Best options for micro stakes? (2 Viewers)

[ChipWhisperer]

Hello,

Just getting into the poker chip game and wanted to get some clarity.

Eventually would like to be apart of a group buy for the SPW chips but looking for something in between SPW and dice chips $$$ wise. Mostly will be hosting monthly cash games with ~$10-$20 buy ins. Can see this eventually getting higher and/or me supplimenting with some higher games elsewhere.

For 10 people, would 500 chips be enough or do you recommend more? I know this depends a lot on what the blinds are. If 500 is good, are there some good chips in the 100-300 range you would recommend? I prefer the chips with designs you would find at BR Pro Poker like SPW, tiki, etc over the standard casino chips that a lot of people seem to like. Also saw some cool star wars ones on the forum somewhere that would be fun.

 

[allforcharity]

You can do a 10 player tourney set with about 400 chips.

We prefer 10 player cash to have 600 chips.

 

[springbox]

$10 to $20 buy in is probably .5/.10 stakes. For 500 chips I'd say

100x$0.05
200x$0.25
150x$1
50x$5

That's $455 in bank. At $20 that's 22.75 buy ins (maybe a little light), and at $10 it's 45 buy ins (plenty). If you're doing $20 BIs and expect lots of re-buys, remove 25 quarters and add 25 fives.

BRPro chips are nice, but probably outside your price range. Below that you're looking at slugged chips like monte carlo, which while not particularly high end are a big step up from dice chips if only because they have denominations. The sane thing to do is to buy a set of these and never come back to the forum. When I used them, players actually said they thought they were nice. Up from slugs will be China clays, like the Apache majestics, which will probably clock in just below $300 with shipping accounted for. If you want ceramics (unweighted plastic chips) I would look into buying some ceramic chips off the forum, about $170~$250 + shipping depending on what mold you go for. Lots of designs to choose from though.

600 would be a little better, but isn't necessary depending on how the group plays.

 

[surfik]

Go cheap...

 

[ChipWhisperer]

Go cheap...

Why?

 

[ChrisTot]

What I saw recommended on here that’s worked for me for years is just buying a $1/$2 cash set that represents 10x your buyin. $20 = $200 in chips.

 

[LeLe]

If you already have your eyes on a set of SPW, then don't waste money on a cheap temporary set.

It will be better to just continue using your dice chip set as a cheap set is not much of an upgrade anyway.

 

[buzzmonkey]

$10 to $20 buy in is probably .5/.10 stakes. For 500 chips I'd say

100x$0.05
200x$0.25
150x$1
50x$5

That's $455 in bank. At $20 that's 22.75 buy ins (maybe a little light), and at $10 it's 45 buy ins (plenty). If you're doing $20 BIs and expect lots of re-buys, remove 25 quarters and add 25 fives.

BRPro chips are nice, but probably outside your price range. Below that you're looking at slugged chips like monte carlo, which while not particularly high end are a big step up from dice chips if only because they have denominations. The sane thing to do is to buy a set of these and never come back to the forum. When I used them, players actually said they thought they were nice. Up from slugs will be China clays, like the Apache majestics, which will probably clock in just below $300 with shipping accounted for. If you want ceramics (unweighted plastic chips) I would look into buying some ceramic chips off the forum, about $170~$250 + shipping depending on what mold you go for. Lots of designs to choose from though.

600 would be a little better, but isn't necessary depending on how the group plays.

You can also also make up a couple of $1 straps of 25 for if you sell out your bank. The can be used for change at the end of the night and give the game a bit of a high stakes feel.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

If you already have your eyes on a set of SPW, then don't waste money on a cheap temporary set.

Agreed, definitely good advice.

It will be better to just continue using your dice chip set as a cheap set is not much of an upgrade anyway.

Haaaaard disagree, and that's okay lol. Different priorities, but much much happier with my cheap chips.

OP, if SPW is your goal put money in a pile until you have enough to buy them, buying incrementally will just make you unhappy. For your price range and microstakes, I love the no-mold chips. Theyre ceramic so lesser quality than the clay, but my players and I don't really care, huge step up from dice chips for us. Plus I was able to fully customize them with the smaller denoms I need. $100 chips are mostly cheap jokes, $20 hit the table once lol.

 

[LeLe]

When OP put his budget range at 100-300 for a set of 500 chips as a temporary set, it just not going to serve much more value / purpose to him than what a dice set will do.

