New hobby for me; Looking for a reasonable Buy it for Life set that can be built on (1 Viewer)

CJC

New Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2020
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Location
Austin, TX
Hi! I'm very new to this hobby and I am looking for my very first set of chips to buy. I've been watching a ton of Hobbyphilic's videos and am leaning toward the Monaco chips as they are produced in the same factory as the Paulson's. It would be for casual poker games - 3 players total. I am looking for denomination suggestions - I was thinking 40 each of $1, $5, $25, $100 and 20 of the $500 chips. Any suggestions other than the Monacos and any input about the number of each chip? Thank you!
 
Welcome!

The Monacos, and the Elites, are top-quality chips. They are no longer made by GPI (Paulson), so they will be more difficult to acquire going forward. I don't know if that will affect the value of those sets on the secondary market, although some of the remaining stock from Apache are already higher priced.

So...you better jump on them quickly if you want them. $1, $5, and $25 chips are still <$1.

FYI, there are a couple knocks on these chips, including the white-only edgespots and the oversized glossy inlay, resulting in a somewhat slippery chip. Still, they're fantastic chips, and it wouldn't dissuade me from owning them.

Another great option is posting a WTB ad in the classifieds (after you have 10 posts). There are plenty of Paulson casino chips that can be had for around $1/chip.

Good luck in your new chipping venture!
 
  • Like
Reactions: CJC
As far as a buy-it-for-life set, you may want to steer away from China clays, some chips have been known to degrade after years of storage/use.

A plastic chip like Bud Jones offerings would make a good life long set, as quality plastic chips are more durable than clay, and won't wear as much with use.

Like usual, I would recommend anyone purchase sample sets when making their decisions.
 
#1 rule: Get samples

Looking for a lifetime set, this rule cannot be understated. Beyond that, options are wide open.

Some will poo-poo China Clay chips. I have owned my Milanos for 11 years, at least. There has been no degradation. In fact, if there is a China Clay out there that falls apart, it is no longer available. Don't let the nay-sayers tell you otherwise. Not all CCs are the same.

That said, CC is a bargain basement chip, and probably not what you are looking for, when thinking about a lifetime set.

The question comes down to your budget though. Even something as limited as Empress Star or Big Top chips are things you can add-on to in the future. The question is, how much are you willing to pay per chip?
 
  • Like
Reactions: CJC
Hi! I'm very new to this hobby and I am looking for my very first set of chips to buy. Looking for a reasonable Buy it for Life set that can be built on.

If you are truly looking for a "Buy It For Life Set", my suggestion would be to put your plans on hold for at least a few months (if not longer), and work on getting to play with as many different sets as you can. I started with plans to get two sets of cheaper CC's (one cash and one tourney), but as I got exposed to (and played with) many different sets (everything from Dunes CC, Milanos, CPC, Casino Used Paulsons, Paulson Fantasy series, Paulson Elites, Boat Chips & Sunset Beach, Tiki Kings, various Ceramics, etc.). I soon discovered that my opinion of what I would consider a "Buy It For Life Set" changed drastically (as did my concept of what I would need to spend for such a set).

As mentioned above, samples are a great place to start, and are absolutely essential prior to making a decision. But IMO, equally important is the ability to actually play a few games with different sets, so that you can truly understand what they look, feel, sound and smell like (yes, all of the above can be a factor in your decision).

The best thing that I could suggest is to hook up (no, not like that), with a bunch of different chippers in your area and get invites to their games. Play a bunch of games with different sets, and form some opinions. Avoid making decisions based on what someone else's preferences are, and keep an open mind. You will possibly find that you need to strike a balance between relative affordability and what you could be happy with one year, five years, and twenty years from now. You may even find it more appropriate to purchase a "not for life" set initially, and work towards the "for life" set over time.

... any input about the number of each chip?

That will depend on whether you are playing strictly cash, or also tournament. Don't limit yourself to a set designed for 3 players, as you may (probably will) find that your circle of players expands and you want to host full tables (up to 10) or even multiple table events in the future. You will need to give some thought to the stakes you want to play for (now and in the future). $10 buyins will need 5c, 25c, $1 and possibly $5 chips, while a $20 or $50 buyin will need 25c, $1, $5 and possibly $20/$25 chips. For $100 or more buyins, you probably won't need the 25c chips at all, but may need to get a few $100 chips.

Search the forum for breakdowns - this is a great place to start for cash games: https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...ut-a-cash-game-chip-set-5c-10c-to-5-10.30897/

For tournaments, there are a ton of breakdown threads, and any posts from @BGinGA are worth their weight in gold, although there are several other members who also give great advice. Many people suggest having separate cash and tournament sets for security reasons (a search of the forum will explain why).

Good luck, and enjoy the journey!
 
  • Like
Reactions: CJC
So many options here. If you would consider ceramics, these are an option that are always easy to add onto:

https://brpropoker.com/collections/...jack-skulls-poker-chip?variant=18183572062259

or any on here:
https://brpropoker.com/

in fact, you can get a 15% discount now:
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/br-pro-website-updated-15-off-sale.53295/

Beware, it's a slippery slope. Someday you'll want amazing Paulsons:
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/big-top-poker-cash.40631/

or your own designed CPC:
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...-of-the-year-the-barrel-house-vs-clubd.51108/

Get Samples!
 

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account and join our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Back
Top Bottom