First chip set for poker tournaments. Am I being too picky? (1 Viewer)

[MoiGenio]

Hi! First post!
I've had the basic dice chips for some years now and I'm looking to get a new chip set. I have been looking at ThePokerStore, ApachePokerChips and DiscountPokerShop and nothing seems to convince me. The problem is that most of those chip sets contain denominations that are too small for tournaments, and I know I won't use. I am looking for 25s, 100s, 500s, 1000s, 5000s, and 25000s (it's ok if 25ks are not available). Also, since I play tournaments, I don't want a set with the $ in them. Also, not a big fan of ceramic chips. I prefer clay with inlays, but I don't want to buy the Ace Casino chips or any of that kind. My budget is around $350 for 500 chips but I am willing to pay a little more if I really like them. So far, I like the design of the Showdown poker chips, but I wonder if anybody can recommend a chip set for around that price and that has the higher denominations, no $, and clay with inlays.
Thank you.

EDIT: Will make sure to get samples before committing to a chip set.

 

[MrBoosh]

I would look into a Tina card mold set from one of the group buys. They are technically ceramic but are pretty nice for the price. Other than that, I found this set from Discount Poker Shop that seems to meet most of your criteria. It only goes up to 10000 for the denominations though.

https://www.discountpokershop.com/25pc-135g-stripe-suited-clay-poker-chips-colors-p-571.html

My first tournament set was a set of Turbos from ThePokerStore.com . They also happen to be ceramics. But they are great chips at budget price!!!

 

[Eaglefang]

I am looking to split my CPS T100 set if you are interested. 100-500000 denim’s.

 

[Colquhoun]

Welcome.
The chips you reference are not considered “clay”, even though many websites use this term. Clay chips are compression molded and will run at least $1 per chip for low denominations and quite a bit more for higher ones.
I highly suggest reading the New Members Start Here sticky found here:
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/new-members-start-here.85303/
It’s really helpful in narrowing your choices and finding what you’re looking for in the budget. As always, get samples of anything you’re considering.
Good luck!

 

[Eaglefang]

CPS is a china clay around your price point, no $, offered in a variety of denominations. Way different feel than ceramics. Can send you a sample if you want.

 

[MoiGenio]

I would look into a Tina card mold set from one of the group buys. They are technically ceramic but are pretty nice for the price. Other than that, I found this set from Discount Poker Shop that seems to meet most of your criteria. It only goes up to 10000 for the denominations though.

https://www.discountpokershop.com/25pc-135g-stripe-suited-clay-poker-chips-colors-p-571.html

My first tournament set was a set of Turbos from ThePokerStore.com . They also happen to be ceramics. But they are great chips at budget price!!!

View attachment 1137253

Thank you. I think I prefer China Clays but I may have to settle for ceramics. Is there any China Clays that are available with no $, similar looking to Showdown? I like a inlay design with a logo and a name, not just plain numbers on the chips, but I may have to settle.

 

[MoiGenio]

Welcome.
The chips you reference are not considered “clay”, even though many websites use this term. Clay chips are compression molded and will run at least $1 per chip for low denominations and quite a bit more for higher ones.
I highly suggest reading the New Members Start Here sticky found here:
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/new-members-start-here.85303/
It’s really helpful in narrowing your choices and finding what you’re looking for in the budget. As always, get samples of anything you’re considering.
Good luck!

Hi. I think I will go for the China Clays. What I like about the Showdown chips is that they don't have the $, they have larger denominations, and I like the inlay with a name and logo, not just a number on the chips. Is there any chip set that is available similar to that? Otherwise I may have to settle for ceramics

 

[MoiGenio]

CPS is a china clay around your price point, no $, offered in a variety of denominations. Way different feel than ceramics. Can send you a sample if you want.

Hi, I was looking at them, but they seem to be unavailable

 

[allforcharity]

You will not get real clay cheaply. End of story.

You may be able to get some vintage ASM type clay chips, but they will require a lot of sweat equity, e.g. milling, custom label design and ordering, applying, etc. and choices likely limited to solid colours.

 

[MoiGenio]

You will not get real clay cheaply. End of story.

You may be able to get some vintage ASM type clay chips, but they will require a lot of sweat equity, e.g. milling, custom label design and ordering, applying, etc. and choices likely limited to solid colours.

Gotcha. How about China Clays? Any good options there with no $, larger denominations and possibly a inlay with name and logo?

 

[KHarp1]

I believe the Royals have the denoms you need, but, they have dollar signs. I've used these in a local game and was impressed. Everyone that's used them offer positive comments. They are 43mm chips. They are in your price range. You could always relabel them in the future.

 

[Beakertwang]

Hi. I think I will go for the China Clays. What I like about the Showdown chips is that they don't have the $, they have larger denominations, and I like the inlay with a name and logo, not just a number on the chips. Is there any chip set that is available similar to that? Otherwise I may have to settle for ceramics

Just from my personal experience, Showdowns are the worst of the cheap slugged chips out there. I bought the Showdowns for the same reason you're considering them. But they suck. Slippery with rough edges, and horrible drab colors that lead to all kinds of dirty stacks. If your budget only allows for about 25¢/chip, get the Crown Casino chips. Or maybe Monaco Casino, if you prefer that look. Sure, there are dollar signs on the chip, but everyone will know that they aren't playing for thousands of dollars.

