OP
OP
JLPicard
High Hand
I appreciate the sentiment, I've also found that shipping up here often means doubling the cost of a set that I'm looking at.
Advice for someone looking for heavily weighted (14g +) chips? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter JLPicard
- Start date
RichMahogany
Straight Flush
This is how I feel about the Abiatti GB chips. Nicer than all other plastics I’ve tried, still slippery AF.
+1
It’s science: abiatti & bg = plastic = slippery = meh chips = Paulson > all other chips
It’s science: abiatti & bg = plastic = slippery = meh chips = Paulson > all other chips
OP
OP
JLPicard
High Hand
Thanks, I'll check that out! I could certainly use some higher quality samples
I’ve been pretty surprised by how many people are excited about the Abbiati group buy. I have Crown Plaza samples and to me they just feel like more slippery versions of Claysmith chips. Yes, they don’t have flashing and the finishing/printing quality is nicer, but they really don’t make me want a set. I’ve got BG and Matsui samples as well and they’re the same - heavy and slippery.
I’m not going to knock em because everyone has different tastes, but a lot of people who diss on slugged chips really seem eager to pay $2 a somewhat more refined version of the same.
RainmanTrail
Straight Flush
I'd recommend trying to find some coin-in-center Bud Jones chips if you want a premium chip that's still heavy. I have 3 racks of Colorado Belle $1s that I could let go of if that helps, but you may want to look around and see what sets you an find if you like that idea.
RainmanTrail
Straight Flush
I’ve been pretty surprised by how many people are excited about the Abbiati group buy. I have Crown Plaza samples and to me they just feel like more slippery versions of Claysmith chips. Yes, they don’t have flashing and the finishing/printing quality is nicer, but they really don’t make me want a set. I’ve got BG and Matsui samples as well and they’re the same - heavy and slippery.
I’m not going to knock em because everyone has different tastes, but a lot of people who diss on slugged chips really seem eager to pay $2 a somewhat more refined version of the same.
As long as they're not dirty & sticky, I actually like the feel of premium hard plastics like Bud Jones or Abbiatis more than I do the feel of premium soft plastics like Paulson (and yes, all Paulson chips are also plastic, not clay).
The reason people are willing to pay $2 a chip for them is because they have many more design choices (spots, colors, label design, etc.), they have less slippery plastic (still somewhat slippery, but much less so than the cheap chips you see), and they are held to a much higher standard of quality. I enjoy the amount of slipperiness that BGs and Abbiatis have because they allow for a very smooth shuffle out of the box, unlike Paulsons which require a lot of shuffling and play to be broken into the point of "butteriness".I’ve been pretty surprised by how many people are excited about the Abbiati group buy. I have Crown Plaza samples and to me they just feel like more slippery versions of Claysmith chips. Yes, they don’t have flashing and the finishing/printing quality is nicer, but they really don’t make me want a set. I’ve got BG and Matsui samples as well and they’re the same - heavy and slippery.
I’m not going to knock em because everyone has different tastes, but a lot of people who diss on slugged chips really seem eager to pay $2 a somewhat more refined version of the same.
The Crown Plaza Abbiati chips are 11.5g each. The B&G part of GPI might be going under, unfortunately.
I came in here to recommend this too. @Apache has these Bud Jones in stock, they’re absolute bricks, I think CIC chips are my favorite feeling plastics, hands down. https://www.apachepokerchips.com/product/500-condado-plaza-casino-bud-jones-poker-chips/
TwoHomie
Two Pair
I love my Monte Carlos (purchased on Apache Poker) and my Claysmith Mints (relabeled into a custom tourney set).
They don’t feel at all like “casino chips” but I think they’re well made and are a nice heavy chip if that’s what your players want. And they’re cheap!
They don’t feel at all like “casino chips” but I think they’re well made and are a nice heavy chip if that’s what your players want. And they’re cheap!
I do agree, they shuffle great!
LotsOfChips
Flush
14.5 g - Official Casino Weight!!!
