New to this as a Hobby. Might have an Unpopular Philosophy (1 Viewer)

merkong

merkong

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Good morning fellow PCF members. Long time poker player, owner of poker equipment, and one who is appreciative of the beauty of poker chips.

Now that this affinity has taken another direction and sort of a life of its own, I’ve realized that I might be the purveyor of an off beat opinion; I’m not all that worried about complete sets and do not have a problem bringing a random barrel or two into a game.

I understand that we’re all entitled to pursue the hobby as we see fit and there is room at the table for all of us. I’m just curious about others thoughts on this non-purist approach to collecting and utilizing chips.

For instance, I recently purchased 2 barrels of ceramics thru the classifieds (1’s and 5’s) and am planning on the $1 chips being on the table for this weekends cash games. I also have 2 barrels of $1’s arriving tomorrow from Apache and plan on those chips being in play this weekend.

Of course I would never bring 43mm chips into a game with standard size chips.

The realization of my Laissez-faire approach to the hobby became apparent as I was contemplating building a higher stakes cash game set. I know I can build the set and have it ready for play rather quickly if I do not box myself in that every chip must be identical. I would make sure that every chip within a denomination was the same (most likely at least lol) but that would be my only hard and fast rule.

Like everyone here I love poker chips. This approach also allows me to build different sets depending on my mood and however I choose to head into a session.

And I’m not too worried about “dirty stacks” or cash out problems. Our bank is one of them most accurate I’ve ever been involved with and do not see any sort of betting or other game play issues coming out of this…

Let the purists begin counseling this wayward son.

Ken - Just a home poker host in MN
 
Hey Ken, whatever floats your boat. I do find it funny that different chips for the same denomination isn't a problem but OF COURSE never a 43mm! Why is that the hard limit?

Personally I don't mind if chips are from different sets/styles, but if I have several different colors representing a single denomination it opens up for more problems with dirty stacks or misread bets, just makes my life harder. Maybe all your $1s are white like casinos, that's fine, but it would frustrate me having to peer across a large table to discern whether he minraised or put me all in.
 
Ken, I don't see a problem with this as long as everyone playing understands and the chips are appropriately labeled with a denomination. You can also have your "collection of chips" versus your "playable sets". A lot of people here collect chips and have a playable set.

A lot of people have mixed sets, but I think each denomination is a consistent chip.

Take a look at some of the Mixed Set's people have used.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/the-official-unofficial-mixed-set-pr0n-thread-of-pcf.11227/
 
Well, you got me there. I’ve never touched a 43mm and am considering the high stakes cash set in that vein. I just thought the size difference would really push people over the edge.

43! 43! 43!

I am seriously considering a set in the classifieds now.

Yeah, you bring up some valid points. Like this weekend the barrel of two won’t cause any issues but I envision a mixed set of all the fracs matching, all the 1’s matching etc.

No, I do not want affect game play in any way. Just enjoy chips.
 
bernielomax said:
Ken, I don't see a problem with this as long as everyone playing understands and the chips are appropriately labeled with a denomination. You can also have your "collection of chips" versus your "playable sets". A lot of people here collect chips and have a playable set.

A lot of people have mixed sets, but I think each denomination is a consistent chip.

Take a look at some of the Mixed Set's people have used.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/the-official-unofficial-mixed-set-pr0n-thread-of-pcf.11227/
Click to expand...
I totally plan on playable v. collectible. It just seems like bringing in the requisite number of say 1’s out of the poker chest and into service for a night would be doing the Chip some sort of karma like favor. You know, coming off the bench kind of thing.
 
I'd want to make sure mixed $1 denominations stack to the same height and are the same diameter.

Usually I see people using mixed $1s for a limit game, so Valid points about being labeled properly/dirty stacks of you have other denoms in play too.
 
All things considered; making absolutely sure nothing affects gameplay and cash outs, the dimensions do not factor in when stacking/racking etc, I look forward to the feedback from my players about which chips they like and dislike.
 
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Like others have said, whatever you like is just fine. We all have our own criteria on what is acceptable.

For me, mixed sets are just fine, to a point, but personally the following need to be followed...

1. All the chips need to be the same material - All paulson or TRK or CPC or ceramic or plastic, .... the mixed chip types is tilting for me.

2. All chips of the same denomination should be the same. There are situations where multiple different chips are all used, like different $1 chips in a limit set, but in a standard cash set, not so much. Too many issue with dirty stacks.

3. If you are going to have different diameter-sized chips, larger diameter = larger denomination. I have cash sets where the frac, $1 and $5 are standard 39mm and the $20 and $100 are 43mm. Works great.

