New to Chips (8 Viewers)

[ppton]

Hey guys so I have been trying to do my research but still feel pretty lost with everything. I play small home games with my friends (very casually) and right now only have the cheap target sets of poker chips. I am looking to upgrade to 500 chips (but could consider 1000) with a budget of around $300 to $500 respectively. We typically play either $20 or $40 buy ins (with an avg of 2-3 buy ins) at .10/.20 with about 6-8 players. I've tried reading around a bit about the different chips but is there a big quality jump between say ordering chips off sites like chipdaddy and buying 500 custom denoms of say their monte carlo chips or thepokerstore's stealth casino royales and hunting for random chip sets on this forum? I have seen a few listings for large sets within my price range in the forums but I am wondering the extent of the chip quality. Also the chips off Apache for 500 I checked was around like $270, is there a $150 difference in quality than say like the 500 chip set of Slowplay chips on Amazon? Thank u guys!

 

[BigGrizz]

So chips kind of come in tiers for quality.

Tier 1: Paulson and CPC
These are legit compression molded clay. You can only buy Paulsons on the secondary market and CPC is in the middle of a big move. Both options range from buying a state or the art gaming PC to buying a new car. $2-$15/chip.

Tier 2: The Exclusive Plasics
These aren't your Target plastic chips. These are made by companies for actual casinos. You are mostly stuck to the secondary market unless you are in on a group buy. This would include Bud Jones, Abiatti, and Matsui. $1-$5/chip.

Tier 3: The Ceramics and China Clays
BRPro ceramics are the top in quality here. Sunflys are also quite popular. Tinas (short for a Chinese company in Shenzhen) can be obtained here on the forum through Broken Arrow. Tinas are probably the best bang for your buck on the market. Also we have China Clays, which are a chalky, clayish plastic that are injected molded. They are a parrallel alternative to ceramics. $.50-$1/chip.

Tier 4: ABS plastic chips weighted with metal slugs. Think Monte Carlos or Outlaws. You can get them off Amazon but are better off going through Discount Poker, the Poker Store, or Apache Poker for these. Some are okay. Most suck. $.15-.35/chip.

Tier 5: Dice chips. Fuck'em.

 

[jcf1713]

So chips kind of come in tiers for quality.

Tier 1: Paulson and CPC
These are legit compression molded clay. You can only buy Paulsons on the secondary market and CPC is in the middle of a big move. Both options range from buying a state or the art gaming PC to buying a new car. $2-$15/chip.

Tier 2: The Exclusive Plasics
These aren't your Target plastic chips. These are made by companies for actual casinos. You are mostly stuck to the secondary market unless you are in on a group buy. This would include Bud Jones, Abiatti, and Matsui. $1-$5/chip.

Tier 3: The Ceramics and China Clays
BRPro ceramics are the top in quality here. Sunflys are also quite popular. Tinas (short for a Chinese company in Shenzhen) can be obtained here on the forum through Broken Arrow. Tinas are probably the best bang for your buck on the market. Also we have China Clays, which are a chalky, clayish plastic that are injected molded. They are a parrallel alternative to ceramics. $.50-$1/chip.

Tier 4: ABS plastic chips weighted with metal slugs. Think Monte Carlos or Outlaws. You can get them off Amazon but are better off going through Discount Poker, the Poker Store, or Apache Poker for these. Some are okay. Most suck. $.15-.35/chip.

Tier 5: Dice chips. Fuck'em.

Thank you for this breakdown. Looking to upgrade from Tier 5 to Tier 3 soon. Just ordered some Olympus samples.

 

[BigGrizz]

Olympus chips are the other best value for money on the market. Tina gives you customization, but if you are good with off the shelf, the Olympus line is absolutely the best it gets.

 

[bigblind]

Welcome,get samples, take your time

 

[ppton]

Olympus chips are the other best value for money on the market. Tina gives you customization, but if you are good with off the shelf, the Olympus line is absolutely the best it gets.

Yeah honestly I pulled the trigger on these, thank you for your input! Let's see how they are when they get here. I am more rushed for time because these are gonna be a gift for a friend who's birthday is coming up and we often play poker at their place.

 

[BigGrizz]

Great chips. You wont be disappointed. You really can't be for the price.