 

[TheOffalo]

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/700x-authentic-paulson-wsop-tournament-set-700.105791/

This is double your budget, but for 200 more chips, in the denoms you want (except for T25K) and in nice condition. At $1/chip, this is a great price for Paulson clay chips with inlays, real casino chips for WSOP events. They are 36mm vs. 39mm, so that aspect might not appeal to you, and you may not want to break the bank, but figure I'd post just in case you might be willing to stretch your budget.

 

[Colquhoun]

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/700x-authentic-paulson-wsop-tournament-set-700.105791/

This is double your budget, but for 200 more chips, in the denoms you want (except for T25K) and in nice condition. At $1/chip, this is a great price for Paulson clay chips with inlays, real casino chips for WSOP events. They are 36mm vs. 39mm, so that aspect might not appeal to you, and you may not want to break the bank, but figure I'd post just in case you might be willing to stretch your budget.

This is a great set. And you really don’t need 25k chips in a T25-based tournament anyway.
Should you get these and change your mind down the road, you’ll likely get back what you paid, maybe even more.

 

[CSW]

Hi! First post!
I've had the basic dice chips for some years now and I'm looking to get a new chip set. I have been looking at ThePokerStore, ApachePokerChips and DiscountPokerShop and nothing seems to convince me. The problem is that most of those chip sets contain denominations that are too small for tournaments, and I know I won't use. I am looking for 25s, 100s, 500s, 1000s, 5000s, and 25000s (it's ok if 25ks are not available). Also, since I play tournaments, I don't want a set with the $ in them. Also, not a big fan of ceramic chips. I prefer clay with inlays, but I don't want to buy the Ace Casino chips or any of that kind. My budget is around $350 for 500 chips but I am willing to pay a little more if I really like them. So far, I like the design of the Showdown poker chips, but I wonder if anybody can recommend a chip set for around that price and that has the higher denominations, no $, and clay with inlays.
Thank you.

EDIT: Will make sure to get samples before committing to a chip set.

These were exactly my parameters when I was looking for a first tournament set. I didn’t find exactly what I was looking for, but I settled on the Monaco Casino chips from discount poker shop. I prefer the look and feel of China clays to these metal slug ABS chips. But I don’t recall seeing anything in the China clay vein that I liked for a tournament set (I got some Majestics for cash games, but I don’t really like their options for the higher denoms).

As with most slugged ABS chips, they are now a bit heavy for my taste, but I like the color combos for the higher denoms, and the $ sign was very small compared to the rest of the denom, so it is less noticeable. My biggest problem with them is that there is no 25K chip.

My players and I have been very happy with them so far (though they will soon be replaced by my first custom CPC set, which I am itching to receive any day now!).

 

[TheOffalo]

On the flipside, here's a really affordable cards mold set, half your asking price at $170 shipped (but 450 chips instead of 500), has the denoms you want including 25K (but excluding T25s, which you could order separately later), but it's ceramics not clay and it has "$" on the "inlay". Still, potentially a great budget starter set for your purposes:

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/price-drop-grand-casino-cm-tourney-set.105634/

 

[KHarp1]

None of these options give you exactly what you want, so, you'll have to decide what you can live with/without initially. If you buy Tina ceramics you have a huge choice of designs, and, went have to pay a ton of money. You'll probably be able to get back closer to what you paid (providing you don't over pay initially). If you go the Apache route, you can use them and then relabel at some point. That allows you to get a little longer life out of the set. Downside is they may be less attractive to a new buyer with your labels, would have to be someone looking for them as blanks. Either way, you probably won't get exactly what you're looking for.

 

[MoiGenio]

You will not get real clay cheaply. End of story.

You may be able to get some vintage ASM type clay chips, but they will require a lot of sweat equity, e.g. milling, custom label design and ordering, applying, etc. and choices likely limited to solid colours.

I guess I was mistaken with clay chips. That's ok. It seems like I may have to settle for something else. Dunes seem nice, but they have the $ and Turbos also seem nice as a tournament player... I should decide soon

 

[MoiGenio]

I believe the Royals have the denoms you need, but, they have dollar signs. I've used these in a local game and was impressed. Everyone that's used them offer positive comments. They are 43mm chips. They are in your price range. You could always relabel them in the future.

