Heads Up Rack Project (1 Viewer)

FestiveKnight

FestiveKnight

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I really like heads up tournaments and at some point I fell in love with the simplicity of the one rack format. As I started to envision my chipping nirvana, I decided to build a set of heads-up racks as a fun way to effectively use and showcase a bunch of different types of chips.

I’m starting this thread to document my journey building this set/collection/thing.

There are only two rules:

  1. No more than 2 racks per chip type
  2. All racks must be 40 x $25, 40 x $100, 20 x $500

So, as of February 2025, I have:

IMG_6506.jpeg


Left to right:

  1. RPC FHC
  2. Maho Reef ASM Elephant & Crown (featuring Casino Royales that are awaiting relabeling)
  3. Ginkgo Club customs on Jatre + Co HHR (awaiting labels with shifted denoms to new standard)
  4. 2 x Kairos Hotel ASM Ewings (500s relabeled by @AK Chip I believe)
  5. Mixed Oversized Inlays featuring PNY and Harrah’s New Orleans (haven’t decided if mixing RHC and House Mold is okay but these are slotted in for now. Seeking a $500 option)
  6. Dunes shaped inlay 39 mm (need another barrel of $25s and 12 more $500s)
  7. Not pictured: flower mold blanks currently with @Josh Kifer awaiting hot stamping

As you can see, there’s a ton of WIP but I’m in no rush. Whenever I do a next large @Gear order I’ll work in the adjustments needed for these and then I’m now basically always keeping my eye out for options for piecing together these racks. I’d love if 10 years from now I could say I had a casino or custom rack featuring every “premium” chip type (yes ceramics, no dice chips).
 
Uncirculated Dunes $25s? If so, I might be able to help out possibly...
 
FestiveKnight said:
Mixed Oversized Inlays featuring PNY and Harrah’s New Orleans (haven’t decided if mixing RHC and House Mold is okay but these are slotted in for now. Seeking a $500 option)
Click to expand...
Decision made! Figured while all of @NERGCINC’s sales were going I should just make this an all PNY rack. My god these chips are slippery. And people complain about Matsuis!

Okku said:
Uncirculated Dunes $25s? If so, I might be able to help out possibly...
Click to expand...
@Okku was able to help! Dunes $25s filled in so now just the slow work of getting the $500s.

IMG_6561.jpeg
 
New rack added to the mix! RHC checked off the list. Thanks @Benjaminotaur! The colors are awesome in person.
IMG_6653.jpeg


Current status:

Paulson, 4 molds. FHC, oversized RHC, RHC, and Dunes HM
ASM/Burt, 3 molds. EleCrown, Ewing, HHR.

Some ceramics en route so will start to get some more representation. I need to be up to at least 12 playable racks by Memorial Day. I’m at 7
 
Something a little different… thanks to @cheekymonkey for breaking off some barrels from the large Ascona set for this. First ceramic rack.
IMG_6660.jpeg


Current status:

Paulson, 4 molds. FHC, oversized RHC, RHC, and Dunes HM
ASM/Burt, 3 molds. EleCrown, Ewing, HHR.
Sunfly, erm, don’t really remember the terms for their chips types. 1 rack of the usual!

8/12 minimum done
 
CarlosStorm said:
Great project. I like the idea.
Why do you choose T25, T100 & T500?
Click to expand...
Just what I had the most of when I decided to commit to only one breakdown. Definitely a con that $500s are much harder/more expensive to acquire but there’s some pros too. I think the slightly larger numbers intuitively are more comfortable than T5 base.
 
IMG_6703.jpeg


Two more racks added. Love the diversity that this has. My late-rat rod project made me realize that too much mixing is not it for me but because each rack gets used on its own there’s none of that problem and instead just get to have the fun of lots of different types of chips.

