Poker chip conundrum. (1 Viewer)

nerol333

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Hello there, glad to be new here on the forum!

As has been the case with many of my niche hobbies, the poker chip bug has come back out of the blue recently and bit me with a vengeance. Knowing full well that when bitten, one has no choice but to react, I need some help on how to proceed from here. I currently have a 1000 piece Monte Carlo Poker Club tourney set from many years back, in terribly thought out denominations (i.e. 500, 1000, 5000, 10000). I also have 1000 Pokerstars metal insert chips, many of which are in the dreaded $.50 denomination. I am actually decently pleased with the quality of both of these sets, but they just feel... lacking.

My friends and I play the occasional tourney, but it would be nice to get a weekly cash game going. As many of us are poor recent university graduates, we would very likely be going for 5c/10c blinds. I have therefore set my sights, in order of preference, on the Key Wests, semi custom Tiki Kings, and CC Pharoahs/Majestics. What I would love to do is submit an order right now for 500 Key West chips, but oh boy are they expensive! Do I need to bite the bullet (not sure if that's even possible to be honest) and go for the highest quality now in order to set me up for at least the next decade, or perhaps a middle ground option like the tiki kings is more sensible at this juncture? I have samples of all of the aforementioned sets (except the Majestics), and while I love the "agility" and playful look of the Tikis, the Key Wests just speak to me on another level (not 100% sold on the grey frac but I think it'll grow on me).

A major complicating factor here, aside from a potential nuclear situation involving my wallet, is the fact that many of my friends are not currently fond of cash games and prefer tourney. Surely if I'm going to invest anywhere from a substantial to cataclysmic amount of money in chips, I need to be absolutely certain that they will see action! Perhaps this points to my need for non denomination chips, but then you get the constant stream of questions clarifying chip values... yada yada yada.

As you can see, I am kind of floating in the poker chip abyss here. I really love poker, I really want to buy chips, and I know which chips I want, but there is the very real fear of absolutely botching the purchase. So I thank you all in advance for your assistance, and yes, please do ask questions for clarification as I am fully aware of how little sense/context exists in this post.

Infinite thanks,

Lorenzo
 
I started out with a similar situation to yours (players preferring tourney to cash). Start out cash with the "El cheapos" and let them enjoy a nickel and dime game. Once my players realized that a bad day on the nickel small dime big table was cheaper than losing the tournament they desired, they switched over to cash in a hurry.
 
If you’re really liking the Key West’s and end up buying something else, you may feel regret every time you take those “other” chips out.
You could always buy some Key Wests now and add more later. Also consider that with high-end clay chips, they hold their value extremely well. If you ever decide that the chips just aren’t right, you’ll likely make most of it back by selling them.
 
Definitely take your time to make an assessment of what size of set you will need.

You're aiming for 5¢/10¢. What do you anticipate for # of players and # of buyins in a given night of poker? That will help determine the size of set you need.
 
Make sure that you can get a cash game going before you spend a lot of money on cash game chips. If you decide to put a cash game set together, I agree with chipinla above, you could do it very inexpensively with Jack Cincinnati chips, well under $1 per chip if you use the $5 chips for nickels and $25 chips for quarters. If you change your mind later, you will at least get your money back if you sell them.
 
High-end poker chips, including clays such as the Key Wests, are a luxury item. Cheap chips play poker just as well as expensive chips. Nobody but you can give you advice about how to spend your money. The reason we say to get samples (which you've done, bravo!) are so that you can decide just how much more you like the expensive chips than the cheap ones, so that you can decide whether you think it's worth it.
 
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Just a thought but why not move the (imaginary) decimal place over until you can get a set you like/can afford?
e.g. 500 = 5 cents , 1000 = 10 cents , 5000 = 50 cents , 10000 = $1.00
 
Wow, thanks for all the responses folks. I definitely agree that I need to test the cash game waters with my friends, as well as have a solid general idea of chip breakdown before moving ahead, especially if it involves luxury chips! Dennis at Key West told me that he's short on fracs, which is helping to prevent an impulse buy from me hahah. Anyway, I will gather more information all around and take it slow.
 
@warma do you have any more information on this? I must admit, even after reading the thread I'm a bit confused about what these chips are, how customizable or not they are in terms of design, and the pricing/availability. Cheers thanks
 
Hello there, glad to be new here on the forum!

