyins. The last buying will only get 5x5¢, but that's okay because there will be enough change on the table.

If the number of players is not firm, you could even do 15x5¢ for the first 5 buyins and no nickles for buyins after that (but again, that's okay because enough change will be on the table). And if you're worried about not having enough bank to cover the game, money can play (singles, or the occasional $5).

Make sure you have change (nickles and quarters for sure) to cash out at the end of the night. You'll need n (number of players) x4 nickles and nx3 quarters, unless someone has change to help at cash out.

Sounds good, I'll be doing something to this effect. Right now when I've played some home games here at home in GA with friends everyone Venmo's me the money so I can shoot them back exact change. What is everyone's opinion on this option? I guess a bunch of old geezers in here might not know what Venmo is but I guess it's also easier to do with people you trust and also have the app readily available (that most teens I know do).

 

[Poker Zombie]

PayPal can get a little tricky with regular exchanges between regulars. Something about "not to be used for gambling" . I haven't read Venmos ToS, but it is something to consider if that is going to be a regular thing.

Instead, I might default to an old family option. Uncles/Cousins/Dad/Grandad all shot pool at family gatherings. Penny-Nickel stuff. Each player had a baby-food jar with their change in it, that would stay at the house (so a different jar was needed depending on whose house we met at). Sometimes someone would need to reload by handing the wealthiest player a few bucks, but most of the time the jars just fluxed in the amount of change they held.

 

[fieldsy]

Right now when I've played some home games here at home in GA with friends everyone Venmo's me the money so I can shoot them back exact change. What is everyone's opinion on this option? I guess a bunch of old geezers in here might not know what Venmo is but I guess it's also easier to do with people you trust and also have the app readily available (that most teens I know do).

Nothing wrong with this at all. My only advice is just make sure you are diligent in keeping track. The situation you should worry about is, over the course of a 5-hour session or whatever, you have several people bust out and say "Nathanman, I'll send you another $20" and add those chips to the game, possibly the same player multiple times. If they forget to send the $$ and you forget who committed to it, you're in a pickle at the end of the game when everyone counts up the chips and you didn't collect as much money as there are chips on the table.

Also, as I think about it, if your crew is of the younger generation with little cash on hand and handle only by Venmo, it makes it harder to rely on just using bills on the table if you don't have enough higher-denom chips. Plan accordingly.

 

[fieldsy]

PayPal can get a little tricky with regular exchanges between regulars. Something about "not to be used for gambling" . I haven't read Venmos ToS, but it is something to consider if that is going to be a regular thing.

Don't say "for poker buyin" or "gambling." But I've never had a problem.

 

[Poker Zombie]

I understand, but for a budget-conscious host, that approach means a whole lot more chips are needed to cover the game.

True, but depending on play style, nickles may be needed far more often. In my 5c 10c game, the nickles are the workhorse. If a $1 chip hits the table "The shit just got real" is declared, and we prepare to write down the bad beat for the night.