I have no problem with Tina chips, in fact I started my chipping with a CM set and still owned 2 Tina set (1200 chips set make in 43mm CM & 800 chips set make in 39mm NM)

 

[surfik]

Why?

My philosophy.... Go with a ceramics, increase quality of chips proportionaly to the value of blinds.
But if you want go nuts.... buy Tigers

 

[Beakertwang]

Cards molds are a nice moderately priced option with plenty of micro stakes sets available. Using 1/2 as .10/.20, or 5/10 as .05/.1 can work, as well.

500 chips can work ok, but 600 is better. 800 is better-er. If you outgrow your bank, you can always let $10 or $20 bills play.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

When OP put his budget range at 100-300 for a set of 500 chips as a temporary set, it just not going to serve much more value / purpose to him than what a dice set will do.

I have no problem with Tina chips, in fact I started my chipping with a CM set and still owned 2 Tina set (1200 chips set make in 43mm CM & 800 chips set make in 39mm NM)

Very fair! Different context for sure. Wasnt being defensive, love the different viewpoints on here and would love to play with most sets Ive seen

 

[improviseallday]

are there some good chips in the 100-300 range you would recommend? I prefer the chips with designs you would find at BR Pro Poker like SPW, tiki, etc over the standard casino chips that a lot of people seem to like. Also saw some cool star wars ones on the forum somewhere that would be fun.

If you can wait, keep an eye out in the classifieds, Tiki, DDLM, etc can be found every so often at the higher end of your price range.

 

[ChipWhisperer]

Hey Everyone,

Fantastic advice on here. Here is where I am at.

• I currently have no chips, not even dice. Just bum them off other people for games. Wanted to start with something a little more upscale.
• Based on the recommendations above, I decided to stay at the lower end of my range. I plan on getting samples for the Casino Royale's or MC's. These seem like great micro cash starters that don't break the bank. Also can cheaply get more if game grows.
• Other option is no molds mentioned by NotRealName. Don't know much about them but they look interesting. Would love to learn more.
• I plan on holding this set for 6 months - 2 year before SPW's. Totally depends on income/other needs.

 

[improviseallday]

Other option is no molds mentioned by NotRealName. Don't know much about them but they look interesting. Would love to learn more.

Sample packs for no molds will show up in classifieds every once in a while. Or you could PM justincarothers and see if they have some extras for sale.

 

[exodus]

This thread is great for figuring out how you want to build out your set. There is a ton of valuable information here and it will give you a good idea if you need more or less chips.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...ut-a-cash-game-chip-set-5c-10c-to-5-10.30897/

 

[ChipWhisperer]

@exodus: How would you compare the $20 cash game chips setup mentioned in that thread (see below):

100x 5c ($5)
200x 25c ($50)
150x $1 ($150)
25x $5 ($125)
25x $20 ($500)

And compare it these chip recommendations @springbox mentioned at the start of this thread?

100x$0.05
200x$0.25
150x$1
50x$5

Just trying to see how often 20’s will actually be used.

 

[4SUMERZ]

After many cheap sets of chips, including my 1st dice chips, joining this forum made me aware of much better options regarding chips. The budget will dictate
what type of chips you will settle for. I didn't mind spending $300.00-400.00 for a decent set, and after much trolling of the threads, I decided on the no-mold textured sets offered on the monthly group buys. At less than $0.50 per chip, and a huge option, how can one go wrong? Believe me when I say, the guys at my home games didn't mind playing with whatever chips I had. Now, with my upgraded chips, they don't play poker any differently lol.
I like my chips, as they match my poker room theme of the Mirage Casino, but I'm fairly certain than my buddies don't care what chips they play with.
I'm hoping that once the casino is officially closed, the no-mold option for the Mirage chips will return and be made available.
I did get some before they put the brakes on, and I absolutely love the look and feel of the no mold textured chips.

We have a $20.00 buy in cash game. The chips in the picture are my starting stack. 10 - $0.05, 10 - $0.25, 12 $1.00 and 1 - $5.00 10/25 blinds or 25/25 blinds depending if we use the $0.05 chips. We have 80 BB's. Each chip is worth what the chip says. I'm thinking on going to a $25.00 buy in, which will give us 100BB
We play for 4.5 hours, then once around the table and cash out.

 

[exodus]

@exodus: How would you compare the $20 cash game chips setup mentioned in that thread (see below):

100x 5c ($5)
200x 25c ($50)
150x $1 ($150)
25x $5 ($125)
25x $20 ($500)

And compare it these chip recommendations @springbox mentioned at the start of this thread?