As has been the case with many of my niche hobbies, the poker chip bug has come back out of the blue recently and bit me with a vengeance. Knowing full well that when bitten, one has no choice but to react, I need some help on how to proceed from here. I currently have a 1000 piece Monte Carlo Poker Club tourney set from many years back, in terribly thought out denominations (i.e. 500, 1000, 5000, 10000). I also have 1000 Pokerstars metal insert chips, many of which are in the dreaded $.50 denomination. I am actually decently pleased with the quality of both of these sets, but they just feel... lacking.

My friends and I play the occasional tourney, but it would be nice to get a weekly cash game going. As many of us are poor recent university graduates, we would very likely be going for 5c/10c blinds. I have therefore set my sights, in order of preference, on the Key Wests, semi custom Tiki Kings, and CC Pharoahs/Majestics. What I would love to do is submit an order right now for 500 Key West chips, but oh boy are they expensive! Do I need to bite the bullet (not sure if that's even possible to be honest) and go for the highest quality now in order to set me up for at least the next decade, or perhaps a middle ground option like the tiki kings is more sensible at this juncture? I have samples of all of the aforementioned sets (except the Majestics), and while I love the "agility" and playful look of the Tikis, the Key Wests just speak to me on another level (not 100% sold on the grey frac but I think it'll grow on me).

A major complicating factor here, aside from a potential nuclear situation involving my wallet, is the fact that many of my friends are not currently fond of cash games and prefer tourney. Surely if I'm going to invest anywhere from a substantial to cataclysmic amount of money in chips, I need to be absolutely certain that they will see action! Perhaps this points to my need for non denomination chips, but then you get the constant stream of questions clarifying chip values... yada yada yada.

As you can see, I am kind of floating in the poker chip abyss here. I really love poker, I really want to buy chips, and I know which chips I want, but there is the very real fear of absolutely botching the purchase. So I thank you all in advance for your assistance, and yes, please do ask questions for clarification as I am fully aware of how little sense/context exists in this post.

Infinite thanks,

Lorenzo
I would recommend that you first build up your game, so you're playing at least a semi-regular schedule. Start with tourneys. Casual players don't mind kicking in a twenty if they know it's the most they can lose. It sounds like that's what they want, don't try and change their mind. Meanwhile, collect samples and plan your custom set. When your game reaches the right point, pull the trigger on your dream set.

Before any of that though, get a hot dog roller.
 
@warma do you have any more information on this? I must admit, even after reading the thread I'm a bit confused about what these chips are, how customizable or not they are in terms of design, and the pricing/availability. Cheers thanks
That is an interest thread for chips made by a Chinese vendor on Alibaba. They are completely customizable- any art/colors/whatever.

@Eloe2000 put this thread together: https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...ramics-master-consolidated-info-thread.65544/

Here’s a ton of art to inspire you: https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...om-artwork-group-buy-us-can-cards-mold.59277/

Or go your own path

I’m actually running a small group buy at the moment. It’s a a fairly quick turnaround- I was just told 1 month, add to that shipping x2.

At that price, you can’t beat it. It’s a bit more, but probably less than 40¢. They’re solid, feel good, a great bargain, especially given your circumstances.

So $240 for a 600 chip breakdown, with the design you want. Easy. Your friends will be amazed. Spend your $ on more important things.

Later, when you get settled, and your income grows, you can think about clay chips- either custom CPCs, casino Paulsons, high end plastic Matsui or Abbiati.

Grab a design, tell the team you want in on and are ready to buy, and someone should grab you into a mini-buy.
 
Hi there and welcome to the forum! I am from Vancouver as well.
Are you also considering other types such as ceramics or high end plastics like Bud Jones?
If you are, send me a message. I have for sale a nice set of Bud Jones chips, with plenty of 5's that you can use for nickels, and have the flexibility to move up stakes down the road.
 
I missed you’re in CAN. If you join a group buy, you’ll want to connect with a Canada GB or find a PCF friend in Washington that can receive the chips for you.
 
Appreciate the help folks. I will take a step back and really determine what my players are interested in when it comes to cash/tourney and stakes, and then either go straight for my dream set or get in on a group buy, should the opportunity become available.

Cheers!
 
Honestly, the cards mold chips are a great starting chip if you’re willing to wait on them. You can get any design you want and they’re only 32¢ a piece. If when I was getting into the game they had these chips it would have been my first set. Best starter chips on the market imo if you ignore the wait to get them.
 
Honestly, the cards mold chips are a great starting chip if you’re willing to wait on them. You can get any design you want and they’re only 32¢ a piece. If when I was getting into the game they had these chips it would have been my first set. Best starter chips on the market imo if you ignore the wait to get them.
1-2 months? Slower than ABC, faster than CPC.
 
Interested in a group buy from Canada as well... throwing my name in the hat
 

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