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Get nice chips.. you’ll adjust. You’re just not used to nice chips.. you don’t HATE lighter chips, you just don’t know what you’re missing. If you go into a casino and play poker, you’re playing with 9-9.5g chips.
also, this is the most important advice.. do not, I repeat, do not use the same set for tourney AND cash games. I know... you’re gonna tell me your friends are all trustworthy, and it’s just low stakes. ...having the same set used for both, introduces an environment ripe for cheating. And I can point to tons of examples of best friends who were caught cheating... Let me assure you that setting up a single set is a recipe for disaster. Plus, this forum is all about more chips, so get two different sets.
With some proper setup, you can get a set that runs tourneys well, for 4-600 chips. And a cash set that works well with 4-500 chips, depending on the numbers involved. These can be the same style chips, but never cross/purpose chips from one set into another..
an example is a T25 chip is pretty worthless in a tourney, but it’s often one of the higher denominated chips in a cash game.
also, this is the most important advice.. do not, I repeat, do not use the same set for tourney AND cash games. I know... you’re gonna tell me your friends are all trustworthy, and it’s just low stakes. ...having the same set used for both, introduces an environment ripe for cheating. And I can point to tons of examples of best friends who were caught cheating... Let me assure you that setting up a single set is a recipe for disaster. Plus, this forum is all about more chips, so get two different sets.
With some proper setup, you can get a set that runs tourneys well, for 4-600 chips. And a cash set that works well with 4-500 chips, depending on the numbers involved. These can be the same style chips, but never cross/purpose chips from one set into another..
an example is a T25 chip is pretty worthless in a tourney, but it’s often one of the higher denominated chips in a cash game.
Papasatyr
Two Pair
Claysmith 14g chips are a solid choice of chip. They look good and stack great, better than milanos to be honest.
The rub: they weigh 14 grams. Most players find 14g feels too heavy in hand. Even players not obsessed with chips have said so upon handling my sample set.
The rub: they weigh 14 grams. Most players find 14g feels too heavy in hand. Even players not obsessed with chips have said so upon handling my sample set.
Papasatyr
Two Pair
Not according to those microscope images somebody posted on this forum a few months ago. Polymers make fibers, so they are easy to see against a backdrop of various earthen materials. I was shocked how little plastic was in the both the Paulson and ASM chip—like 5% to 10% plastic. I was expecting half plastic. Apparently, the plastic is as much shock absorber as it is binder.
SeanGecko
4 of a Kind
Nah
Link to those images?
CrazyEddie
Full House
To get a chip that heavy, you're going to get what's called around here "plastic sluggers" - injection-molded plastic chips with a heavy metal slug inside. There's two sorts:
- Cheap mass-market low-quality plastic chips (often called "dice chips" because this particular design was super-popular when poker took off in the 2000s)
- Expensive high-quality plastic chips as used in some casinos
The casino-quality chips are made by a handful of companies: Bud Jones (now part of Gaming Partners, Inc), Bourgogne and Grasset (now also part of GPI), Matsui, and Abbiati. BJ and B&G only sell to casinos. Matsui and Abbiati sell to casinos and to the public, but in order to meet their minimum order quantities people usually form group buys. This means that it's impossible or impractical to just go out and buy a set of these casino-quality plastics, but you can find them on the second-hand market here in the PCF classifieds. These chips sometimes enter the market when casinos close, or when someone puts together a group buy, and then eventually they end up for sale here as people trade them out of their collections.
The casino plastics are a lot more difficult to find, a lot more expensive, and a lot nicer in quality. They're also more limited in graphic designs; they all have distinctive geometric features around the edges, and the labels on them will be whatever the casino or group buy chose to put there. You can relabel any of them yourself to put whatever design you like in the middle, but that takes additional time, effort, and money.
So if you really do have your heart set on heavier chips, my recommendations are:
- Peruse Amazon and online poker chip retailers. They'll have plenty of chips to look at. Find some that are as heavy as you like (11.5g is common, 13g is common, heavier than that is unusual) and that look nice to you, then order a sample set. Retailers don't often have sample sets, but sometimes you can find sample sets for sale on eBay.
- At the same time, search the forum for "Bud Jones", "Grasset", "Matsui", and "Abbiati" in order to get a clear picture of what kinds of casino-quality plastic chips there are out there, what they look like, and how much they'll cost. You may be able to find some people willing to sell or lend sample sets; look around and then ask around.
But if you like heavy chips, stick to your guns and get the chips that work the best for you.
