Cash Game Cash Set MakeUp (1 Viewer)

[arch3r]

I know this has been discussed many times before, and I've read those discussions. But I'm just looking for confirmation and a sanity check on my impending cash set purchase.

I am looking to put together a set that will support primarily a single table $0.25/$0.50 game, but also the occasional $1/$2 game. Here's what I am thinking...

200 - $0.25
200 - $1
200 - $5
100 - $20
100 - NVC

With the following breakdowns...

$0.25/$0.50 game with a starting stack of $40/$100
20 - $0.25
20 - $1
3/15 - $5

This gets all the $0.25 and $1 on the table for 10 players ( I usually only have 6-8 though ) with plenty more higher demos to color up.

$1/$2 game with starting stacks of $100/$200
20 - $1
16/20 - $5
0/4 - $20

This again gets all the $1s and most of the $5s in play with enough $20 for color up.

The NVC chip can be either a $0.05/$0.10 for micro cash game or $50/$100 for a bigger $1/$2

I need to say that most of my games are $0.25/$0.50 so being tight on $1s for a $1/$2 is not a huge concern right now. If my game morphs into mostly $1/$2, then I'll add more higher demos, but for now I am focusing mostly on the smaller stakes.

So my question is, does this set breakdown seem fine, or am I missing something?

 

[Shaggy]

In my opinion, you have too many 25c chips. Most will agree that 100x 25c is sufficient for a single table. Those that disagree tend to have players that are very limpy with the 25c. If your game plays very limpy, you might like having extra 25c. In a game where a preflop raise is 75c or $1+ and all post flop betting is using $1 and $5... then you don't need as many quarters. Everything else looks fine.

 

[detroitdad]

100 x .25

300 x 5

 

[Rhodeman77]

What @Shaggy said. Get more $5's with those chips you cut down. Also what are the NCV chips for? I'd cut those out, get 20 $100's and make the rest $5's.

 

[Shaggy]

Also what are the NCV chips for? I'd cut those out, get 20 $100's and make the rest $5's.

The NVC chip can be either a $0.05/$0.10 for micro cash game or $50/$100 for a bigger $1/$2

 

[Rhodeman77]

Guess I should have read the whole OP haha!

 

[Psypher1000]

• I'm host plenty of micro-stakes poker
• I love having 120-200 fracs in a 25c/25c or 25c/50c game

With both of those things said, I still recommend you get more $5's. For a $1/$2 game, your $5 chip is the heavy workhorse. I'd take either 80 or 100 of those quarters and turn them into $5's. Other than that, your set is reasonably flexible.

 

[upNdown]

Are you REALLY gonna host the occaosional 1/2 game? Cause that's what I keep saying. It hasn't happened yet, but I still feel an irresistible urge to buy a 4th racks of $5's.
If you're really gonna do it, then you really should get 3 or 4 racks of $5's. If it's probably not gonna happen, stick with 2. You can host a full table $1/$2 game with 2 racks of $5's, but it's the bare minimum and it's not ideal. Or so I think. I still haven't hosted one. I've played in plenty, but the friends I host are cheap.
100 quarters is enough. I like 120. 200 would be swell, but not if you're on a budget.

 

[pltrgyst]

Sigh. I'm like a broken record.

Just get a set for 1/2:

300 $1s
400 $5s
100 x $25s
100 x $100

Then play whatever you want. If you want to play .25/.50, just multiply by four when you issue chips, and divide by four when you cash people out.

Easy and foolproof, plus gets your players experience for playing 1/2 in real casinos.

 

[SwampYankee]

Here's what I am thinking...

200 - $0.25
200 - $1
200 - $5
100 - $20
100 - NVC
800 Total

This is what I would do...

150 - $0.25
300 - $1
250 - $5
50 - $20
50 - NVC
800 total

 

[upNdown]

Here's what I am thinking...

200 - $0.25
200 - $1
200 - $5
100 - $20
100 - NVC
800 Total

This is what I would do...

150 - $0.25
300 - $1
250 - $5
50 - $20
50 - NVC
800 total

I'm not sure 50 NCV's do you any good as nickels, unless you're playing 4 handed. I have a deep, irrational opposition to undenominated chips, but if youre resigned to using them for high and low chips, I think you need a minimum of 80.

 

[ChaosRock]

100 x 25c
200 x $1 (or 300)
400 x $5 (or 300)
80 x $25
20 x $100

FTW!!!

 

[arch3r]

OK, so what I'm hearing is that I will probably need more $5s. And I appreciate all the feedback. But I never said that 800 chips was my limit. So based on the suggestions from all, going to go with this...

