Microstakes Cash Set Thoughts (2 Viewers)

[TheOctagon]

I've been trying to encourage my poker accomplices to check out some different types of games like badugi and PLO. There seems to be some encouraging response at the 5c/10c level since that reduces the amount of risk and increases the amount of action we can see during the circus games. I'm all for it. I think learning new games and getting people outside their comfort zone in a way that doesn't threaten their entire bankroll is good stuff.

Anyway, I've been thinking of how I can come up with a set - doesn't have to be huge - but just a dedicated micro set for the times when we're going to throw stacks of nickels at each other over a heated hand of PL badugi.

I'm leaving CPC customs off the table for now because when the time comes for that custom set I will have all my bases covered and that includes these stakes. This is more of an interim for-fun idea.

Here are my thoughts with pros and cons:

Majestic Relabel - the original Majestic set shipped with optional 5c labels. The blanks are still available in colors I'd be happy to use, but I don't think the labels are available anymore. Probably Gear could replicate them effectively (if the permissions were in place) or I could source some already labeled 5c chips. Likely an economical option, if a little on the milquetoast side.

Any Blank + Custom Label - Now the options open up a little. I could pick up a set of whatever blanks are kicking around which include: Majestic, Milano, maybe even some older NexGens (lucky bees might be cool) or blank slugged, but I'm leaning away from slugged because the quality just isn't there for the most part. Then I can design my own label and off I go. Definitely more expensive after double custom labels. Almost looking like it's smarter to...

Wait for the next big group buy with a 5c denom - the most logical would be the Boardwalk re-buy later this year. And I love the butterscotch 5c chip. A lot. I also am interested in what happens with the proposed 43mm Apache china clay concept, but that's maybe not until the fall or later, so who knows with that one.

Casino Used Paulson Fracs - least economical, in most cases prohibitively so, but obviously would be the most authentically cool way to play at the micros. I realize these are easily the rarest of chips on the market, so let's pretend this isn't actually an option right now.

Anyone have any other ideas or thoughts on what might be a fun way to put together a set like this? I'm thinking minimum 400 chips with likely closer to 600, though I'm only anticipating an average of 4 players at this level.

Don't overthink it, I'm still kicking the tires on this one.

 

[mummel]

I would go with the stock Majestics. How many players? I have Milanos, 200 X 5c, 200 X 25c, and 200 X $1. This will cover a 10c/10c or 10c/20c NLHE game without a prob. Microstakes games are actually a lot of fun. I had a blast over the holidays playing with family.

 

[Forty4]

Gear should have the Majestic labels, if not could make them easily for you I'd assume. I might even have a few unused ones around. I actually have a Majestic set with purple $.05's that I can sell, have spoken to one guy at my game about them but not sure if he wants them.

Boardwalks are great, that's why I'm selling my Majestic set.

Other option is to use a casino set at 1/100th value ($5 = $.05, $25 = $.25, $100 = $1)

 

[Psypher1000]

Other option is to use a casino set at 1/100th value ($5 = $.05, $25 = $.25, $100 = $1)

This is what I would use for your first option. A $1/$2 set easily can be used for a 5c/10c set by using this method. If you already have a set with a couple racks of $5's and $25's, go with that.

If you really want a dedicated set and/or a set with printed nickles, go with the Majestics.

 

[mummel]

This is what I would use for your first option. A $1/$2 set easily can be used for a 5c/10c set by using this method. If you already have a set with a couple racks of $5's and $25's, go with that.

If you really want a dedicated set and/or a set with printed nickles, go with the Majestics.

 

[Mental Nomad]

I'd consider an entirely different tack..

Build a cash set with the $5 as the base. With a $5, $25, and $100, just play them as cents instead of dollars. Instant nickel, quarter, dollar set... and I'll bet the players will enjoy the action a lot more.

You may even find it easier to build a set... some sets have few $1 available because everyone tries to build $1/2 sets... or have few large denoms available because people built tourney sets... you may just be able to find a large stock of $5 chips and make a great nickel limit set, no re-labeling necessary.