100x$0.05
200x$0.25
150x$1
50x$5

Just trying to see how often 20’s will actually be used.

This is super dependent on how your group plays. The first breakdown would be for groups that are willing to rebuy over 2 times each per player. So if it's 10 players and everyone rebuys 2 times then there would be $600 in play ($20 initial buy in and then $40 in rebuys). The other breakdown wouldn't be able to support this group.

As for the second breakdown, this would be for a more conservative/less gamble-y group. This breakdown is for people who won't rebuy often since the money may mean more to them, think poor college students.

I usually run a $0.50/$.25 game with a very splashy group of gents. By the end of the night, we have maybe $1500-$2000 on the table. I currently have a 600 chipset $.25/$1/$5/$25/$100 with quantities of 100/200/200/80/20 that supports this game. The $100s haven't seen too much play (usually for novelty), but it's nice to have in case things get crazy. I hope that helps.

 

[4SUMERZ]

Rebuy stacks can be made of higher demom chips, as change can be made by players on the table. I don't have a ton of chips, but I have 6 rebuy stacks of the same chip denoms and same amount of chips as the starting stack. For any rebuys after that, I just use 4 $5.00 chips.
My table allows top up of a $20 stack when they get to $5.00 or less.
As an example, if someone gets to $4.75, they can rebuy an extra $20 to add to their chips.
We don't allow anyone to buy more than the starting stack at anytime.

 

[ChipWhisperer]

In terms of sub $150 for 500+ micro sets (including shipping), anything else worth considering other than the Monte Carlo's or the Casino Royals?

I also saw these Crown Casino Chips that don't have the $ sign on the middle next to the number. Could use something like this to hack together a cash and tournament set that reuses same chips for both (ie use the 100 chip for $1 in cash games and the $100 in tournaments).

I know people generally want to keep their sets separate but I like the fact that I can do both with minimal extra $ invested while I play and get SPW down the road.

Open to all 3 options mentioned above the picture or any others that fall into the same general sub $150 price range.

 

[improviseallday]

In terms of sub $150 for 500+ micro sets (including shipping), anything else worth considering other than the Monte Carlo's or the Casino Royals?

I also saw these Crown Casino Chips that don't have the $ sign on the middle next to the number. Could use something like this to hack together a cash and tournament set that reuses same chips for both (ie use the 100 chip for $1 in cash games and the $100 in tournaments).

View attachment 1195609

I know people generally want to keep their sets separate but I like the fact that I can do both with minimal extra $ invested while I play and get SPW down the road.

Open to all 3 options mentioned above the picture or any others that fall into the same general sub $150 price range.

Also worth considering: Spartan Poker Chips

https://www.discountpokershop.com/135g-500pc-spartan-poker-chip-set-p-732.html

You'll have to get creative with the denoms.

But honestly, if you're not going to have the right denoms for your game, you may consider dice chips. It keeps you closer to affording your dream set.

 

[Beakertwang]

https://www.thepokerstore.com/colle...smooth-14-gram-poker-chips-with-aluminum-case

These have all the microstakes denoms and are serviceable. 600 chips will cost you about $200, then you could give them to a friend or a kid. The Poker Store has great customer service, too.

I'd get the following breakdown:
5¢ x 100
25¢ x 200
$1 x 250
$5 x 50

That gives you a bank of more than $500, which will cover a CRAZY microstakes game.

 

[Sisu41]

Agreed, definitely good advice.

Haaaaard disagree, and that's okay lol. Different priorities, but much much happier with my cheap chips.

View attachment 1193682

OP, if SPW is your goal put money in a pile until you have enough to buy them, buying incrementally will just make you unhappy. For your price range and microstakes, I love the no-mold chips. Theyre ceramic so lesser quality than the clay, but my players and I don't really care, huge step up from dice chips for us. Plus I was able to fully customize them with the smaller denoms I need. $100 chips are mostly cheap jokes, $20 hit the table once lol.

Idk where to get 5 cent chips, but those are really nice

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Idk where to get 5 cent chips, but those are really nice

Thanks dude! These are customs I had made, but some of the BRPro stock options have them, and they can easily change the denoms of all their chips. Also, Monte Carlos and a few others come with nickels.

Main advice is save until you have enough to buy what you actually want. Stepping stone sets wont last long.