Friends hosting with dice chips (1 Viewer)

[Poker Zombie]

this. i was flat out told by the host that it was insulting to offer.

Why?

In what world is an offer to use something better an insult?

Sounds like a host that needs a band-aid for his feelings. Better apologise if you win, or he may be insulted too.

 

[RichMahogany]

Why?

In what world is an offer to use something better an insult?

Sounds like a host that needs a band-aid for his feelings. Better apologise if you win, or he may be insulted too.

100% agree. Of course, it’s dependent on how it was worded

 

[Jimulacrum]

Why?

In what world is an offer to use something better an insult?

Sounds like a host that needs a band-aid for his feelings. Better apologise if you win, or he may be insulted too.

I understand your point of view, but I get the host's point of view as well.

You've come to his house to enjoy a night of entertainment, bottom line. If you had come for almost any other activity whatsoever, it would be pretty easy to see how it's insulting.

"Dinner was lovely, Melvin, but next time would you mind if I bring some steaks that are more up to my standards?"
"I'd love to watch Debbie Does Dallas with the guys, but is it okay if I bring my big-ass 4K TV so we don't have to watch it on your [smaller, lower-quality] TV?"
"Let's meet at the club, but I'll bring you a proper outfit to wear so you don't embarrass me with your Walmart threads."

Since it's poker, and we're chip geeks, it's easy to miss the social offense, but it's definitely there (potentially, anyway). It's like you're shitting on the guy for being poorer and/or having less refined taste than you.

Think about it; this guy invited you to his home to use his poker set that he's probably proud of, and you're essentially like, "Bah, that's nothing! My chips are so much better. We should use mine instead, and leave your unsightly chips in the closet where they belong."

I know, it's not intended that way, but it's easy to see how it can get taken in an insulting way.

 

[74suited]

I've offered a couple times to bring my chips, the host declined and said he has plenty. Normally I'd just toss that up to someone who is inexperienced, but this guy is actually a pretty solid player and frequents the casinos. For some people, the chips or cards or tabletop (which I DID manage to convince him to try, and everyone really liked the poker hoody) just don't really matter. I can respect that, it's about the game not the "props". I like it upscaled, others like it bare bones. Now this guy also puts out a pretty decent spread, which more than makes up for the dice chips - just gotta keep the stacks short

 

[74suited]

Paper cards, however... no self-respecting host should use paper cards! In fact, I recently played in a game that was the host's first as host. He told us all how he would've bought Kems or Copags but they didn't have any at walgreens so he bought 4 packs of paper bicycles. So I say "no problem! I carry a box of Copags in the car for just this occasion, they're yours now, thanks for hosting!" To which he replies, "nah, it's cool, let's just play with these. We can change them out when they wear down, I've got 4 packs" ... he insisted on playing with these bicycles!

So for the next hour we all whined about the cards and purposefully curled the paper cards until he finally gave in and switched to his brand new Copags... needless to say I won't be playing there again.

 

[Jimulacrum]

Paper cards, however... no self-respecting host should use paper cards! In fact, I recently played in a game that was the host's first as host. He told us all how he would've bought Kems or Copags but they didn't have any at walgreens so he bought 4 packs of paper bicycles. So I say "no problem! I carry a box of Copags in the car for just this occasion, they're yours now, thanks for hosting!" To which he replies, "nah, it's cool, let's just play with these. We can change them out when they wear down, I've got 4 packs" ... he insisted on playing with these bicycles!

So for the next hour we all whined about the cards and purposefully curled the paper cards until he finally gave in and switched to his brand new Copags... needless to say I won't be playing there again.

I run into this with my family sometimes. They don't want to play with Copags (or any other plastic cards) because they're "too slippery," and they give me a hard time about always wanting to play with "Jim's fancy cards."

So, we inevitably end up playing with a deck of used paper cards that were in a drawer somewhere from the last game—Bicycles, disused casino cards, or whatever else is around. And of course, they have bent corners, stray marks, warped and swollen cards, you name it. I end up digging through multiple decks of cards for 10 minutes just verifying we have a full, proper deck and nothing is too marked up or whatever.

Good thing we're only playing for tiny amounts of money. There's no such thing as game security. Dealer shuffles his own deck, and no one wants to use a cut card. I even had to get really stubborn one time just to get my cousin to break out a tablecloth so we're not playing on a fully transparent glass table.

Spoiler: It gets better …

We do even better than dice chips: piles of coins and paper money on the table.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Sure, you can phrase it in a way that is bad form or insulting, but the same offer can be made with a sincere form of benevolence. If you can't tell the difference then it is probably best to not offer - and to be safe, keep your mouth shut as often as possible.

Wrong:

"Dinner was lovely, Melvin, but next time would you mind if I bring some steaks that are more up to my standards?"