Paulson, 4 molds. FHC, oversized RHC, RHC, and Dunes HM
ASM/Burt, 3 molds. EleCrown, Ewing, HHR.
Sunfly, erm, don’t really remember the terms for their chips types. 1 rack of the usual!
BrPro, the usual? SPW
CPC, 1 mold. H-mold

10/14 minimum done

Looks like my Memorial Day attendance might be increasing so hoping my minimum
 
FestiveKnight said:
Just what I had the most of when I decided to commit to only one breakdown. Definitely a con that $500s are much harder/more expensive to acquire but there’s some pros too. I think the slightly larger numbers intuitively are more comfortable than T5 base.
Click to expand...
$5.00’s make fine 500’s but not for the extreme purists.
 
merkong said:
$5.00’s make fine 500’s but not for the extreme purists.
Click to expand...
A fine point, no shame on those who do this to make a set work but not the vibe for me and because this project is pretty opportunistic, not something I feel the need to do here.

IMG_6748.jpeg


Matsuis from the group buy. Always regretted selling the Radisson's I had. These are so nice to shuffle. The 43mm are chonky tho!

Paulson, 4 molds. FHC, oversized RHC, RHC, and Dunes HM
ASM/Burt, 3 molds. EleCrown, Ewing, HHR.
Sunfly, erm, don’t really remember the terms for their chips types. 1 rack of the usual!
BrPro, the usual? SPW
CPC, 1 mold. H-mold
Matsui, 43mm rounded edge type

12/14 minimum

1 mode ceramic rack on the way soon too. Guess I’ll have to up my minimum :wtf:
 
Last edited:
FestiveKnight said:
A fine point, no shame on those who do this to make a set work but not the vibe for me and because this project is pretty opportunistic, not something I feel the need to do here.

View attachment 1489491

Matsuis from the great buy. Have always regretted selling these, so nice to shuffle. The 43mm are chonky tho!

Paulson, 4 molds. FHC, oversized RHC, RHC, and Dunes HM
ASM/Burt, 3 molds. EleCrown, Ewing, HHR.
Sunfly, erm, don’t really remember the terms for their chips types. 1 rack of the usual!
BrPro, the usual? SPW
CPC, 1 mold. H-mold
Matsui, 43mm rounded edge type

12/14 minimum

1 mode ceramic rack on the way soon too. Guess I’ll have to up my minimum :wtf:
Click to expand...
That's a sick rack in the pic mee boy.
 
Well...this is going to be a bit embarrassing as I have knowingly went a little ape$hit here. I have not ordered labels from Gear yet but plan to once I am done putting sets together. Not pictured is a Tri-moon set and an 8V set not yet completed.
20250413_185405.jpg
20250413_175055.jpg
20250224_190411.jpg
20250222_153807.jpg
20250309_181318.jpg
20250331_210712.jpg
20250222_152808.jpg
20250309_180921.jpg

Top will be labeled 1-5-25
Next three will be 5-20-100
Last four will be 25-100-500
 
Love it!!!!! This is what these racks allow. Fiddling with tons of different combos that can easily see play.

What’s the thinking on all different breakdowns? Just minimizing relabels?

Really sick work man
 
Huskerchipper said:
Well...this is going to be a bit embarrassing as I have knowingly went a little ape$hit here. I have not ordered labels from Gear yet but plan to once I am done putting sets together. Not pictured is a Tri-moon set and an 8V set not yet completed. View attachment 1494577View attachment 1494578View attachment 1494579View attachment 1494580View attachment 1494581View attachment 1494582View attachment 1494583View attachment 1494584
Top will be labeled 1-5-25
Next three will be 5-20-100
Last four will be 25-100-500
Click to expand...
1st and last are my favorite. Getting these spot patterns like that together is the nuts
 
FestiveKnight said:
Love it!!!!! This is what these racks allow. Fiddling with tons of different combos that can easily see play.

What’s the thinking on all different breakdowns? Just minimizing relabels?

Really sick work man
Click to expand...
Yeah, it's been addicting and obviously there are more sets than I will ever need. Choices are good though right!?:cool
On the labels... yeah partially
trying to minimumize a bit. I know I have several different breakdowns here but I do that on my monthly tournaments as well. Every month for my tournaments is a different structure as i have run a T.25, T1, T5, T25 and T100. As long as you keep your blind levels consistent there isn't a big difference in play. Trying to keep the colors with traditional values but sometimes mixing Vegas with Cali colors. Shouldn't be a big deal heads-up I wouldn't think.
 
