Friends hosting with dice chips (2 Viewers)

[markleteenie]

What do you do when you have friends who want to host poker games, but they only have dice chips?

I have been thinking about it and my friends appreciate my chipping hobby and enjoy playing with my authentic casino chips. ...But so far no one seems to want to spend money to upgrade from their dice chip sets.

I know this is a situation as old as time, and I am wondering what the community tends to do?

Thanks!

 

[RichMahogany]

Bring a travel set of ceramics

Edit: with the host’s approval

 

[markleteenie]

Bring a travel set of ceramics

Edit: with the host’s approval

That's another great option. I added it to the poll.

 

[RichMahogany]

That's another great option. I added it to the poll.

Okay cool, vote changed

 

[FDLmold]

Figure out what colors they use, buy some extras, sneak them into the game, tell them you did it on purpose and that their chips suck.

 

[saleen121212]

Figure out what colors they use, buy some extras, sneak them into the game, tell them you did it on purpose and that their chips suck.

 

[fish72s]

Friends don't let friends play with dice chips!
If they do, give them a whiskey and tell them to drive home, the long way.

 

[Trihonda]

I vote asking the host if he wants you to bring some chips to use. Let him Know you’re happy to do so, since he is going through to effort to Provide a venue and such.. Bringing some nice chips to enhance his game is the least you can do. Is all how you approach it with the host.

 

[abby99]

I voted to say nothing. However, at some point (not the first night), ask the host to let you know if he ever wants you to bring chips with you. I'd only ask once.

 

[Lemonzest]

I wouldnt impose on how someone else runs their game. If I am a guest I STFU and play.

 

[Coyote]

Nothing makes people more ungrateful than donations, so don't donate.
Work on making them want better chips: yes, but the first way to do it is by bringing better chips yourself for them to see and use, if they're interested on the first place.
Which brings us to the crossroads between people who will and people who won't appreciate better chips (don't bother with the latter and just take their money, if you 're more of a player than an aesthete).
For people who will/may appreciate better chips, bring a travel set of ceramics to play with, and a sample of mint clays as a teaser.
Last but not least, invite them to your game, if they elementarily respect etiquette.

 

[Nex]

I'd suggest to the host that I bring my chip set.

I definitely don't think I'm too good with psychology and persuasion, but straight up talking to them about why their chips suck or are unsafe doesn't strike me as very effective. Having them experience the haptics and other upsides (e.g. imprinted denoms) of quality chips without any discussion ahead is probably the most promising way to get them to the idea of upgrading their chips. If they notice it, they will talk with you about it. If they don't, that's the point where I would give up trying.

 

[saleen121212]

Nothing makes people more ungrateful than donations, so don't donate.
Work on making them want better chips: yes, but the first way to do it is by bringing better chips yourself for them to see and use, if they're interested on the first place.
Which brings us to the crossroads between people who will and people who won't appreciate better chips (don't bother with the latter and just take their money, if you 're more of a player than an aesthete).
For people who will/may appreciate better chips, bring a travel set of ceramics to play with, and a sample of mint clays as a teaser.
Last but not least, invite them to your game, if they elementarily respect etiquette.

Honestly not a single person I have played with appreciates the chips, they could literally be cardboard as none of my friends are as materialistic as I am. Most of them just make fun of me for spending so much money on chips when I could have paid 20 dollars on Craigslist or gone to Walmart. The truth is most people don't care and just want to play poker and or drink and hangout. I on the other hand appreciate the finer things in life and go all out with hobbies. If I asked someone who plays in my games how much I paid per chip they would probably think 25 cents each on the high end.

 

[Beakertwang]

Since they know you like chips, just offer to bring some of yours. If he declines, just play with his chips.

 

[markleteenie]

I vote asking the host if he wants you to bring some chips to use. Let him Know you’re happy to do so, since he is going through to effort to Provide a venue and such.. Bringing some nice chips to enhance his game is the least you can do. Is all how you approach it with the host.

I voted to say nothing. However, at some point (not the first night), ask the host to let you know if he ever wants you to bring chips with you. I'd only ask once.

For me, I am most pleased to be even playing poker, since we haven't been able to commit to a scheduled game. When others want to host, I definitely could ask them if they want me to bring a set. I have so far refrained because I don't want to be a chip snob at them. But they are all really good friends, so I will be broaching this topic with them soon.

I wouldnt impose on how someone else runs their game. If I am a guest I STFU and play.

True, I try to stay out of it and let them run it the way they do, unless they ask me. Sometimes we have a discussion on what colors should be what denominations (since they all have dice chips) and with these discussions, my thoughts circle back to chip "upgrades" would eliminate this discussion and (somtimes) confusion..

 

[JustinInMN]

What do you do when you have friends who want to host poker games, but they only have dice chips?

I have been thinking about it and my friends appreciate my chipping hobby and enjoy playing with my authentic casino chips. ...But so far no one seems to want to spend money to upgrade from their dice chip sets.

If your friends appreciate it and want to borrow a set and you are okay with that then by all means do so. But if you push the issue, you risk coming off as an ungrateful guest. We love our chips, bit that doesn't mean we get to crap on the games of others.

 

[JustinInMN]

Honestly not a single person I have played with appreciates the chips, they could literally be cardboard as none of my friends are as materialistic as I am.

