Beginner Chips 2023 (1 Viewer)

improviseallday

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What are the best chips under $1/chip to try as a beginner in 2023?

Common recommendations:

- Ceramic (via BR Pro Poker or Sunfly)
- China Clay (via Apache)
- Cards Mold (via Broken Arrow or Apache)
- No Mold (via Broken Arrow)

Other options:

- Slugged plastic (many vendors)
- Gemaco (most chips are sold out at TheChipRoom)

Notable exclusions:

- Bud Jones, B&G, Gemaco are in budget, but there doesn't seem to be a retail source for these, so it's hard to recommend for a beginner.
- Broken Arrow's Greek mold isn't released yet (but appears to be soon approaching.)
- CPC, Paulson, Abbiati, Matsui, etc. are great chips but not in budget.

Anything else worth considering?
 
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For full customs I'd go with BRPRO or Sunfly polyinno hybrids. 39mm options for both fully custom come in under $1 a chip. Just slightly over $1 per chip for 43mm (or larger, 47mm BRPRO chips are a thing).

I love my 43mm Sunfly hybrids and 47mm BRPRO chips!





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For full customs I'd go with BRPRO or Sunfly polyinno hybrids. 39mm options for both fully custom come in under $1 a chip. Just slightly over $1 per chip for 43mm (or larger, 47mm BRPRO chips are a thing).

I love my 43mm Sunfly hybrids and 47mm BRPRO chips!





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That’s if you are buying over 500 chips and don’t care about edge alignment.
 
That’s if you are buying over 500 chips and don’t care about edge alignment.
Ooof, I didn't realize prices went up that much in just 2 years. But yeah, any full cash set of 500 chips or more with edge alignment is $1.15 per chip.

Pssst....if you put your order in your cart and fill out the order form but don't click submit, wait a day or two, you'll get a 10% off code plus free shipping to your inbox.
 
Ooof, I didn't realize prices went up that much in just 2 years. But yeah, any full cash set of 500 chips or more with edge alignment is $1.15 per chip.

Pssst....if you put your order in your cart and fill out the order form but don't click submit, wait a day or two, you'll get a 10% off code plus free shipping to your inbox.

Abandoning my cart for big purchases is a favorite pastime these days. Thanks for the tip!
 
So. I'm gonna be that guy. And understand it's from a place of good....

Wait for a chip room sale. Alot of the time, you can get Paulson clay within that budget used. The benefit is what your buying at that time will hold it's value. You buy some of those options, and they are yours forever. And we have found in this hobby that it grows.... But as some of my players have found out, you can buy a nice used Paulson set, clean and oil it, get tons of good games out of it, and it's worth almost always what you paid for it, and sometimes you can make a bit on top.

@louBdub can back me up here. Initial purchases here when you start rarely stand the test of time, and the hobby isn't a sprint, it's a marathon.

Either way, good luck on yer adventure.
 
All high end plastic manufacturers are within budget as long as we are talking about casino used sets (low demand, low pricing). The more valuable sets you see people selling are mostly from group buys. But yes availability is an issue, so patience is key. As you noted, Gemaco sets are currently offered.

You might be able to get some proper clays for under $1/ea depending on the style and condition. Not out of the question, but again patience is needed.

If you want the chips yesterday and like ceramics, go with BR Pro or Sunfly IMO.
 
So. I'm gonna be that guy. And understand it's from a place of good....

Wait for a chip room sale. Alot of the time, you can get Paulson clay within that budget used. The benefit is what your buying at that time will hold it's value. You buy some of those options, and they are yours forever. And we have found in this hobby that it grows.... But as some of my players have found out, you can buy a nice used Paulson set, clean and oil it, get tons of good games out of it, and it's worth almost always what you paid for it, and sometimes you can make a bit on top.

@louBdub can back me up here. Initial purchases here when you start rarely stand the test of time, and the hobby isn't a sprint, it's a marathon.

Either way, good luck on yer adventure.
There was a second part to my post and I completely forgot about it, which was pretty much this.

The chips may be a little beaten up and may not be in mint condition, but they're real clay chips that used to be from a casino.

4 years in this hobby and I don't think I've kept anything from my first year in the hobby. My first CPC set of chips is the set I've had the longest (February 2021) that I still own.
 
I would suggest the China Clays from Apache, Majestics and Royal Card Room. They both go together very well too if you wanna mix them since the Royals are 43mm and the Majestic are 39mm. Apache also offers Plaques which might be nice, however they are like 6-9$ per Plaque, the chips where around 60c and 70c if I remember correctly. Great to start your adventure with those and they wont make you poor :D
 

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buy paulsons. In ten years china clays may be dust, tina ceramics may be faded, bled or trash some other way. Paulsons will still be good and almost definitely worth more then you originally paid. The rest will be lost money.
 
So. I'm gonna be that guy. And understand it's from a place of good....

Wait for a chip room sale. Alot of the time, you can get Paulson clay within that budget used. The benefit is what your buying at that time will hold it's value. You buy some of those options, and they are yours forever. And we have found in this hobby that it grows.... But as some of my players have found out, you can buy a nice used Paulson set, clean and oil it, get tons of good games out of it, and it's worth almost always what you paid for it, and sometimes you can make a bit on top.

@louBdub can back me up here. Initial purchases here when you start rarely stand the test of time, and the hobby isn't a sprint, it's a marathon.

Either way, good luck on yer adventure.
$1.50 a chip, for LEADED THC SOLIDS! Deals are out there, you don’t have to be in the $20-$30-$100 a chip ludicrous land.

Check these out!
IMG_4995.jpeg
 
For full customs I'd go with BRPRO or Sunfly polyinno hybrids. 39mm options for both fully custom come in under $1 a chip. Just slightly over $1 per chip for 43mm (or larger, 47mm BRPRO chips are a thing).

I love my 43mm Sunfly hybrids and 47mm BRPRO chips!





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Gorgeous chips.
 

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