Ideal amount of work horse chips? (1 Viewer)

[Jackypoo]

I host a game of mostly close friends and a few work friends that play. The most we've had is 6 players but in the future could be a many a 8. The game plays small and functionally only uses 25c chips and $1 chips. $5 chips do get into play but never really in quantity. Many people here work horse chips probably ends up being a $5 but I don't think that really changes the answer to the question. But anyways how many work horse chips do you like to have in the table before you introduce bigger denominations? 200, 300, 400, dare I say 500? Right now I have 300 1s and was thinking of adding another rack. This would guarantee no 5s would need to hit the table for the foreseeable future and would promote giant chip stacks. Thoughts?

 

[Jeevansluck]

I host a game of mostly close friends and a few work friends that play. The most we've had is 6 players but in the future could be a many a 8. The game plays small and functionally only uses 25c chips and $1 chips. $5 chips do get into play but never really in quantity. Many people here work horse chips probably ends up being a $5 but I don't think that really changes the answer to the question. But anyways how many work horse chips do you like to have in the table before you introduce bigger denominations? 200, 300, 400, dare I say 500? Right now I have 300 1s and was thinking of adding another rack. This would guarantee no 5s would need to hit the table for the foreseeable future and would promote giant chip stacks. Thoughts?

I think each host will have his/her opinion on the subject..

My games have been similar to yours. 6-7 players, and usually .25/.50 stakes. I've even run .25/.25. lots of fun for friends.

I have at least 300 x $1s in each cash set I got. I've ventured into the 400 range as HSI prices made this attractive. I doubt I'll ever need them, but it's a comfort to have them.

I'm a new host, and my game hopefully grows and having that extra rack guards me from the growth.

I have had a few games with 5-6 players that run deep, deeper than usual, and it would be a travesty to need the chips and not have them. So I've always thought 2-3 racks of $5s should guard against these types of nights.

Sounds like your workhorse chip is the $1 and it can't hurt to have MOAR! But if you want to be efficient, and watch the dollar spending, with 300 x $1s, maybe it's time to add some $5s.

I like the idea of MOAR and having all those $1s, but I'd say a few $5s will add a bit of flavor.

 

[AH77]

Having 200-250 workhorse chips on the table is probably enough before you introduce more chips of the next denomination. This depends on personal taste as some people just want as many chips on the table as possible and some just like the most efficient/necessary amount.

As far as your set as a whole is concerned then I’d say 200 workhorse chips is the minimum, 300 is the sweet spot, and anything above ensures you’re covered if your game grows beyond one table or starts playing at higher stakes.

 

[cpac54]

We play mainly .50/1, sometimes .25/.50 with buy-ins up to 200 BB. Most people buy in for between 150-200 BB.

I like lots of chips in play, personally. All my cash sets have at least 120x fracs (except one), 300x $1s and 200x $5s. We've been playing 6 max the past year due to COVID (up until everything here got locked down in January anyways, now we don't play at all). On any given night of 6max, I'll end up with all the fracs, all the $1s and all the $5s on the table, plus a handful of $20s or $25s.

Once we get back to being able to play full-ring poker, I'll probably look to add on a rack of $5s to the sets where I only have 200x $5s.

 

[Eloe2000]

I like 300 workhorse chips. I just can’t seem to get more on the table even with 9 players. I get that we like more chips, but I would also rather see more denoms on the table.

 

[AH77]

I like 300 workhorse chips. I just can’t seem to get more on the table even with 9 players. I get that we like more chips, but I would also rather see more denoms on the table.

+1 on more denoms over more chips after a certain point. If there’s a way I can squeeze some of my lonely hundos into a .25/.50 game, I’m all for it lol.

 

[upNdown]

It’s funny. For a 1/1 or 1/2 game, I’m all in favor of having endless racks of $5s. Like, I’d want a minimum of 4 racks and as many as 8.
But with my .25/.50 game, I’m not really interested in having more than two racks of $1s on the table. Maybe partly because the way that game plays, I think the $1s and $5s are are co-workhouse chips. And partly because I just like red chips.

