Starting a New Game (1 Viewer)

[DMoogle]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the community, but I'm a long-term member of 2+2. I used to play online primarily back in the day, and have mostly quit online (with the occasional private game) and only play live games now. When I was a teenager, I bought two 500-chip mass-market plastic sets that I thought were really high quality at the time and certainly do the job, but have since learned that I can step up my game.

I just started a 5/5/10 PLO/Big O home game, trying to run it monthly to start. So I'm currently trying to figure out if I want china clays, ceramics, or customs. Eventually, I'd probably like customs, but it's hard to justify that right now. Currently thinking about doing this 600-chip breakdown to start, seeing as most people buy in for $1k and reload several times:

• 50 white ($1, for dealer tips)
• 200 red ($5)
• 200 green ($25)
• 100 black ($100)
• 50 purple ($500)
• Maybe some $5k plaques in case the game gets nuts one day?

With a normal starting $1k buy-in looking like one barrel of red, one barrel of green, and four black. Would this be too barebones? Any thoughts?

 

[allforcharity]

Hello and welcome!

How many players and how much estima ted on the table on your biggest night?

 

[Machine]

Welcome!
​

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the community, but I'm a long-term member of 2+2. I used to play online primarily back in the day, and have mostly quit online (with the occasional private game) and only play live games now. When I was a teenager, I bought two 500-chip mass-market plastic sets that I thought were really high quality at the time and certainly do the job, but have since learned that I can step up my game.

I just started a 5/5/10 PLO/Big O home game, trying to run it monthly to start. So I'm currently trying to figure out if I want china clays, ceramics, or customs. Eventually, I'd probably like customs, but it's hard to justify that right now. Currently thinking about doing this 600-chip breakdown to start, seeing as most people buy in for $1k and reload several times:

• 50 white ($1, for dealer tips)
• 200 red ($5)
• 200 green ($25)
• 100 black ($100)
• 50 purple ($500)
• Maybe some $5k plaques in case the game gets nuts one day?

With a normal starting $1k buy-in looking like one barrel of red, one barrel of green, and four black. Would this be too barebones? Any thoughts?

suggest you read our New Members start here thread, a link is in my signature.

When trying to calculate chip count needs, you start with the bank that you need to support.

Big O 5/5/10 is a larger game and with this type of a game it is typically raked, this will have a large impact on the amount of chips you need. Is this game raked and what is the max rake per hand?

lets take a run at this, 9 players @ 1k buy in with 3 rebuys @ 1k would be 36000 x 10% call it 40,000 bank

Your chip count bank is 47000, but I would change the break down

I don't like 500s, unless its an oversized chip or a plaque.

 

[DMoogle]

Hello and welcome!

How many players and how much estima ted on the table on your biggest night?

Will accommodate 9, but will aim for 8. I literally just had our first night (with 6 players total), played 7.5hrs and had about $14k on the table. Knowing most of the players I'm inviting, I don't expect it to get too out of hand. I doubt anyone will be interested in starting out with more than $2k (except me...). So I'd expect a big night to be probably $35k on the table.

That might change depending on if I can snag a live one, but safety is top concern - I'm only inviting people I know well and trust.

Welcome!
​

suggest you read our New Members start here thread, a link is in my signature.

When trying to calculate chip count needs, you start with the bank that you need to support.

Big O 5/5/10 is a larger game and with this type of a game it is typically raked, this will have a large impact on the amount of chips you need. Is this game raked and what is the max rake per hand?

lets take a run at this, 9 players @ 1k buy in with 3 rebuys @ 1k would be 36000 x 10% call it 40,000 bank

Your chip count bank is 47000, but I would change the break down

I don't like 500s, unless its an oversized chip or a plaque.

Thanks, I've been all over that New Members thread the past week. TON of helpful info in there. Most of the chip breakdowns I've seen looked like they ran lean/primarily for NLHE, which tends to play much tamer than PLO/Big O.

No rake, otherwise yeah would definitely need more low denomination chips. Penalty is super high for operating raked games in VA, and my wife works at a LEA, soooo... definitely not raking. Dealer can keep tips in the rack too (not a box), so they can color up their tips as needed. I've seen most people tipping $5/hand anyway (I usually do less unless it's a large pot).