200 - $0.25
300 - $1
300 - $5
100 - $20
100 - NVC

1000 chips - more is better, right?

This should hold me over (ha, who am I kidding) until I pull the trigger on my idea for a CPC custom set.


Thanks again for taking the time and helping me spend more money on chips.

 

[XBobdog]

All of these suggestions work. The only problem with extra chips is if you have transport from game to game.

I'm not sure if you NEED that many 5's

I'm involved in a 1/2 game every week. Most people buy-in $60-100 and rebuy the same as they bust-out. Sometimes many times.

The original $100 usually get 10 X $1, 8X (or 13X) $5 and 2 or (1) X 25. Rebuys often grab nothing but $25 chips and a few $5. (because you are using $20 chips this works even better for you).

The end result is the Avg number of 5's per player typically approaches 10-15/player or 100-150 chips. Once you get to 20 per player, there are a lot of chips on the table to make change.

 

[gopherblue]

100 x 25c
200 x $1
400 x $5
80 x $20 or $25
20 x $100

FTW!!!

This not only gets my vote as the most flexible and useful 800 chip breakdown, it is also the exact breakdown (using $20s or $25s as the owner prefers) that I always recommend. My love of this 800 chip breakdown is based on a few threads of sage advice from some of the most helpful and thoughtful PCF members like @links_slayer, @bergs and @courage. It has the advantage of being flexible and playable for almost any single table game with stakes up to a small 2/5 game, and can easily grow with add-ons. Additionally, since over time inflation will make 1/2 the new .25/.50, this breakdown is relatively future-proof as well. This is frankly, IMO, the most ideal breakdown and the sweet spot in set size, such that you have flexibility to have a bigger game.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking "I don't need so many workhorse $5s." Remember, your game may not play big very much of the time, but you want the chips to spread it when it happens, and you will definitely miss them if you need them. (y) :thumbsup: In my experience, 100 fracs is plenty for even the nittiest .25/.50. More just get in the way. Same goes for $1s--200 is plenty. But you can never have enough $5s.

And always buy 5-10 more of every chip as spares in case of Murphy. Nobody likes a 799-chip set.

 

[courage]

100 x 25c
200 x $1 (or 300)
400 x $5 (or 300)
80 x $25
20 x $100

FTW!!!

This not only gets my vote as the most flexible and useful 800 chip breakdown, it is also the exact breakdown (using $20s or $25s as the owner prefers) that I always recommend. My love of this 800 chip breakdown is based on a few threads of sage advice from some of the most helpful and thoughtful PCF members like @links_slayer, @bergs and @courage. It has the advantage of being flexible and playable for almost any single table game with stakes up to a small 2/5 game, and can easily grow with add-ons. Additionally, since over time inflation will make 1/2 the new .25/.50, this breakdown is relatively future-proof as well. This is frankly, IMO, the most ideal breakdown and the sweet spot in set size, such that you have flexibility to have a bigger game.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking "I don't need so many workhorse $5s." Remember, your game may not play big very much of the time, but you want the chips to spread it when it happens, and you will definitely miss them if you need them. (y) :thumbsup: In my experience, 100 fracs is plenty for even the nittiest .25/.50. More just get in the way. Same goes for $1s--200 is plenty. But you can never have enough $5s.

And always buy 5-10 more of every chip as spares in case of Murphy. Nobody likes a 799-chip set.

Thanks for the props, goph. I agree with Paulo's breakdown. Also kudos to OP for asking an essential question for building a cash set -- one way is to ask and get opinions from lots of members here; another is to look at the sets of members who actually host regularly and learn from them. That's what I tried to do.

I also learned the hard way: I host a weekly $1/1 game that is sometimes two tables and found out what a pain in the ass it is to only have 300 x $5 chips of a particular set. So I did an add-on for 300 more and now any set I have that doesn't have AT LEAST 500 x $5 doesn't make it to the table or gets sold. When you go to the casino to play 1/2 and buy chips at the cage, what do they give you? All $5's, and maybe a barrel of $1's if you ask. Also, I prefer 300 x $1 for two tables whether the game is .25/.50 1/1 or 1/2. If a single table only, 200 x $1 works fine for me.

 

[Poker Zombie]

When you go to the casino to play 1/2 and buy chips at the cage, what do they give you? All $5's, and maybe a barrel of $1's if you ask.

I always ask for a full rack of $1s at a casino 1/2 NL game, but what I want in a casino is different from what I want in a home game. I would not expect a home game host to provide 1000 $1s. I also expect a casino to take a rake that bleeds many of the $1s off the table over time, and dealer tips also suck $1s out of the game.