But again, those are my personal rules/guidelines. YMMV.

You do you and have fun doing it.
 
Goldfish said:
I will never understand why people are so opposed to 43 mm hi denomination chips. That is the way most casinos do it. All my sets jump to 43 mm for 500s and above. IMO it’s the only way to go for authentic casino action.
Click to expand...
For low stakes games ($100 or less) I prefer if the $20 or $25 and up ALL be 43mm. Whatever the next denom that comes into play for your stakes with rebuys should be larger to "reward" your loose players for not being Nits and playing bad! Lmao.... remember in 2022 e eryonr gets a trophy! Haha
 
This is a wild take, one I disagree with but also respect.

I don't know if I could handle different materials in the same game personally. I somewhat understand mixing of sets but for me it'd have to be the same chip for each denomination and the same material type/manufacturer throughout.

Do you have any pics of stack examples, I'm sure it'll rustle many people jimmies here but I'm so curious as to how it looks!
 
Ben8257 said:
For low stakes games ($100 or less) I prefer if the $20 or $25 and up ALL be 43mm. Whatever the next denom that comes into play for your stakes with rebuys should be larger to "reward" your loose players for not being Nits and playing bad! Lmao.... remember in 2022 e eryonr gets a trophy! Haha
Click to expand...
Agreed, this set is waiting for your arrival, Ben……oversized 20s and 100s as requested.
B7A2C2A9-0BBF-45A6-8566-D7E59B9A209A.jpeg
 
merkong said:
Of course I would never bring 43mm chips into a game with standard size chips.
Click to expand...
merkong said:
I’ve never touched a 43mm
Click to expand...
merkong said:
43! 43! 43!
Click to expand...
merkong said:
I am seriously considering a set in the classifieds now.
Click to expand...
I feel like every PCF member has been here before. Careful though my man. I told myself I’d buy samples to “save money”. 3 years later the lie detector has determined that was a lie.
 
To each their own. I love using 43mm or plaques for my bigger denoms but as far as mixing goes, it’s fine but has to be: same manufacturer, same mold, roughly same condition and each denoms has to be the same chip.
 
Obviously answer is obv.

Mix to your heart's desire, combining different casinos, different materials, different sizes, even different shapes (think plaques). Anything you like to create a playable set so long as it serves the purpose and doesn't create issues with betting efficiency.

Then invite nine OCD players from PCF over to play and enjoy your winnings.
 
BGinGA said:
Obviously answer is obv.

Mix to your heart's desire, combining different casinos, different materials, different sizes, even different shapes (think plaques). Anything you like to create a playable set so long as it serves the purpose and doesn't create issues with betting efficiency.

Then invite nine OCD players from PCF over to play and enjoy your winnings.
Click to expand...
Genius!

I do have one player that really seems to have issues when someone has a dirty stack. And as you can imagine, nobody is in a hurry to fix the stack. They’d rather watch Spillsie squirm.
 
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My custom BCC set has an A and B of $1, $5, and $25 (originals A set on Suits mold, add on B set on Flame mold). That are technically different but were made to work with each other. I'll see if I can dig up a picture to better illustrate.

[EDIT] found it. As you can see the sets are different but obviously can work together should I need more of a denom.
The Pines BCC both molds.jpg
 
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I have no problem with bringing some “different” barrels into a game if they’re needed. Because most sets I’ve had have been built over time and maybe I’d like to use them before they’re done. And once the cards are flying, the chips barely matter, as long as they stack.
But the end goal is always to build a set that makes me happy, and that’s never going to include oddball barrels that don’t fit.
 
At the end of the day it's your game and you do as you please! The vast majority of players may not even notice that the chips have different materials or molds. The people who will get tilted are chippers like us and that can be used to your advantage :)

I have a couple of sets with mixed TRK and CPC scrowns and realistically it's the only way I can do it. It doesn't bother me and I like them and only the most picky chippers may not.

There are lots of people with mixed house mold sets - every denomination has a different mold - but they are all Paulson clay. Even some casinos mix pastics, ceramics and clays...

The only thing I would say is that mixing denominations can be a bit tough. I played at a low stakes game once where we used $1 and $5 as normal but also used $25 chips as the frac. That took some getting used to.
 
Dont worry about the popularity of your opinions. Listen to the advice, but in the end do whatever works for you.

If you tell this forum "I like breathing air" half the folks will say "me too", a quarter will say that they "only breathe purified Swiss artisianal air", and the rest will say that air is obsolete and you need to evolve.
 

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