Huskerchipper said:
Yeah, it's been addicting and obviously there are more sets than I will ever need. Choices are good though right!?:cool
On the labels... yeah partially
trying to minimumize a bit. I know I have several different breakdowns here but I do that on my monthly tournaments as well. Every month for my tournaments is a different structure as i have run a T.25, T1, T5, T25 and T100. As long as you keep your blind levels consistent there isn't a big difference in play. Trying to keep the colors with traditional values but sometimes mixing Vegas with Cali colors. Shouldn't be a big deal heads-up I wouldn't think.
Click to expand...
Get them in play! I hosted an incredible heads up tournament last summer that we're repeated this Memorial Day. Here's the draft doc for this year's tournament. Credit to @BGinGA who suggested the match money concept. The brilliance of match money is that there's still always something to play for. In a traditional tournament or traditional bracket, weaker players are usually eliminated very quickly and this allows them to keep playing for something. This Swiss bracket makes the effect even stronger, because it sorts the players into more competitive match ups.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M09GRX76Gd03kefC5o0X6dkn8bY8yxtV/view
 

FestiveKnight said:
Get them in play! I hosted an incredible heads up tournament last summer that we're repeated this Memorial Day. Here's the draft doc for this year's tournament. Credit to @BGinGA who suggested the match money concept. The brilliance of match money is that there's still always something to play for. In a traditional tournament or traditional bracket, weaker players are usually eliminated very quickly and this allows them to keep playing for something. This Swiss bracket makes the effect even stronger, because it sorts the players into more competitive match ups.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M09GRX76Gd03kefC5o0X6dkn8bY8yxtV/view
Click to expand...
That write-up is a big reason that I started collecting heads-up sets. It looks like alot of fun to me! Now if I can convince some of my players to do it! The match play looks terribly intriguing and I love the idea and it may encourage players to at least give it a try.
 
Huskerchipper said:


That write-up is a big reason that I started collecting heads-up sets. It looks like alot of fun to me! Now if I can convince some of my players to do it! The match play looks terribly intriguing and I love the idea and it may encourage players to at least give it a try.
Click to expand...
It works super well. Even every individual match counts. We did "best of" 2 games because of time constraints but obviously Bo3 would be better. But its nice to always be competing for something. Even if you lose first 2 matches and you're out of the running for the main prize pool, taking down your last four games can net you back almost half your buy in. I love heads up play! It's already a really fun vibe with a ton of matches going. Kind of like a Friday Night Magic for the Magic the Gathering players out there.
 
Also, I know some tournament players like sitting there grinding out a slow tourney but it's also nice that there's a break between the games to grab a snack and then mill about and rail the ongoing matches
 
FestiveKnight said:
Also, I know some tournament players like sitting there grinding out a slow tourney but it's also nice that there's a break between the games to grab a snack and then mill about and rail the ongoing matches
Click to expand...
Absolutely, I can see alot of reasons this would be fun. I like heads-up play from the standpoint of being such a different game than sitting there with 8-10 players at the table. Obviously a whole different game.
 
Classic chipper moment buying seven times more than you need and reshipping just to save a little time and money. Whatever, glad to add these to the collection. Thanks @BPTDirector!

IMG_6829.jpeg



Paulson, 4 molds. FHC, oversized RHC, RHC, and Dunes HM
ASM/Burt, 3 molds. EleCrown, Ewing, HHR.
Sunfly, erm, don’t really remember the terms for their chips types. 1 rack of the usual!
BrPro, the usual? SPW
CPC, 3 molds, H-mold and CSQ
Matsui, 43mm rounded edge type

13/14 minimum*

*kinda, a couple aren’t playable yet
 
And got a rack in play today, a little Patriot’s day lax afternoon. Using the lakeshore RHCs. Love the colors on these and smooth as butter. Cause we were chatting so much, used BR Pro blanks to count hands and did 5 hands per level rather then timer.

IMG_6831.jpeg
 
woah those Kairos Hotel chips are from 1971, that's crazy. The hotel existed under this name for less than a year, then they changed its name.
Where did you source these?
 
Very impressive. This (improvised) casino under the Kairos name was opened by Bob Ayoub in 1971. The hotel worked under this name for 6-7 months and then the workers voted for its ownership to change to a different company and thus the name had changed from Kairos to Lav.

Very interesting and rare. Nice one.
 

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