Correct:
"Dinner was lovely, Melvin, next time the steaks are on me"

Goofus:

"I'd love to watch Debbie Does Dallas with the guys, but is it okay if I bring my big-ass 4K TV so we don't have to watch it on your [smaller, lower-quality] TV?"

Gallant:
"I'd love to watch the Super Bowl with the guys, I could bring my 120" 4K TV if you'd like. (Debbie Does Dallas was shot in the 1970s and would look like shit on an HD television.)

Has no friends:

"Let's meet at the club, but I'll bring you a proper outfit to wear so you don't embarrass me with your Walmart threads."

Has friends lined up for miles:
"Before we go to the club, let's pick you up an Armani suit. It's on me.''

How you say something can be more insulting than what you are saying.

 

[JustinInMN]

this. i was flat out told by the host that it was insulting to offer.

Why?

In what world is an offer to use something better an insult?

Because you are pretty much saying the host's efforts aren't good enough.

Now I'm not saying be silent forever. But people that are unaware of our chip appreciation need to be eased into it. You have to build up some hosting equity of your own of which the other person has experienced before you can presume to tell others what to do. If you don't, you easily come off as pushy, presumptuous, and rude.

 

[DoubleEagle]

In what world is an offer to use something better an insult?

Because your host using dice chips doesn't have the same anal appreciation for quality chips that we do. He is happy, perhaps proud with his setup. We are in a very small minority, being chip nerds.

 

[Jimulacrum]

Wrong:

Correct:
"Dinner was lovely, Melvin, next time the steaks are on me"

Goofus:

Gallant:
"I'd love to watch the Super Bowl with the guys, I could bring my 120" 4K TV if you'd like. (Debbie Does Dallas was shot in the 1970s and would look like shit on an HD television.)

Has no friends:

Has friends lined up for miles:
"Before we go to the club, let's pick you up an Armani suit. It's on me.''

How you say something can be more insulting than what you are saying.

Right, of course. All of my examples were over-the-top on purpose to emphasize what about the offer is potentially offensive. In reality, most people with a smidgen of social acumen will say these things in a more polite way.

Trouble is, the person is still liable to take offense if the offer you're making—no matter how polite or generous—makes him feel like what he has isn't good enough. That's essentially the point.

Also, I'd love to see how you're transporting a 120-inch TV for a one-time event.

 

[Poker Zombie]

He may be happy with dice chips, but I doubt proud would suffice, unless they were customized, very unusual colors, or somehow meaningful to him (in which case he might have mentioned that). But proud of something you picked up at Walmart? Is he proud when he makes boom-boom all by himself?

I continue to point out examples where a person can make an offer that is not disparaging to someone that has an inferior product.

Maybe you all have more experience with Millennials than I do. My age bracket doesn't need to be coddled.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Also, I'd love to see how you're transporting a 120-inch TV for a one-time event.

I offered to load a 8' poker table into my truck (10' bed) to a friend that needed an extra table for a big event. He declined, but I don't think he was insulted. He did buy a nicer table before he hosted that many players a second time.

 

[CraigT78]

I'm in the rude camp - at least initially. I host our group several times a month. In the months where I can't host 2 or more games, one of our regs will typically throw a game. Each of these guys have setups they are proud of, but everyone knows that my setup is far and above the others (humble brag). I'm not going to offer bringing my chips until (if) I am asked. Both the other regs have their own chips sets, one has the fan of cards metallic label dice chips - they have denoms which is a plus, but are slick as shit and some of the colors don't mix well, and the other finally after 3 years upgraded to scroll chips. Both have been to the local poker store to add on several times. They have their own money invested in their setups, I'm not going to suggest bringing my stuff, and thereby insinuating that their money wasn't well spent. We have a saying in our group - when you host a game, you make the rules.

 

[Poker Zombie]

I'm in the rude camp - at least initially. I host our group several times a month. In the months where I can't host 2 or more games, one of our regs will typically throw a game. Each of these guys have setups they are proud of, but everyone knows that my setup is far and above the others (humble brag). I'm not going to offer bringing my chips until (if) I am asked. Both the other regs have their own chips sets, one has the fan of cards metallic label dice chips - they have denoms which is a plus, but are slick as shit and some of the colors don't mix well, and the other finally after 3 years upgraded to scroll chips. Both have been to the local poker store to add on several times. They have their own money invested in their setups, I'm not going to suggest bringing my stuff, and thereby insinuating that their money wasn't well spent. We have a saying in our group - when you host a game, you make the rules.

This instance, I would also not make the offer.

If the host has made any effort above the purchase of dice chips, then I would let it slide. Hell, I've played on dice chips, but had my travel set in the car. But repeat violations of just dice chips is when I will politely make an offer. Who knows, maybe they don't want your chips because they think they are "casino gross", or because they are worn, or - and this is big - your chips are not "secure".

