Beginner Poker Set Collection (1 Viewer)

[Trayus]

Hi all!

I'm fairly new to the chips collection world. I'm thinking about starting a quality tournament set (that can maybe double as a low stakes cash set) for 5 players maximum. What beginner sets would you recommend within the $100-$200 range and how many chips do you think I will need? I want to start small with just $1, $5, and $25 denominations and go up from there if I need to. I've currently gotten samples for the Valentino set from BRPokerPro. Any other samples I should try out?

On a similar note, I have a newbie question - is there any reason why I can't just walk into a casino and exchange for $1 poker chips and then just keep those for my personal set? Might be a stupid question but if paulson chips routinely go for $2-5 a piece, isn't it just cheaper to just keep the $1 chips from the casino or am I missing something obvious?

 

[PARADOX]

If you browse around, there is a sample set of a bunch of chips you can get by paying the shipping and a deposit I think.

Try to check out the card mold chips if you can. They are the nicest of the "cheap" chips.

Make sure to get samples of everything you can. What looks nice on your screen will look different in person!

Happy chipping!

 

[Johnblue]

I started with Paulson roulette mold solids.

They have no $denomination and are cheap compared to most of what we mess with.

Real Paulson clay, tons of cool colors, real workhorse chips.

Also, look at @TheChipRoom sales, best deals from a vendor. There might be some .50 cent real Paulson clay up there still.

And yes, many people do try to “harvest” $1 chips from casinos, they do it all the time. Some casinos don’like it, others don’t seem to care. The only problem is there’s really only white or baby blue $1s, in Vegas, most are also “house mold” (names stamped on sides instead of the hat and cane) but if what you want is a couple racks of $1s and you like the chips, go for it. People who live close to the casinos will actually sit at the poker tables and try to weed out the chips arhat are in good condition and take the best only.

 

[allforcharity]

Surreptitiously taking low denom live chips from a casino is known around here as "harvesting". There are lots of threads on it, with tips, tricks, and pitfalls. Some casinos openly allow it, others will vehemently refuse it. Many will be in between depending on who you approach and how you approach them.

 

[Trayus]

Also, look at @TheChipRoom sales, best deals from a vendor. There might be some .50 cent real Paulson clay up there still.

Thanks for pointing me to this vendor! That's the cheapest around that I've ever seen for Jack chips!

 

[Johnblue]

Thanks for pointing me to this vendor! That's the cheapest around that I've ever seen for Jack chips!

Yeah, you just missed the sale, whenever @TheChipRoom does a sale most of the best chips sell out in the first hour, that’s how I scored most of my collection, from chip room sales.

If you look back on the previous sales, you might also be able to establish what’s lying around peoples collections. like for instance, the HSI secondary 1A were such a steal I bought way more than I’ll ever need and I’m sure I’m not the only one who did, so making a wanted ad for something specific that you know the market value of will probably get some bites.

I bet those “dice chip” looking World Series of poker chips haven’t sold out yet.

Maybe even one of those solids tourney sets works for you, not sure what’s still available.

Good luck, and welcome to hell, the journey never ends.

 

[JScott]

Lots of good advice here already, but one thing I’d suggest is not having a tournament set double as cash. The last thing you want is a 25 from your tournament set ending up in your cash game, even by accident.

My advice, take your time and put together really nice sets for both cash and tournament. Once you do this you’ll be satisfied and never spend money on chips again….


Just kidding, you’re fucked. Now that you’re down this rabbit hole you might want to consider drugs… it’s cheaper. . Welcome!

 

[Greykin]

...
My advice, take your time and put together really nice sets for both cash and tournament. Once you do this you’ll be satisfied and never spend money on chips again….

Just kidding, you’re fucked. Now that you’re down this rabbit hole you might want to consider drugs… it’s cheaper. . Welcome!

Holy shit that made me laugh, then choke on my drink, then laugh some more. I'm pretty new to PCF, caught my first TCR sale, and have been kicking my bank account in the nutsack ever since.

 

[LeLe]

I started with Milano China Clay which is decent for a beginner set ;

Eventually I gotten my 1st Paulson set from The Chip Room.
Jim sold the most affordable set and the best place to start your Paulson journey.

 

[Papasatyr]

If it’s just five players max, I have a nice 300-piece set of ASMs I can sell you in your price range. White, red, and black solids—100 each. Absolute mint.

 

[Trayus]

I started with Milano China Clay which is decent for a beginner set ;

View attachment 819327

Eventually I gotten my 1st Paulson set from The Chip Room.
Jim sold the most affordable set and the best place to start your Paulson journey.

View attachment 819328

I was considering it. Out of curiosity, are the green $25 chips supposed to look bleached? I got a sample chip and there looks to be some uneven coloring.

I started with Paulson roulette mold solids.

They have no $denomination and are cheap compared to most of what we mess with.

Real Paulson clay, tons of cool colors, real workhorse chips.

Also, look at @TheChipRoom sales, best deals from a vendor. There might be some .50 cent real Paulson clay up there still.

And yes, many people do try to “harvest” $1 chips from casinos, they do it all the time. Some casinos don’like it, others don’t seem to care. The only problem is there’s really only white or baby blue $1s, in Vegas, most are also “house mold” (names stamped on sides instead of the hat and cane) but if what you want is a couple racks of $1s and you like the chips, go for it. People who live close to the casinos will actually sit at the poker tables and try to weed out the chips arhat are in good condition and take the best only.

I was trying to check around on the chip guide. It looks like there are still a few casinos around me that have $1 and even $0.50 RHC Paulson as their current chip. Is that possible or has it just not been updated in a while? Thought that any hat and cane molds have ceased production.

 

[LeLe]

I think it just lighting issue because the background is also green, it harder to capture the colour

Milano is my workhorse set over a year but since then I had already sold the set

This is an old photo of it