 

[Papasatyr]

So chips kind of come in tiers for quality.

Tier 1: Paulson and CPC
These are legit compression molded clay. You can only buy Paulsons on the secondary market and CPC is in the middle of a big move. Both options range from buying a state or the art gaming PC to buying a new car. $2-$15/chip.

Tier 2: The Exclusive Plasics
These aren't your Target plastic chips. These are made by companies for actual casinos. You are mostly stuck to the secondary market unless you are in on a group buy. This would include Bud Jones, Abiatti, and Matsui. $1-$5/chip.

Tier 3: The Ceramics and China Clays
BRPro ceramics are the top in quality here. Sunflys are also quite popular. Tinas (short for a Chinese company in Shenzhen) can be obtained here on the forum through Broken Arrow. Tinas are probably the best bang for your buck on the market. Also we have China Clays, which are a chalky, clayish plastic that are injected molded. They are a parrallel alternative to ceramics. $.50-$1/chip.

Tier 4: ABS plastic chips weighted with metal slugs. Think Monte Carlos or Outlaws. You can get them off Amazon but are better off going through Discount Poker, the Poker Store, or Apache Poker for these. Some are okay. Most suck. $.15-.35/chip.

Tier 5: Dice chips. Fuck'em.

You missed a tier...

Tier 1.5 - Vintage Clay Chips. Not to be confused with antique clay chips that have rounded edges, vintage "non-duplicate speed cheques" as they've been called on the box at times, include all the various clays not made by Paulson or CPC/ASM. This would include chips by Blue Chip Co, TR King, and old mold clays by forgotten companies like flower molds, triclub molds, hub molds, etc.

These are all modern style, compression molded, clay chips. And, the best part: they run about $0.50 - $1.00 per chip.

 

[Godzilla28]

You missed a tier...

Tier 1.5 - Vintage Clay Chips. Not to be confused with antique clay chips that have rounded edges, vintage "non-duplicate speed cheques" as they've been called on the box at times, include all the various clays not made by Paulson or CPC/ASM. This would include chips by Blue Chip Co, TR King, and old mold clays by forgotten companies like flower molds, triclub molds, hub molds, etc.

These are all modern style, compression molded, clay chips. And, the best part: they run about $0.50 - $1.00 per chip.

Those vintage clay chips can get pretty pricy. LOL

For beginners, I would go with a colorful Tina set with a theme that you enjoy. See if you want to delve deeper into the hobby after that. Most people are happy with their playable sets and don't need to sell a kidney to get farther into the rabbit hole. But if you do...it's glorious and Welcome!!

 

[Baldeagle9]

Welcome lots of knowledgeable people here and tons of great info and products, enjoy!!

 

[ChippinUp]

So chips kind of come in tiers for quality.

Tier 1: Paulson and CPC
These are legit compression molded clay. You can only buy Paulsons on the secondary market and CPC is in the middle of a big move. Both options range from buying a state or the art gaming PC to buying a new car. $2-$15/chip.

Tier 2: The Exclusive Plasics
These aren't your Target plastic chips. These are made by companies for actual casinos. You are mostly stuck to the secondary market unless you are in on a group buy. This would include Bud Jones, Abiatti, and Matsui. $1-$5/chip.

Tier 3: The Ceramics and China Clays
BRPro ceramics are the top in quality here. Sunflys are also quite popular. Tinas (short for a Chinese company in Shenzhen) can be obtained here on the forum through Broken Arrow. Tinas are probably the best bang for your buck on the market. Also we have China Clays, which are a chalky, clayish plastic that are injected molded. They are a parrallel alternative to ceramics. $.50-$1/chip.

Tier 4: ABS plastic chips weighted with metal slugs. Think Monte Carlos or Outlaws. You can get them off Amazon but are better off going through Discount Poker, the Poker Store, or Apache Poker for these. Some are okay. Most suck. $.15-.35/chip.

Tier 5: Dice chips. Fuck'em.

This is a very accurate description of said tiers

 

[thePokerLayser]

So chips kind of come in tiers for quality.

Tier 1: Paulson and CPC
These are legit compression molded clay. You can only buy Paulsons on the secondary market and CPC is in the middle of a big move. Both options range from buying a state or the art gaming PC to buying a new car. $2-$15/chip.