 

[Jackypoo]

Thanks for your opinions everyone! Sounds like the consensus is, 200 is enough, 300 is better, and 400 while probably unnecessary and possibly inefficient will make monster stacks. Since my set in question is my budget hsi set buying another rack of secondary 1a's seems like a no brainer. Thanks for convincing me that more chips is always better Also this will make for interesting contrast to my other set which only has 120 $1 chips. After both get used a few times I'll learn which quantities I prefer.

 

[kmccormick100]

Minimum 250-300, we routinely get 4 racks of $5s (our workhorse) in play for our $.5/1 games, 5 racks is about the most I'd want, I enjoy seeing at least a few barrels of $20/25s make their way onto the table for contrast, and occasionally a few elusive $100s.

 

[Jackypoo]

we routinely get 4 racks of $5s (our workhorse) in play

I aspire to this! Probably won't happen until my friends and I are older and richer

 

[allforcharity]

I think 200 is quite enough for 6 - handed. If budget is not an issue, get as much as you want, 300-400. But often, budget and availability are real issues, so plan accordingly.

 

[Mojo1312]

50 to 60 workhorse chips per player is enough IMO.

After that, you can introduce larger chips.

 

[Ben8257]

I used to be one that said lots of chips in play makes it more fun, but as experience increases so does the efficiency factor referred to many times by the break down King @BGinGA !

I used to like lots of $1s in play and would probably be in the 300 plus $1 team, but when it comes to counting out for all ins, a bunch of small chips really can slow the game to a crawl.

Happy to say I have changed my evil noob ways of the more chips is better and now side with the 120 $.25/ or 100 $.50/ 200 $1/ 200 $5/ 80 $20 or $25/ 20 $100 team per 10 player table. Only increase here would be the $5s to 300 but for our games it is really not necessary, just get the $25s in play when it is time. Also if you want to keep this at 600 chips in the quarters set, I would prefer to cut a barrel of $20s over cutting the extra 20 quarters. But again that is something for each host to decide on their particular group.

Fellow Chipper Ben

 

[Jackypoo]

Happy to say I have changed my evil noob ways

Welp I guess I am going to have to possibly learn this lesson for myself. I just both another rack of sec 1a chips last night! Since these chips are cheap I won't feel too bad if I end up deciding I don't need so many

 

[RainmanTrail]

I prefer at least 4 racks of the workhorse chips.

 

[Papasatyr]

Many limit players will say you want at least 1000 of your workhorse. More is definitely better.

250 is, to my mind, the bare minimum for your workhorse. I’m planning 350 for my workhorse denominations when I build my future custom set, the idea being 40 chips for 8 players with some rebuy chips ready.

 

[Jackypoo]

Definitely not playing limit games so no need for 1000. I've got 400 now with a goal of trying to get them all on the table at some point, wish me luck!

 

[Nanook]

Many limit players will say you want at least 1000 of your workhorse. More is definitely better.

250 is, to my mind, the bare minimum for your workhorse. I’m planning 350 for my workhorse denominations when I build my future custom set, the idea being 40 chips for 8 players with some rebuy chips ready.

He probably would have specified limit if he was planning on playing limit. Seems most here are pretty aware that you need a lot more chips for limit than nl. Even 1000 chips is cutting it thin for limit, but for nl unless you are running multiple tables 300 should do it. 400 might be a bit more comfortable, but either way it won't hinder your game.

 

[crussader]

For efficiency, I like to go with roughly 20 workhorse chips per player. You can use more just for the ambience of more chips on the table, but I would never use more than 40 per player in a no limit game.

 

[philhut]

I like 1/2 cash games, any less and I call too much and I get nervous when playing 5/10 NL.... Home games i'm happy with .25/.50 to 1/2 mostly.

As for chip distribution I like handing out a Casino volume of chips to players. In 1/2 games its common to get two barrels of 5's for a $200 buy in.... thus all of my cash sets have the ability to give 2 barrels to players. Generally for 1/2 I give out 20-$1's and 36-$5's in the first buy in, then all rebuys are in 5's, 25's and if things get crazy (I have a lot of chips so have never needed) $100's. For a .25/50 game i'd give out 20-.25's, 20-$1's, 5-$5's, then all rebuys are given in $5's+ generally. So as for a workhorse chip the $1 or $5 chip will be the most used depending on the stakes. I prefer an excessive amount of chips over the most efficient set possible. My sets could be reduced but I find adjusting the chip stacks for efficiency adjusts play-styles of rookie players a lot. People seem more likely to bet stacks of 5's when the have stacks of 5's where they may just bet a single $25 they may bet $30 in 5's..... The only edge I get in my home games is the way the chip stacks broken down and length of blinds/levels in tourney's at my home games.....gotta do what I can lol.

