Cash Game $40 buy-in/dealer choice cash game starting stacks? (2 Viewers)

p5woody

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I host a monthly game where we play cash for the first 1-2 hours and then we switch to a T10,000 tournament $25 buy-in + 5 dollar bounty.

Cash game - 8 players $40 max buy-in cash game where we play dealer choice games. Instead of 25¢ ante we have the dealer put in 1 dollar, the min-bet is 25¢. My current starting stacks are (16 - 25¢), (16 - $1), and (4 - $5). These starting stacks have been working well for us. I think our game plays pretty small compared to others, it really is just social hour while we wait for everybody to show up. We normally have 2-3 rebuys total each night. It is a game among co-workers and friends that has been going on for 10+ years.

Here is my question, I am getting a 300 chip set from the design contest here and I am trying to work out the correct breakdown. If I keep my current starting stacks
8 players would need (128 - 25¢), (128 - $1), (32 - $5) for a total of 288 chips, I could then add (12 - $20) chips to round out the 300. I would then add a sample set on top

I was wondering if it would be better change starting stacks (12 - 25¢), (17 - $1), (4 - $5).
8 players would need (96 - 25¢), (136 - $1), (32 - $5) for a total of 264 chips, I could then add (16 - $5) chips and (8 - $20) chips and round out the set with 1 12-chip sample set.

Would reducing the 25¢ chips from 16 down to 12 make that big of a difference? and is there a better breakdown?
 
My cash game is similar in stakes. I think 12 quarters per player is fine. I use just 1 rack of quarters, no problems. We use lots of $1's and a few fivers. I don't use any bigger denoms as $20 bills play.
 
I think 12 x quarters are plenty, but I'd go even racks and change your starting stacks slightly to 12-12-5. The set would be:

100 x quarter
100 x $1
80 x $5
20 x $20
 
I think 12 x quarters are plenty, but I'd go even racks and change your starting stacks slightly to 12-12-5. The set would be:

100 x quarter
100 x $1
80 x $5
20 x $20

ya, for the stakes you're talking about, and total chip count (300), I like this breakdown.

I do similar stakes, but prefer full barrels for simplicity. 20/20/3. Reloads are done with Redbirds. A 300 chip set won't support this though.
 
I think 12 x quarters are plenty, but I'd go even racks and change your starting stacks slightly to 12-12-5. The set would be:

100 x quarter
100 x $1
80 x $5
20 x $20

12/12/5 is what I use for my game, works perfectly well. Rebuys are usually 8/8/x, depending on what they rebuy for, until I run out of quarters and $1s.
 
Thanks for the feedback, I think I will go with 12/12/5, and maybe bump it up to 330 chips 120/120/80/10. This would allow me to handle 10 players if needed and have enough bank for rebuys. I know, I know my racks won't be full. Will my OCD kick in? Will I bump it to 400 chips?
 
I know, I know my racks won't be full. Will my OCD kick in? Will I bump it to 400 chips?

Yes. Yes it will, and yes you will. Think of it this way - you'd be paying maybe $70 to get the exact 400 chip set you want (that you created, btw) and put your OCD at ease. Small price for custom chippies!
 
Yes. Yes it will, and yes you will. Think of it this way - you'd be paying maybe $70 to get the exact 400 chip set you want (that you created, btw) and put your OCD at ease. Small price for custom chippies!

Yes, time to explain how a free set of chips cost me $70 plus money spent on sample sets to the wife :)
 
I do similar stakes, but prefer full barrels for simplicity. 20/20/3. Reloads are done with Redbirds. A 300 chip set won't support this though.

I do this too actually, and if 400 chips it'd be easier to disperse and let players make change after getting all the quarters and $1's on table.

120 x quarter
120 x $1
140 x $5
20 x $20

Just do 20-20-3 for the first six players then get into the $5's. ;)
 
12-12-5 is fine for NLHE, but for limit games (and seeing as you're playing Dealer's Choice I'm assuming you also play limit games) I'd recommend more quarters. 16-16-4 is better suited for limit and mixed games. 20-20-3 would be even better, but of course you'll never make that work within a 300 chip set.

If you can stretch it to 400 chips, you could get 140-140-120 (so you can fill the barrels with the same chips). This will allow up to 10 rebuys (in $5 chips, there will be plenty of low denoms on the table).
 
In cash games, you don't need to give everybody exactly the same starting stack. I like to distribute full barrels as much as possible, until all of the lowest denoms are on the table. With a $40 buy-in and a 100/100/80/20 bank, the first five players get 20 quarters, 20 $1's, and 3 $5's. When the quarters and ones are all on the table, buy-ins and rebuys are $5's. When they run out, rebuys are $20's. Players make change at the table. The primary advantage is easy distribution of chips. ymmv.
 
Thanks for all the advice, I really like the idea of starting stacks of 20/20/3. It is so simple, why didn't I think of that. Right now, my plan is 120/120/70/10 for a total of 320. Our normal group is 6-8 players with 4 or 5 rebuys. This breakdown will handle this group just fine. If we get a larger group, I also have two other cash sets. I have my current custom woody chips (500 custom labelled cheap casino 12g chips) and a new set of 750 CPS chips. Not sure the cheap 12g chips will ever see the felt again, they aren't bad for what they are. Just not in the same league of the other chips.
 

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