Tier 2: The Exclusive Plasics
These aren't your Target plastic chips. These are made by companies for actual casinos. You are mostly stuck to the secondary market unless you are in on a group buy. This would include Bud Jones, Abiatti, and Matsui. $1-$5/chip.

Tier 3: The Ceramics and China Clays
BRPro ceramics are the top in quality here. Sunflys are also quite popular. Tinas (short for a Chinese company in Shenzhen) can be obtained here on the forum through Broken Arrow. Tinas are probably the best bang for your buck on the market. Also we have China Clays, which are a chalky, clayish plastic that are injected molded. They are a parrallel alternative to ceramics. $.50-$1/chip.

Tier 4: ABS plastic chips weighted with metal slugs. Think Monte Carlos or Outlaws. You can get them off Amazon but are better off going through Discount Poker, the Poker Store, or Apache Poker for these. Some are okay. Most suck. $.15-.35/chip.

Tier 5: Dice chips. Fuck'em.

Thanks for the precise description it is very helpful for all newbies (like me ). I guess I'll try my luck with Tinas chips. I'am actually just looking for a good opportunity to get some nice RIO WSOP replicas to germany.

 

[NickyT]

Best advice I can give you. Buy a set you can afford and that you like. Play with them and have fun in your home game. That's the most important thing.

You can always upgrade and add on down the road. Enjoy your poker chip journey. You've come to the right place

 

[zorololxd]

Great chips. You wont be disappointed. You really can't be for the price.

Do you have the exact measurements (thickness, diameter) for the olympus chips by chance? Just want to make sure they'd fit okay in my acrylic racks.

 

[BigGrizz]

I do not but they seem pretty industry standard for 39mm.

 

[Huskerchipper]

Do you have the exact measurements (thickness, diameter) for the olympus chips by chance? Just want to make sure they'd fit okay in my acrylic racks.

I have samples and can measure but I can't imagine them not fitting any acrylic rack, though there are variations in racks. Are you concerned how many will fit per row or are you worried they will not sit in the rack?

 

[BigGrizz]

Mine are sitting in a 39mm acrylic rack right now. They arent a full row so idk if they fit 21 instead of 20.

 

[Timmah]

My biggest advise would be to take your time. I was excited to buy new chips so I rushed into every new set.

I started with the ABS slug chips. Played with them for over a decade. I bought a ceramic set from BR Pro Poker to cover cash and tourney games. Then I found the Tina chips. I made a custom cash and a custom tourney set, and sold the BR chips. Then I made a Paulson cash set and a CPC tourney set, and sold my Tinas. Every time I sold a set, it was at a loss. I wish I would have been patient and just made the one purchase.

Buy samples. If what you love is priced higher than you can afford right now, I would recommend saving and buying the set(s) you really want. Otherwise you’ll be trading up and losing money along the way.

 

[funk60]

So chips kind of come in tiers for quality.

Tier 1: Paulson and CPC
These are legit compression molded clay. You can only buy Paulsons on the secondary market and CPC is in the middle of a big move. Both options range from buying a state or the art gaming PC to buying a new car. $2-$15/chip.

Tier 2: The Exclusive Plasics
These aren't your Target plastic chips. These are made by companies for actual casinos. You are mostly stuck to the secondary market unless you are in on a group buy. This would include Bud Jones, Abiatti, and Matsui. $1-$5/chip.

Tier 3: The Ceramics and China Clays
BRPro ceramics are the top in quality here. Sunflys are also quite popular. Tinas (short for a Chinese company in Shenzhen) can be obtained here on the forum through Broken Arrow. Tinas are probably the best bang for your buck on the market. Also we have China Clays, which are a chalky, clayish plastic that are injected molded. They are a parrallel alternative to ceramics. $.50-$1/chip.

Tier 4: ABS plastic chips weighted with metal slugs. Think Monte Carlos or Outlaws. You can get them off Amazon but are better off going through Discount Poker, the Poker Store, or Apache Poker for these. Some are okay. Most suck. $.15-.35/chip.

Tier 5: Dice chips. Fuck'em.

This is a great explanation as a newbie. I joined here trying to find some reviews of different chips and figure out what i wanted to upgrade from the crappy dice chips to.