OP
OP
JLPicard
High Hand
These look GREAT. I just wish there were more options for denominations.
Super informative, thank you for this. I feel like I've taken a look at a lot of the cheaper dice-style chips, so I'll do some research on the BJ, B&G, Matsui & Abbiati and try to get my hands on some samples.
Papasatyr
Two Pair
Here’s one of, methinks, several. https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/modern-paulson-chip-construction.62493/#post-1231013
CrazyEddie
Full House
Clay chips contain enough plastic that they behave like plastic, meaning they soften and flow when heated and stiffen when cooled (until heated to the point of fully curing under pressure). Plastic is the primary ingredient; fine clay minerals and fibrous material like cotton are used as fillers to do things like make them heavier and more durable.
The fibers you're seeing in those pictures aren't polymers, they're cellulose. Polymers would melt and flow during the mixing process used to create the "clay", which starts with solid plastic resins and melts them along with the minerals, fibers, colorants, and other additives.
Poppin92
Flush
I disagree strongly , and I’m probably look like an idiot to disagree with particularly you but I do. The BG I’ve handled here in Holland casino are very very nice and not slippery. Yes they are more slippery than paulsons (Obvious) because they’re not clay and they don’t have the clay texture. But if you wanna compare PNY Paulson to B&G. B&G are less slippery than PNY’s. They are more slippery than majority of clays , yes. But they are not Slippery like Matsui.
Pinesol13
Flush
I had a similar experience with my friends when I upgraded from dice chips. We'd been playing with these super heavy chips that stack like bricks for 10+ years, when I moved to the China Clay Dunes from Apache I had a pretty strong negative reaction from my friends. They were "too light" and "more slippery" than the dice chips that they know and love.
Eventually they got over it.
I will say that I think Ceramics might be a good compromise. But might be more expensive than you're looking for
JustDogbert
Two Pair
Look, as you have probably gathered already, their are plenty of opinions about chips, weight, which is the best, etc. Remember, these are opinions and preferences - so I agree with the others here and suggest you get samples (of different kinds and weights of chips). Once you know what you prefer, go buy 'em.
With that said, my preference is for clay chips, ~10.5 grams each. To me, the clay feels the best in my hand, sounds the best (when stacked or splashed) and the 10.5 grams is not too heavy and not too light.
Something like these bad boys
Good luck and welcome.
With that said, my preference is for clay chips, ~10.5 grams each. To me, the clay feels the best in my hand, sounds the best (when stacked or splashed) and the 10.5 grams is not too heavy and not too light.
Something like these bad boys
Good luck and welcome.
RainmanTrail
Straight Flush
I've played with B&G chips several times in Asian countries. They've never been slippery. They were usually too sticky in fact. To me, that's the biggest drawback of the high end plastics is that once they get dirty, they stick together. Paulsons don't really do that though. But I love a clean set of Bud Jones. They really do feel nice. And they'll last decades longer than Paulsons in a casino environment.
Poppin92
Flush
Exactly my experience too. They’re sticky and not slippery at all like mentioned in this thread. Thanks for backing me up
One of the few chip lines that benefit from the addition of hooker juice?
Now, just to find a ready source of supply for my BJ's...
Everyone needs a good BJ source. (Out of context thread, here we go).
CdnBeerLover
Full House
@JLPicard , welcome to the forum!
As you've likely realized, there aren't many options domestically. There are two main vendors in Canada
MRC Poker (www.mrcpoker.com) in BC
Straight Poker Supplies (www.straightpokersupplies.com) in Ontario
Neither of them offer the high-end chips that have been referred to in the thread. StraightPoker does have the Claysmith lines mentioned earlier in the thread.
Be warned, though. If you get your hands on the high-end sample set making the rounds, it won't be long after that you will be wanting to upgrade.
As you've likely realized, there aren't many options domestically. There are two main vendors in Canada
MRC Poker (www.mrcpoker.com) in BC
Straight Poker Supplies (www.straightpokersupplies.com) in Ontario
Neither of them offer the high-end chips that have been referred to in the thread. StraightPoker does have the Claysmith lines mentioned earlier in the thread.
Be warned, though. If you get your hands on the high-end sample set making the rounds, it won't be long after that you will be wanting to upgrade.
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