Some possibility I might run a 1/2 or 2/5 game in the future, but not planning on it right now. I'd love to run a higher stakes game, but probably zero chance I can find the players.

Is your issue with $500s is that they tend to not stand out as much as they should (I agree if so)? I know some guys in my game like to rebuy for $500, so if blacks are running low it would be convenient to just hand them a purple chip and have them color down at the table. I do like oversized chips for higher denominations though, so I may go that route.

 

[BottomPair7]

Hello and welcome to PCF!

 

[Machine]

Is your issue with $500s is that they tend to not stand out as much as they should (I agree if so)?

Yep too high of value for a single chip, I'm a PLO player, not a big fan of Big O, but I would rock about 4 or 500 5s and 300ish 25s

 

[allforcharity]

You barely cover your bank needs with your initial breakdown.

Increase your $100 to 200
Consider increasing your $5 and $25 to 300 each.
Maybe get a full rack each of $1 and $500.
I think that brings you to 800-1000 chips.

For this high stakes/bank, I would surely go directly to custom clay or a rarer ex-casino set.

 

[DMoogle]

You barely cover your bank needs with your initial breakdown.

Increase your $100 to 200
Consider increasing your $5 and $25 to 300 each.
Maybe get a full rack each of $1 and $500.
I think that brings you to 800-1000 chips.

For this high stakes/bank, I would surely go directly to custom clay or a rarer ex-casino set.

I do trust the people I invite, but I also don't want to invite trouble. I know I don't want an ex-casino set... I don't like the idea of having another place's branding/logo in my home game. I would prefer something either generic in style (e.g. I really like Apache's Bank chips) or customs.

I'm leaning toward customs, but I am price-conscientious. This is what I'm seeing so far as options - am I missing anything?:

1. Get blanks from Apache or another site, buy custom inlays via Gear Labels or something. Probably looking at like $0.65-$0.80/chip, but will have to apply labels myself.
2. Custom ceramics, little under $1/chip. I'm not crazy about ceramics so I'm crossing this option out.
3. Customs from Apache, little over $1/chip. Downside: looks like it's only available in Majestic or Royal style.
4. CPC. Variable price, but probably looking at over $2/chip. Also more time invested in design, and probably more lead time.

Note: I'm not super picky about edge spots, molds, etc., so it doesn't need to be 100% customized. The inlay is the most important to me.

Any other custom options I'm missing? Leaning toward option #3 at the moment.

 

[allforcharity]

If you're predicting $15-35k in cash on a game night, I think you should invest in secure chips. My opinion only.

 

[Goldfish]

5/5/10 big o/plo?!?! That is my sweet spot! What time should I be there?

this is the break down you need IMO:

1s x100
5s x200
25s x200
100s x200
500s x100
1000s x100
5000s x40

All my sets have that breakdown:

 

[grandmeme]

5/5/10 big o/plo?!?! That is my sweet spot! What time should I be there?

this is the break down you need IMO:

1s x100
5s x200
25s x200
100s x200
500s x100
1000s x100
5000s x40

All my sets have that breakdown:
View attachment 1077322View attachment 1077323

So sexy.. But I doubt most people will need a ~370k bank for a 1 table 5/5/10 . Except for your game, always is nuts whenever I see your pics!!

However, I suggest OP gets at least a 55-60k bank for his game. Sometimes people just want to gamble it up and go a bit crazier. Let's say a few of your players reloads 1 or two more times than they usually do, and there's 40-45k on the table. Your bank would only have a few thousand left as backup.

 

[NoNamePokerGuy]

If you're predicting $15-35k in cash on a game night, I think you should invest in secure chips. My opinion only.

This.

 

[DMoogle]

If you're predicting $15-35k in cash on a game night, I think you should invest in secure chips. My opinion only.

This.

Do you mean like RFID in the higher denoms? How much more would that cost? I took a look at Sun-Fly, but I didn't see any prices and it's really intimidating. Like I said, I trust everyone I invite... this is just a friendly game with people I've known and played with for years. Simply getting clays with a custom design would be security enough. If there ever is an issue where I have more chips than I originally procured and I'm out a few hundred bucks as a result, then I'll know I need to stop hosting. Honestly I'd probably rather invest in like a bodyguard or something first. But yeah, I've only hosted once so far and the game isn't likely to get all that big.