If you have grabby players and safety concerns, don't play the same chips at face value, as well... but if you build a set with no $1 chips in it, that's not going to happen, anyway, right?

 

[TheOctagon]

Some good ideas so far! I'll weigh in shortly as I'm on mobile at the moment.

 

[Kid_Eastwood]

There're also the China Clay Pharaoh which feature 5c.

 

[mummel]

There're also the China Clay Pharaoh which feature 5c.

The Majestics colors are so much better. If only it if wasnt for that meh mold, they would be great chips.

 

[mummel]

Wait for the next big group buy with a 5c denom - the most logical would be the Boardwalk re-buy later this year. And I love the butterscotch 5c chip. A lot. I also am interested in what happens with the proposed 43mm Apache china clay concept, but that's maybe not until the fall or later, so who knows with that one.

I for one am waiting on more info on this one too. That horseshoe mold looks really great.

 

[Poker Zombie]

And I love the butterscotch 5c chip. A lot.

You're talking microstakes. You can expect to toss around a lot of nickles, exp. if your group is timid while feeling out a new game. If you truly love the Boardwalk nickle, then this is the road you should travel. Unless you hate the boardwalk quarter (which should see plenty of time on the felt), there is no reason to look any further when you are already looking at a chip you love.

 

[TheOctagon]

Ok! I'm back.

Honestly, I did not expect so many of you to have an interest in a super low stakes set, but far be it from me to underestimate the helpfulness and passion of this group. Thank you, genuinely, for your input here. I'm just throwing stuff out there to see what sticks, and you have been super helpful.

To review: Set should cover 5c/10c limits with average of 4 players up to 6 if we're having a good turnout. People don't mind making change, but they do mind playing games they don't know with limits they can't justify.

Here's what we have so far as ideas. My take follows:

Majestics with 5c Labels - looks immensely feasible considering people have said they might even have some chips available to pick up straight away. Gear and Apache might have labels available if I were to go with alternate colors (haven't put a lot of thought into them, but I have my preferences in that set). Super cool.

Majestics are great chips. My preference would be to have a dedicated printed nickel and this fits the bill. Of course, I'd have to source the labeled ones from the OG group buy and/or label them myself using Gear's stuff. For the price, that works out to around $0.55 a chip plus labor if I need to print labels.

$5 min cash set used as microstakes - I could use my existing cash set which is the latest Dunes CC and just take the $5s and $25s (probably some $100s) and use them as my microstakes set.

Technically, I already have this covered. The challenge is that my Dunes set goes from quarters up through $20. The $25s are in the tournament set, and the $5s might not make sense being played alongside the printed quarters. I like the versatility, but my preference is to have actual printed nickels. I tend to get people who drink a little and forget how much each color is worth. Plus, more chips = better!

Wait for Boardwalk buy - guaranteed chips I enjoy looking at and in quantities I can afford.

Assuming the price of the re-buy stays at $0.55/chip, then this is likely the most bang for the buck with zero labor on my end.

Pharaohs CCs - I totally forgot they had a nickel already built in. This makes it a possibility.

At $0.42/chip, they're likely the most economic option after investing in labels for Majestics, but the fact remains I like the Majestic overall as a chip better than the Pharaohs.

Use my ASM HHR no-inlay set for micro stakes in the meantime - I have an ASM (yes, ASM 2007, not CPC) HHR no-inlay set I picked up on a group buy over on the big blue board forever ago. I damn love these chips.

I have no qualms about using these for circus games in the meantime if I don't like the immediate solutions, but it always results in someone forgetting how much a chip is worth and making the wrong bet. "Oh sh*t! I thought pink was 25c and black was $1?! I didn't mean to bet $5!" Stuff like that. It's funny, and not the end of the world, but I've never been in a game without printed denominations where things weren't slowed down by people not paying attention.

So, here's where I'm leaning after reading through your awesome ideas.