That said, I know Club Courage games play pretty big, so I understand the need for more $5s. Knowing how your game will play will dictate the best breakdown for your set.

 

[Chippy McChiperson]

Why would you ask for a full track of ones?

 

[gopherblue]

Why would you ask for a full track of ones?

Because he can't tip the waitresses with fracs at a casino.

 

[arch3r]

All great feedback. The knowledge, advice and experience you guys have it great. Thanks.

Like I said, I was not really restricted by the number of chips. I don't plan on traveling with them, so I was not worried about keeping the number down. And since I am buying blank Claysmith 12 stripe chips ( blank because I did not like the color/denomination combos that were offered ) for $0.15 each, and free shipping, an extra 100-200 chips is no big deal. So I was able to get 1000 chips and 10 racks for < $200. Not bad for a set to hold me over.

Now I just need to get some custom labels made. It never ends.

 

[guinness]

I don't think I've ever seen a rack of 1's at a 1/2 table.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Why would you ask for a full track of ones?

I like lots of $1s. I do tip generously, and quite frankly, I think the dealers appreciate it as they are frequently making change from their constantly diminishing supply.

Also, a rack makes harvesting the best a little easier. Again, something for casino consideration, not a home game.

 

[upNdown]

I always ask for a full rack of $1s at a casino 1/2 NL game, but what I want in a casino is different from what I want in a home game.

The first time I went to a 1/2 casino game, I bought a full rack of $1's, (and a half-barrel of $5's) and the dealer remarked that was the first time anybody had ever sat down at his table with a full rack of $1's.
Made me look like the noob that I was. Which was fine, because ON MY FIRST HAND, I was dealt pocket jacks which turned into quads. I practically tripled up. Welcome to casino poker!

 

[courage]

The first time I went to a 1/2 casino game, I bought a full rack of $1's, (and a half-barrel of $5's) and the dealer remarked that was the first time anybody had ever sat down at his table with a full rack of $1's.

Sometimes they welcome that if looking for a mini-fill for their rack; other times it's an unwelcome sight if it slows down their game and player starts betting $42 in $1's lol.

 

[detroitdad]

The first time I went to a 1/2 casino game, I bought a full rack of $1's, (and a half-barrel of $5's) and the dealer remarked that was the first time anybody had ever sat down at his table with a full rack of $1's.
Made me look like the noob that I was. Which was fine, because ON MY FIRST HAND, I was dealt pocket jacks which turned into quads. I practically tripled up. Welcome to casino poker!

Awesome

My first hand at a casino I was dealt pocket Aces in the BB. First to act makes it 15 (1/2 table). Five more callers before it got to me. I shoved 200 and a middle position player had me covered. He called with 6's and my hand held up. I thought. Sheeesh, casino poker is easy

 

[arch3r]

My first hand at a casino I was dealt pocket Aces in the BB. First to act makes it 15 (1/2 table). Five more callers before it got to me. I shoved 200 and a middle position player had me covered. He called with 6's and my hand held up. I thought. Sheeesh, casino poker is easy

I don't have a cool first hand poker story, but I do for my 'professional' gambling career. 13 years old at Yonkers raceway, with my cousin, watching my uncle race the standardbreds. First bet ever was $2 across the board ( $6 was a lot for a 13 year old back in 1982 ) on my uncle going off at 9-1. He wins and I collect something like $30-$40! Felt amazing. I'm like, shit, this is just easy money. Went home a big winner.

 

[Poker Zombie]

other times it's an unwelcome sight if it slows down their game and player starts betting $42 in $1's lol.

Yeah, I hate that guy. My opening bets are usually $7 (2x$1, 1x$5) or $13 (2x$5 and 3x$1), with a little variance thrown in for position, table aggression etc. I hare and would never bet $5 in $1s - unless I'n out of $5s, in which case I should be reloading :

 

[Lash]

I host a .25/50 weekly cash game, 60$ max buy at a time usually and i give .
12/.25
12/$1
1/$5
For the first 20$ then rest 5$. Rebuys are all 5$ until i run out then move on to 25$
My set is 500
120/.25
120/$1
200/$5
60/$25
If i hosted 1/2 i would want at least 200/$1 and at least 300/$5

 

[arch3r]

Wow, so I ordered 1100 chips and 10 racks on Sunday night based on all the comments/suggestions here. Yea, I know, probably over kill, but more is better, right? They have already shipped and will be here tomorrow! Checking the tracking info, says the package weight is almost 36 pound!. Holy shit! Did the math and it works out, but damn, didn't expect them to weigh that much.

 

[detroitdad]

What chips?