I've mostly played tournaments in the past, but would like to get a cash game going. It will be a pretty casual game among friends with a $20 buy-in. I was initially planing to go with .05/.10 blinds, but I've been toying with some other ideas, like using higher denominations, i.e. $20 gets you $2000 worth of chips with blinds at $5/$10. I thought I'd start a poll to see how people would prefer to play. Looking forward to seeing what you all think!
Cash Game Denominations and blinds for casual $20 cash game (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter echoseven
- Start date
I voted $20 gets you $200 in chips with blinds at $1/$2
but I would add $20 gets you $100 in chips with blinds at .25/.50c to your poll.
but I would add $20 gets you $100 in chips with blinds at .25/.50c to your poll.
Thanks for the suggestion, I added that.
AnteAndy
3 of a Kind
It's just easier to play with $20 worth of chips and playing either 5c/10c or 10c/20c blind cash games. Changing that $20 to represent $200 or $2000 can help create that fantasy thing that some tourney players like, so if you want to do that then you do you.
Others and I much prefer keeping denominations that represent real, exact money. Even when we know we're playing with cents doesn't detract from the seriousness and fun we have when playing poker.
Others and I much prefer keeping denominations that represent real, exact money. Even when we know we're playing with cents doesn't detract from the seriousness and fun we have when playing poker.
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SeanGecko
4 of a Kind
0.05/0.10 it’s the way I started and easy cash out.
CantSpellPoker
Straight
I prefer my $20 buying me $20. No need to complicate things.
Whatever blinds you need to play in order to make that work, that’s what I’d do. Sounds like 0.05/0.10 would suit you best - $20 is a pretty deep stack at those levels. You could probably even jump to 0.10/0.20 (or 0.10/0.25) if you wanted.
Whatever blinds you need to play in order to make that work, that’s what I’d do. Sounds like 0.05/0.10 would suit you best - $20 is a pretty deep stack at those levels. You could probably even jump to 0.10/0.20 (or 0.10/0.25) if you wanted.
My regular game is $20 buy-in. We play .10/.20 pot limit hold'em. Most realize that they will get in for $40 or more. It works out alright.
IMO, you can't go wrong with a 100-Big Blind buy in, so the blinds should be 1/2 dimes for a $20 buy-in.
More than 100 BB, it starts becoming, little by little, deep-stack poker, requiring more sophisticated play your group might not be willing to work on.
Less than that (100BB) to start, it's too shallow and tournament-ish (no need to switch to cash).
Needless to say, you don't need 10c-50c etc chips; just treat the $ denominations as represinting dimes.
More than 100 BB, it starts becoming, little by little, deep-stack poker, requiring more sophisticated play your group might not be willing to work on.
Less than that (100BB) to start, it's too shallow and tournament-ish (no need to switch to cash).
Needless to say, you don't need 10c-50c etc chips; just treat the $ denominations as represinting dimes.
Voted for #1 because I generally prefer actual values and 100-200 bb buy-ins. When assigning other values, I prefer a ratio of 10:1 or 100:1 for easy conversions (move the decimal point) when cashing in and out.
For me in a cash game, if the blinds (and hence bet sizes) are too small people will call every hand. If playing 5c/10c and someone makes a 3bb raise to 30c and the whole table calls, your blinds are too low. I think it’s silly to play 5c/10c and have to raise a minimum of 10bb to prevent everyone autocalling because the perceived value of money is low.
You know your players so you’re best to decide. Personally I like 25c/25c for a $20 buyin giving 80bb or 100bb for $25.
You know your players so you’re best to decide. Personally I like 25c/25c for a $20 buyin giving 80bb or 100bb for $25.
My casual games we do $20min/$40Max with a .25/.50 blind structure. It is a 2-1 chip ratio so 20 gets you 40 and 40 gets you 80. 80BB is enough so that people can play on their $20 all night if they are just looking to hang out.
This is how my game plays - $20 buy-in with .10/.20 blinds, pot limit. EVERYONE sees the flop. Then, you can bet pot, and actually get some people to fold. I hate it. I want to play higher stakes, but I can't seem to get a regular game together like I use to. We use to play .25/.50 no limit with a $40 buy-in. That game played much better. I play $3/5 NL in casinos...and my home game plays so much different. It drives me crazy! But, it's what I've got.
And I agree with Darson's point. Bet sizing sometimes ends up being irrelevant because of the stakes being low and your AKs will get cracked by 7/2o 
lol. So with the .25/.50 structure, if you fire 1.50-3.50, even though the value is actually half that in terms of "real money", you can get hands to fold.
lol. So with the .25/.50 structure, if you fire 1.50-3.50, even though the value is actually half that in terms of "real money", you can get hands to fold.
Yeah, I also have this problem with my guys - some will only commit $20 a night whereas others will sell their Grandma. This is why we play tourneys so everyone is level.
CantSpellPoker
Straight
This is a real thing... I play 0.25/0.25 with a group of buddies and with most of them being loose players to begin with, they’re not folding for less than $1 preflop. It is a bit annoying to look down at
and have to drop 6x-8x the big blind in order to get any respect. Might have something to do with the fact that we allow buyins of 200bb. Our table size is also small - typically 5, or 6 max. So guys figure any hand is worth playing with the table that short. Decent chance I propose 0.25/0.50 next time and see how that goes. Not sure if guys will jack their buy-in to $100, or if they’ll keep it at $50 and adjust their play.
Alex Lundstrum
Two Pair
I voted 0.05/0.10, but would prefer 0.10/0.20 or 0.10/0.25, depending on the denominations you have (if any).