The secure thing goes right out the window with dice chips. The other reasons are potentially valid.

Also valid, is that he thinks your chips are ugly. Maybe if you offer and he says no, you should be insulted. :wideeyed:

 

[Irish]

Poll needs another option: don't go to those games.

I got invited to a neighborhood tourney group a couple years back... showed up and it was all dice chips on table toppers. I invited the group to my games in return, and they didn't even flinch at my setup (Paulson chips, felted tables, etc.).

To make a very long story short, I realized that offering to bring chips to their games would be rude, and so I just decided to stop going to them. In turn, they stopped coming to mine. It's all good though, because the CO PCF crew has a long list of great hosts with great chips and killer setups.

It sucks missing out on a weekly neighborhood game (it's literally 10 blocks from my house), but those dice chips just tilt me to no end. Oh... and they don't even match the chip colors correctly to the denoms. :

Agree with most of ^^this^^ for a few reasons. If we're talking about a small game with not a lot of cash at stake, but if it's a great social game and I'm having a good time, I'd be fine playing with whatever chips are there. Anything more than a $20 or $40 game though, I'd be a lot more apprehensive about security. What drives me more crazy is playing with ridiculous breakdowns/colors. I played at a tourney earlier this year that used some kind of plastic slugged chip, which were a step above dice, but the stacks were something like this:

5 - blue
10 - white
25 - red
50 - black
100 - green
500 - yellow

No denominations on the chips (just a small sign saying what was what, and we started with all but the 500 chip. Tilted me beyond measure, lol. Nice host, but I wouldn't go back.

In general, I wouldn't say anything or offer to bring my chips to a new game, so I'm in the say nothing and "that's kind of rude" crowd. IMHO there are several kinds of poker players that play with dice chips:

• Those who don't give a shit what they're playing with because they're degenerates only focused on the $$$$
• Those who are there for the social/drinking aspect and could care less what they're playing with (I fit in here on occasion)
• Those that really love all aspects of a nice home game (chips/cards/table) but just can't afford a nicer setup
• Those that really love all aspects of a nice home game (chips/cards/table) but just don't know nicer options exist

Now for those in that last category, what I have done that's worked on a couple of occasions was to bring a custom clay chip as a card capper. At some point, someone always asks "what casino is that from?". Perfect opportunity to introduce the concept of custom chips or casino chip collecting, bring up some pictures of a set or two on the phone, and the seed is planted.

 

[CraigT78]

Also valid, is that he thinks your chips are ugly. Maybe if you offer and he says no, you should be insulted

 

[CraigT78]

the seed is planted

Really - this is all that we *should* do.

 

[1A25R]

IMO the problem is not the dice chips. The problem start wen the people start asking what color worth what during the hand their are playing
If it's a casual game, fresh beer and BBQ will be more important to 90% of the players than the chips.
So I'll go for don't say anything and enjoy.

P/S: Also keep your TDA rules knowledge for another day

 

[Old State]

IMO the problem is not the dice chips. The problem start wen the people start asking what color worth what during the hand their are playing
If it's a casual game, fresh beer and BBQ will be more important to 90% of the players than the chips.
So I'll go for don't say anything and enjoy.

P/S: Also keep your TDA rules knowledge for another day

Non standard color denominations are 20x worse than cheap chips. Second worse may be playing on hard surfaces making shuffling properly very difficult. Third are paper cards which are terrible and have no place in any poker game in this day and age.

These things are far far far more annoying to me than dice chips.

 

[SuckoutKing]

Friends don't let friends drive drunk OR host with dice chips!

 

[celticnoel]

Bring your own chips for sure, that's what I do. I just got our local bowling club game to upgrade to China clays from from dice chips. Thing is most of the players didn't even care

 

[Poker Zombie]

P/S: Also keep your TDA rules knowledge for another day

Dislike

I will accept that non-TDA rules apply in a home game, but I will always mention at least once why they are doing something wrong. Most often, it's because they don't know better. Sometimes, they dont care. If they don't care, and I do, I simply won't return.

It doesn't matter how good the company is. If they are colluding or angle-shooting and it's fair game, your only choice is to cheat right along with them, or let them do it to you. Either way, they won't be friends for long, so to save the friendships it's best not to play if they don't accept commonly accepted rules.

 

[DoubleEagle]

IMO the problem is not the dice chips. The problem start wen the people start asking what color worth what during the hand their are playing

That would be me. I do it on purpose when forced to play with non-denom’s. I hate them!

 

[WedgeRock]

It sucks missing out on a weekly neighborhood game (it's literally 10 blocks from my house), but those dice chips just tilt me to no end. Oh... and they don't even match the chip colors correctly to the denoms.

I will play with dice chips and paper cards on a kitchen table if the game is soft enough.

 

[celticnoel]

Good chips, good table, good cards and good company all make for a great experience!