1) There's no time limit on this. It'd be nice to have a set ready to go sometime this year, but I'm just kicking the tires as I stated before.
2) After analysis, cost/benefit ratio looks to be lower with a CC set that needs labeling (i.e. Majestics or Milanos). Compared to an out-of-the-box solution like Pharaohs or the Boardwalks, I'm leaning away from Majestics, nice as they may be.
3) Since I have a set I can theoretically, but somewhat painfully, use in the meantime, I'm happier to be patient on it anyway if it means I get what I like.

In order of preference, given the current crop of ideas it goes: Wait for Boardwalks and use ASM HHRs as stand-ins.

If you do have more thoughts though, keep them coming. I've searched the boards, but I don't see a whole ton of microstakes sets or suggestions. Hell, even post some photos of your sets if you think I might be persuaded by some good old cheap chip pr0n! Thanks again for your help here.

 

[mummel]

Im confused. How come you want to relabel the Majestics? They have 5c, 25c and $1 chips ready to go, which has your game totally covered. The yellow chip is the best in the majestic line IMO!

For 6 players ($10 buy-in with 5c/10c blinds), get 20 X 6 = 120 X 5c chips, 20 X 6 = 120 X 25c chips, and 4 X 6 = 24 X $1 chips (totals $10 starting stacks with 20/20/4)

Use 10 X $1 chips for rebuys with maybe 5 reloads = +50 X $1 chips

So 120 X 5c, + 120 X 25c, + 80 X $1 (extras to finish off the barrel or get another 20 to finish a rack and have ample rebuys), will have you totally covered = 320-340 chips total.

 

[dew4au]

I think that's a good way forward!

 

[TheOctagon]

Im confused. How come you want to relabel the Majestics? They have 5c, 25c and $1 chips ready to go..

Interesting. Last I checked, Apache wasn't stocking the 5c labeled chips. It was 25c and up.

 

[MillyS]

Personally if you are going down the CPC route at some stage in the future (even if its years away) my preference would be 1) wait for boardwalks if you can wait 2) Majestic with relabels. If you want something soonish I would go with the Majestics, the colours are amazing. I have both Majestics and boardwalks - love them both. I did think to sell my Majestic once I received the boardwalks, however decided to keep them and use as a back up/travel set.

ohh I also use the Majestics for the same purpose as you - super micro stakes - I relabeled the yellows as 5c - check with Apache, he may have some labels. But for now, here are some pics.

In hindsight - I would have relabeled the orange as 25c and got rid of the 50c. But I am still happy with these.

Also the orange and the salmon do not work so well on the table together.

 

[mummel]

Milly that is some beautiful PrOn, wow.

Darn, Josh raised the prices on the Majestics.

 

[mummel]

In hindsight - I would have relabeled the orange as 25c and got rid of the 50c. But I am still happy with these.

I think a sick combo would be the 5c yellow, a 25c orange and a $1 green.

 

[TheOctagon]

@MillyS Believe it or not, your first photo is what I thought of when I thought "I know someone has a cool Majestic microstakes set around here somewhere." That's a really great batch of chips you have together.

What ranges did you pick up the Boardwalks in? Do you have nickel + quarter pr0n of those, too?

 

[MillyS]

I think a sick combo would be the 5c yellow, a 25c orange and a $1 green.

I love my blue $1's, wouldnt change them! but deffo change the 25c to orange

 

[MillyS]

@MillyS

What ranges did you pick up the Boardwalks in? Do you have nickel + quarter pr0n of those, too?

I bought the Boardwalks as my main set, so I bought the full range - cash and tourney (2000 chips total) I wanted to cover stakes from 5/10c to 1/2. I have just unboxed etc the chips, will take some pron shot this weekend.

my cash breakdown is:

200 x 5c
200 x 25c
400 x $1
200 x $2.50 (really love this chip)
200 x 5
100 x $20

 

[TheOctagon]

I bought the Boardwalks as my main set, so I bought the full range - cash and tourney (2000 chips total) I wanted to cover stakes from 5/10c to 1/2. I have just unboxed etc the chips, will take some pron shot this weekend.

my cash breakdown is:

200 x 5c
200 x 25c
400 x $1
200 x $2.50 (really love this chip)
200 x 5
100 x $20

It is a near guarantee that if I go the Boardwalk route for microstakes I'm getting a barrel of the snappers. I'm looking forward to your photos.