What is to relabel them?
Yeah. I think if they're gonna have the $ I'll go for the Dunes bc I love everything about them except the $. Otherwise I may go for the Turbos, those look great for tournaments too, but they are ceramic

 

[MoiGenio]

Just from my personal experience, Showdowns are the worst of the cheap slugged chips out there. I bought the Showdowns for the same reason you're considering them. But they suck. Slippery with rough edges, and horrible drab colors that lead to all kinds of dirty stacks. If your budget only allows for about 25¢/chip, get the Crown Casino chips. Or maybe Monaco Casino, if you prefer that look. Sure, there are dollar signs on the chip, but everyone will know that they aren't playing for thousands of dollars.
View attachment 1137488

Okay, thank you for the heads up. I'm not loving those chips, (not too bad but I wanna make sure I get something I like), but I may get samples anyway just to see how they feel. I'm leaning towards Dunes or Turbos. Dunes look awesome, the only downside is the $, and Turbos also look pretty cool for tournaments

 

[MoiGenio]

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/700x-authentic-paulson-wsop-tournament-set-700.105791/

This is double your budget, but for 200 more chips, in the denoms you want (except for T25K) and in nice condition. At $1/chip, this is a great price for Paulson clay chips with inlays, real casino chips for WSOP events. They are 36mm vs. 39mm, so that aspect might not appeal to you, and you may not want to break the bank, but figure I'd post just in case you might be willing to stretch your budget.

Thank you. Those definitely look nice, but they go way over budget for me
I appreciate you letting me know about them tho!

 

[TheOffalo]

What is to relabel them?

China Clay chips have labels that are relatively easy to peel off, rather than inlays on clay chips that are embedded and are harder to remove (or "inlays" on ceramics that are printed directly onto the ceramic surface).

So you could remove the labels from Dunes and other CC chips and order new labels printed by a vendor (like @Gear or @dickthebaker or a website like Sticker Mule) and put new labels on the chips, changing the designs, denoms, etc.

 

[KHarp1]

China Clay chips have labels that are relatively easy to peel off, rather than inlays on clay chips that are embedded and are harder to remove (or "inlays" on ceramics that are printed directly onto the ceramic surface).

So you could remove the labels from Dunes and other CC chips and order new labels printed by a vendor (like @Gear or @dickthebaker or a website like Sticker Mule) and put new labels on the chips, changing the designs, denoms, etc.

This exactly. They're not hard to relabel, and, the cost is minimal. Allows you to change up the look of your chips when they get "stale."

 

[MoiGenio]

These were exactly my parameters when I was looking for a first tournament set. I didn’t find exactly what I was looking for, but I settled on the Monaco Casino chips from discount poker shop. I prefer the look and feel of China clays to these metal slug ABS chips. But I don’t recall seeing anything in the China clay vein that I liked for a tournament set (I got some Majestics for cash games, but I don’t really like their options for the higher denoms).

As with most slugged ABS chips, they are now a bit heavy for my taste, but I like the color combos for the higher denoms, and the $ sign was very small compared to the rest of the denom, so it is less noticeable. My biggest problem with them is that there is no 25K chip.

My players and I have been very happy with them so far (though they will soon be replaced by my first custom CPC set, which I am itching to receive any day now!).

Thank you. Monaco Casino chips aren't what I'm looking for, but I appreciate the review. I'm debating between Dunes (I love everything, except the $) and Turbos (very cool for tournaments), but I will get samples anyway. I may change my mind after having them in my hand hehehe.

 

[MoiGenio]

None of these options give you exactly what you want, so, you'll have to decide what you can live with/without initially. If you buy Tina ceramics you have a huge choice of designs, and, went have to pay a ton of money. You'll probably be able to get back closer to what you paid (providing you don't over pay initially). If you go the Apache route, you can use them and then relabel at some point. That allows you to get a little longer life out of the set. Downside is they may be less attractive to a new buyer with your labels, would have to be someone looking for them as blanks. Either way, you probably won't get exactly what you're looking for.

Yeah. It seems that way sadly. So I'm debating between Dunes (I like everything except $) and Turbos (cool design for tournaments). I will decide soon!

 

[allforcharity]

Gotcha. How about China Clays? Any good options there with no $, larger denominations and possibly a inlay with name and logo?

I, myself,an not a fan of CC. I would think custom ceramics from China would offer a better value. My opinion only.

 

[Bacon Dad]

Unless I’m thinking of the wrong chips, I thought the Dunes were like trying to stack ice cubes they were so slick. Definitely get a sample set from somewhere like Spinettis.
GLWP!

 

[TheOffalo]

Unless I’m thinking of the wrong chips, I thought the Dunes were like trying to stack ice cubes they were so slick. Definitely get a sample set from somewhere like Spinettis.
GLWP!

FYI - The Dunes chips from Spinetti are very different than the Dunes chips from Apache. The former is NexGen, very sharp edges, hard plastic, while the latter is china clay, more waxy (for lack of a better term) with more rounded edges.

 

[Bacon Dad]

Had no idea the ones from Apache were different. I was not a fan of the NexGen Dunes sample. I’ll have to get a sample from Apache then. Thanks!!

 

[Machine]

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/700x-authentic-paulson-wsop-tournament-set-700.105791/

This is double your budget, but for 200 more chips, in the denoms you want (except for T25K) and in nice condition. At $1/chip, this is a great price for Paulson clay chips with inlays, real casino chips for WSOP events. They are 36mm vs. 39mm, so that aspect might not appeal to you, and you may not want to break the bank, but figure I'd post just in case you might be willing to stretch your budget.

Thank you. Those definitely look nice, but they go way over budget for me
I appreciate you letting me know about them tho!

If you're still here in a year, you will regret not picking these up