I have played with cardboard chips.

 

[Coyote]

@saleen121212
A non-rural, non-bottom-of-the-social-barrel crew still not appreciating at all better chips, makes me skeptical. It could be just envy.
All people use cars, but not all people are interested in sports cars and motorsport. In a racetrack setting however, a crowd unable of distinguishing a 911 from a Vauxhall would make me suspicious.
That said, a enthusiastic driver can and will extract pleasure from any vehicle, and a true gambler will enjoy poker even with stones as chips, on the prison yard floor

 

[markleteenie]

other upsides (e.g. imprinted denoms) of quality chips without any discussion ahead

Compliments about the feel, sound and chip denominations have been made several times when I'm hosting, so maybe I just need to give it time to sink in. (I am relatively new to nice chipping).

But if you push the issue, you risk coming off as an ungrateful guest. We love our chips, bit that doesn't mean we get to crap on the games of others.

True, I do understand that chipping is our passion and most of us are not building purely utilitarian sets, but are also collectors. Putting others down for not valuing chips is not the way to go, especially to friends.

 

[markleteenie]

most people don't care and just want to play poker and or drink and hangout.

Definitely all of them are there for socializing with maybe 1/2 there to try out some things they saw on TV. <--I'm trying to put myself in that category

a true gambler will enjoy poker even with stones as chips, on the prison yard floor

Oh, I'll use anything, pennies, stones, dice chips...but if given a choice...

I voted to say nothing. However, at some point (not the first night), ask the host to let you know if he ever wants you to bring chips with you. I'd only ask once.

Since they know you like chips, just offer to bring some of yours. If he declines, just play with his chips.

Wisdom.

 

[saleen121212]

@saleen121212
A non-rural, non-bottom-of-the-social-barrel crew still not appreciating at all better chips, makes me skeptical. It could be just envy.
All people use cars, but not all people are interested in sports cars and motorsport. In a racetrack setting however, a crowd unable of distinguishing a 911 from a Vauxhall would make me suspicious.
That said, a enthusiastic driver can and will extract pleasure from any vehicle, and a true gambler will enjoy poker even with stones as chips, on the prison yard floor

Half legit don't even notice or say anything. The other half know me and know how much I spent and think I'm unbelievably stupid. They get off on joking about Walmart chips and everytime they see them say something along the lines of are these even Paulson's bro? Which they only know because I tried to each them who makes casino chips lol. It doesn't help that its a mixed set, the non knowing people are probably like why are all the labels different and assume they are crap or something.

 

[markleteenie]

are these even Paulson's bro?

That's gold.

 

[saleen121212]

That's gold.

Ya I love my friends but they sure are trolls.

 

[Coyote]

Half legit don't even notice or say anything. The other half know me and know how much I spent and think I'm unbelievably stupid. They get off on joking about Walmart chips and everytime they see them say something along the lines of are these even Paulson's bro? Which they only know because I tried to each them who makes casino chips lol. It doesn't help that its a mixed set, the non knowing people are probably like why are all the labels different and assume they are crap or something.

I dunno, really. Try getting a used Ferrari 430 with non-Ferrari after-market, forged 2-piece wheels (even more expensive ie) and look for reactions. Draw conclusions about your friends and re-sell.

 

[Poker Zombie]

I've been in the situation. It was April, 2013 We met via meetup.com...

Dice chips. In a Chinese Restaurant. Some of the people were pleasant, so I continued to hang. The next game was in June, in a bar that provided a shitty fold-out table for us. I ate and drank like crazy to keep the bar owners happy. A lot of the players did not.

I brought Milanos. They said "No". After attending 5-6 games, I found the 4 nicest players - the ones that were social and that were buying food. I invited them to the Zombie Poker Club. The meet-up group floundered and then folded 6 months later.

Chips matter.

Oh, and before you think I'm a douche for poaching players, the founder of the Meet-up group wrote a letter to us last month...

Do what is right, no matter what.

 

[DoubleEagle]

IMO, you run the risk of insulting the host if you ask if you could bring chips to the next game. First thing crossing their mind would be, “My chips aren’t good enough for you?” I would never do it.

I have been playing in a game for over ten years that uses dice chips. No one except me gives a damn. They just want to play and have a good time.

 

[SendThatStack]

Dice chips are amazing compared to what the game I play at uses.

 

[JustinInMN]

After attending 5-6 games, I found the 4 nicest players - the ones that were social and that were buying food. I invited them to the Zombie Poker Club. The meet-up group floundered and then folded 6 months later.

At least you waited a few games to figure it out.

And at least you put yourself out there as a host.

Nothing wrong with that.

I guess it's fair to say hosting is integral to the hobby, so it's okay to try and offer some help when the host is receptive to it. But I am not going to dump in the game someone else hosts unless I am willing to host myself.

Obviously, you guys work hard at your hosting .

 

[Coyote]

Dice chips are amazing compared to what the game I play at uses.

Draconian metal chips?
If really heavy, probably the best way to contain maniacs

 

[SendThatStack]

Draconian metal chips?
If really heavy, probably the best way to contain maniacs

Ya they are copper and metal rounds. Super heavy. Cramps your hand to shuffle them. The game is full of maniacs (fish) or else I wouldn’t even bother because the chips are that annoying.