 

[mummel]

How do you guys use the snappers?

 

[joseywales]

Is my group the only one that thought the Majestic .25 salmon chip and the .50 orange chip were too close in color?

I bought my Majestics new. My intro into the "real" chip world. I really liked them and liked the color of the .25, but in play they do look close to the .50. So much so, I opted to use the $25 green as my .25.

I also didn't care for the Majestic $1, because it looked white. Turns out, it's more grey. Of course, that's makes it a complete Dallas Cowboy chip, but WTH, I use them anyway...

 

[mummel]

Is my group the only one that thought the Majestic .25 salmon chip and the .50 orange chip were too close in color?

I bought my Majestics new. My intro into the "real" chip world. I really liked them and liked the color of the .25, but in play they do look close to the .50. So much so, I opted to use the $25 green as my .25.

I also didn't care for the Majestic $1, because it looked white. Turns out, it's more grey. Of course, that's makes it a complete Dallas Cowboy chip, but WTH, I use them anyway...

How are you using the 25c and 50c chips in the same game?

 

[joseywales]

How are you using the 25c and 50c chips in the same game?

I refuse to answer that on the grounds that I don't want to listen to backlash BS that will ensue. Suffice to say, .25 and .50 chips appear harmlessly on my table and Men in Black have never kicked in the door. Unless they used a Neuralizer on me, in which case my memory has been erased of those incidents.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Despite the high-rollers on the board, there are quite a few of us that enjoy the purely social game, where losing a mortgage payment would take years, not one bad night.

I went with custom labeled CPS chips. They still pop up in the classifieds occasionally but relabeling would be time intensive and an extra 30¢ per chip, so I didn't recommend them in my previous post.

Depending on how whichever set you decide, a few tidbits of microset information:

• A 5 looks like a 5, whether it's a 5¢ or a $5 chip. To minimize possible confusion, make sure the 5¢ and the $5 have stark color differences. I went with the bright orange and the muted red chips, though the $5 chips have never hit the same table as the 5¢ chips.
• Same goes for 25s. I mitigated this by using 25¢ and $20 chips, however I acknowledge that many chippers prefer $25s over $20s and use them with their quarter fracs without issue. I just like to avoid all possible problems.

I refuse to answer that on the grounds that I don't want to listen to backlash BS that will ensue. Suffice to say, .25 and .50 chips appear harmlessly on my table and Men in Black have never kicked in the door. Unless they used a Neuralizer on me, in which case my memory has been erased of those incidents.

You've been Neuralized. MiBs have kicked in your door, and shown you how easy (and cheap) you can run a game with one chip or the other. You immediately saw how wrong you were. Then, as a MiB joke, we programmed you to think it was awesome and forget the whole MiB experience. It's a pretty funny story back in the MiB chipping office these days...

 

[Mental Nomad]

A 5 looks like a 5, whether it's a 5¢ or a $5 chip.

I think this is a good argument for a $10 chip, if there's one in the set and the color works.

If the 5c and 25c are the workhorses, a $1 and $10 can work fine as value and bank chips, respectively.... and gives us an excuse to get them in play.

 

[TheOctagon]

@Poker Zombie You nailed it. I like to see some low-roller chatter around here from time to time! I have no aversion to playing $1/$2 regularly, but I don't know people who in for $200 buy ins on the regular.

I don't see your $5 in that photo, but maybe way off in the distance there?

Also, I'm happy that this microstakes chip set discussion morphed into us trying to figure out how to get as many oddball denoms onto the table as possible. To be honest, I don't have a good case for having a snapper in play even at 5c/10c. It could be the bank denom as it clears half a barrel of quarters or half a rack of nickels. This is just me dreaming up the biggest, weirdest microstakes circus game possible though. Not likely to happen

 

[joseywales]

More denoms = more chips = more colors. Now WTH is the problem!