This is what I like to have for a single table based on the blinds and keeping the bank realistic.
.25/.50 blinds
200-.25c chips
200-$1 chips
150-$5 chips
40- $25 chips
10- $100 chips
600 total
20-.25's 20-$1's 5-$5 rebuys using $5's for the most part.

1/2 blinds
200-$1 chips
400-$5 chips
80-$25
20-$100
600 total
20-$1's 36-$5 = $200 rebuys using excess $5's and introducing $25's

If you want both stakes options split the difference......
200-.25c
200-$1
300-$5
80-$25
20-$100
800 total
(add 100-$5's, 60-$25, 20-$100, 20-$500 for an even 1000 chip birdcage)


There's a reason the 1's and 5's are the most worn chips in the Casino.

 

[Papasatyr]

He probably would have specified limit if he was planning on playing limit. Seems most here are pretty aware that you need a lot more chips for limit than nl. Even 1000 chips is cutting it thin for limit, but for nl unless you are running multiple tables 300 should do it. 400 might be a bit more comfortable, but either way it won't hinder your game.

Just trying to provide a perspective, maybe not useful, maybe so. For a NL game I’m happy enough with 200 workhorse, but extras are always warranted so 250-300. But I don’t play a lot of NL.

 

[Kid_Eastwood]

Hello,

For a 1-2 game, full table, is one rack of 1's enough for smooth (not necessarily perfect) play ?

 

[Marius L]

Hello,

For a 1-2 game, full table, is one rack of 1's enough for smooth (not necessarily perfect) play ?

I've been using 100x $1s for my 1-2 game. It works fine, but it feels a bit tight when playing full ring. It definitely worked though. For 6-7 players it's plenty, but for 8-9 players, i would add another barrel or two if the chips are easy to get/cheap ish. After having a 9handed game a few weeks ago, I realized 100 was a bit tight and I have planned to add two barrels for a total of 140.

For the most part $1s are used only for blinds and preflop betting and the occasional flop bet. (at least that's how our game plays.)

 

[LeLe]

Hello,

For a 1-2 game, full table, is one rack of 1's enough for smooth (not necessarily perfect) play ?

When playing 8-9 handed I will use 1 of my bigger set that have 2 rack of $1 so I have the option to introduce more $1 if I need too. But generally I only introduce 1 rack of blinds chip most of the time.

In 1/2 game the $5 and $25 are more important than $1

 

[cpac54]

I see $1s for 1/2 like fracs in a .25/.50 or .50/1 game. You can get by with a single rack, but I always like to give each player a single barrel. It's a bit of overkill, but it's easier to give out starting stacks, leads to less change making and, honestly, I just like more chips.

 

[XBobdog]

Hello,

For a 1-2 game, full table, is one rack of 1's enough for smooth (not necessarily perfect) play ?

This is how my group plays.

It sort of occurred organically that no-one wanted to deal with extra chips at cash out.

But our group has played together for years and everyone is comfortable with making change on the fly. This includes some who reach into the pot sometimes to change a chip. Not real good for if everyone isn't friendly with each other.

 

[TurboKitty]

My group of friends seems to be in the minority here cause they LOVE monster stacks. We typically have 8-10 players with 25¢/50¢ blinds. Each player buys in at the start for $100, and we use 400 fracs, 400 $1's, and 100 $5's. Yes, each person starts with 90 chips!

 

[Kid_Eastwood]

Thx everyone for the input !

 

[Machine]

typically 8-9 players .25 / .50 PLO
max chips / denoms - 60 .25s, 200 1s, 200 5s, never more than 60 20s in play ~$2000 in play

 

[allforcharity]

I find it interesting that people load up on tons of racks of $5 chips (for BB stakes $1 or below) and yet complain that they never get the $20/25 or $100 into play, even with full ring. Maybe pare back on them or only play with half your stash?