One Eyed Dollar
Flush
@justsomedude hosted a 10x cash game one night to get some bigger chips on the table:
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...enver-poker-at-the-f-stop-tonight-1-12.36805/
I will say that the disconnect between the chip denom and the actual value had a surprising and noticeable effect on the betting. People were throwing out $50 and $100 bets like it was nothing, whereas normally a $5 or $10 bet in those situations would have been significant. It was a loose and fun night, but afterwards I think some of us were wondering what just happened.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...enver-poker-at-the-f-stop-tonight-1-12.36805/
I will say that the disconnect between the chip denom and the actual value had a surprising and noticeable effect on the betting. People were throwing out $50 and $100 bets like it was nothing, whereas normally a $5 or $10 bet in those situations would have been significant. It was a loose and fun night, but afterwards I think some of us were wondering what just happened.
At my tourney, by the time a table opens for cash, its usually 11ish, so we play $.25/$.25 with $25 or half the big stack max buy in. It seems to work well. Most of my guys are in it for the social night, so its about the right buy in to get the fringe guys to stay and play some circus games.
Agree very much with the above, though it really depends on your group though. I've been playing with a group for almost 10 years, when I first joined them, they were playing 15¢/30¢ with $20 buy-ins. Nickels, nickels, nickels everywhere!! I eventually convinced them to ditch the nickels and just play 25¢/25¢, it's a little shallow (I'd prefer a $40 buyin) but it works.
I don't mind the case where you're playing 2:1 (ie $20 buys you $40 in chips), but only for instances where it simplifies the betting. I use this for my limit games, $50 buys you $100 in chips, and we can play $2/$4 with limited fracs.
I really like this idea for a $20 buy in as I'd prefer not to have to buy a rack of nickels.
With my chip sets I'd rather do a $25 buy in for a .25/.25 game though.
FDLmold
Royal Flush
These are my stakes. You can give everybody 103 chips. Two barrels of nickels, three barrels of quarters, and three dollars. I love having craploads of chips on the table.
AnteAndy
3 of a Kind
I never really see that. I play in some different groups but they all play micro stakes. Not that we can't afford higher stakes, but $10-$20 buy ins are enough for us to be fun yet still take it seriously, and we all do play seriously, not loose. We still like to be competitive and get some money out of it, like enough to go out to eat one night for free essentially.
Of course higher stakes are more fun, but as long as the players are good and take the game itself seriously, then we don't mind how low the stakes are. We all enjoy the game since it's so much fun for us, and some money helps elevate that some.
Kid_Eastwood
Full House
Hi,
I would have added the option $20 gets $20 with blinds 10c - 20c.
I use the following set for that purpose : https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/my-small-stakes-mixed-casino-hotstamp-set.36411/
25c - 25c is also nice but then I'd push the max buyin to $25 instead of $20.
For 5c - 10c, I prefer to have maximum $10 - but that's just a personal preference. I prefer cash games with allowed buyins in the range of 20BB - 100BB.
I would have added the option $20 gets $20 with blinds 10c - 20c.
I use the following set for that purpose : https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/my-small-stakes-mixed-casino-hotstamp-set.36411/
25c - 25c is also nice but then I'd push the max buyin to $25 instead of $20.
For 5c - 10c, I prefer to have maximum $10 - but that's just a personal preference. I prefer cash games with allowed buyins in the range of 20BB - 100BB.
EnjoyLife
3 of a Kind
Our games are actually at the stakes of one of your options:
$20 gets you $20 in chips with blinds at .25/.25
We have people of all skill sets and they seem to enjoy this setup.
Chip setup is:
8 EA 0.25
8 EA $1
2 EA $5
$20 gets you $20 in chips with blinds at .25/.25
We have people of all skill sets and they seem to enjoy this setup.
Chip setup is:
8 EA 0.25
8 EA $1
2 EA $5
Jeevansluck
Royal Flush
$.25/.25 is the type of game I was introduced to many many years ago and fell in love with poker.
I still play this game today. So simple as you say. Easy to adopt.
To make things juicy, just increase the big blind to $.50 once all players are ready.
When I do get the opportunity to host, I run a .25/.25 or .25/.50. Just quarters and Dollars required. If stacks and time get deep enough, just roll out the $5 chip.
I still play this game today. So simple as you say. Easy to adopt.
To make things juicy, just increase the big blind to $.50 once all players are ready.
When I do get the opportunity to host, I run a .25/.25 or .25/.50. Just quarters and Dollars required. If stacks and time get deep enough, just roll out the $5 chip.
kirchhausen
Flush
I like to play deeper, so of the options listed I'd go with 1, 4, or 5. I think actual denoms would be nice (easier to cash out for one thing), so as a toe breaker I'd go with option 1 ($20 chips @ .05/.10).
- $20 gets you $20 in chips with blinds at .05/.10 - 133 BBs
- $20 gets you $20 in chips with blinds at .25/.25 - 40 BBs
- $20 gets you $200 in chips with blinds at $1/$2 - 67 BBs
- $20 gets you $2000 in chips with blinds at $5/$10 - 133 BBs
- $20 gets you $100 in chips with blinds at .25/.50 - 133 BBs
If everybody is calling anything when they have 200 BBs, can I play???
I like playing cash games at actual cash value. Any NL buy-in for less than 100 BBs is not very desirable. So, I say, absolutely nothing wrong with nickel/dime.
Schrodngercat
High Hand
Wondering if you tried these ideas out and how they worked in your game? About to invest in a set of chips and we play similar buy ins
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