5/5/10 big o/plo?!?! That is my sweet spot! What time should I be there?

this is the break down you need IMO:

1s x100
5s x200
25s x200
100s x200
500s x100
1000s x100
5000s x40

You're in MD? You wouldn't like my game - the PLO is 4-card, not 5-card. If you've ever played 5/5 at MGM, then we might've crossed paths. Nice set though! What's the reason for having both $1ks and $500s?

Should invite me to yours!

So sexy.. But I doubt most people will need a ~370k bank for a 1 table 5/5/10 . Except for your game, always is nuts whenever I see your pics!!

However, I suggest OP gets at least a 55-60k bank for his game. Sometimes people just want to gamble it up and go a bit crazier. Let's say a few of your players reloads 1 or two more times than they usually do, and there's 40-45k on the table. Your bank would only have a few thousand left as backup.

Yeah, right now I'm leaning toward the 1k Royals chip set with a custom inlay from Apache.

 

[Goldfish]

Do you mean like RFID in the higher denoms? How much more would that cost? I took a look at Sun-Fly, but I didn't see any prices and it's really intimidating. Like I said, I trust everyone I invite... this is just a friendly game with people I've known and played with for years. Simply getting clays with a custom design would be security enough. If there ever is an issue where I have more chips than I originally procured and I'm out a few hundred bucks as a result, then I'll know I need to stop hosting. Honestly I'd probably rather invest in like a bodyguard or something first. But yeah, I've only hosted once so far and the game isn't likely to get all that big.

You're in MD? You wouldn't like my game - the PLO is 4-card, not 5-card. If you've ever played 5/5 at MGM, then we might've crossed paths. Nice set though! What's the reason for having both $1ks and $500s?

Should invite me to yours!

Yeah, right now I'm leaning toward the 1k Royals chip set with a custom inlay from Apache.

we play 2 rounds 4 card plo, and 2 rounds big o. playing 5 card plo and big o is a disaster waiting to happen. At 3 am someone will inevitably think they are playing hi lo when we are on the hi only round. The rotation has to be 4 card hi and 5 card Hi lo.

 

[upNdown]

You’re running a $15,000 game with a chipset worth $50.
I’m running a $1,500 game with a chipset worth $5,000.
One of us is probably doing it wrong, but which one?

 

[allforcharity]

No, I didn't mean RFID, I meant something custom that's not easily replicated. Not anything mass produced or stock designs.



You have many choices from many custom ceramic manufacturers to hybrids to full custom CPC with your own designs.

 

[LowerBama1714]

You’re running a $15,000 game with a chipset worth $50.
I’m running a $1,500 game with a chipset worth $5,000.
One of us is probably doing it wrong, but which one?

Him.

I’m with you…except our chips are worth more than face value (in some cases). So, we have different security concerns.

 

[LowerBama1714]

You’re running a $15,000 game with a chipset worth $50.
I’m running a $1,500 game with a chipset worth $5,000.
One of us is probably doing it wrong, but which one?

No offense to him…I’m just jealous.

 

[upNdown]

No offense to him…I’m just jealous.

I’m jealous of his game. 5/5/10 plo/bigO? Holy cow!

 

[Tonysquander]

Welcome to PCF!

 

[DMoogle]

we play 2 rounds 4 card plo, and 2 rounds big o. playing 5 card plo and big o is a disaster waiting to happen. At 3 am someone will inevitably think they are playing hi lo when we are on the hi only round. The rotation has to be 4 card hi and 5 card Hi lo.

Ah right... I... may have experienced that first hand... for a $4k pot not in my favor.

No, I didn't mean RFID, I meant something custom that's not easily replicated. Not anything mass produced or stock designs.



You have many choices from many custom ceramic manufacturers to hybrids to full custom CPC with your own designs.

Gotcha. Yup, was planning on doing my own design. I didn't like the semi-custom design options available anyway.

You’re running a $15,000 game with a chipset worth $50.
I’m running a $1,500 game with a chipset worth $5,000.
One of us is probably doing it wrong, but which one?

Well, I think I'm in the right place...

 

[DMoogle]

Following up on this - I ended up ordering some samples of china clays on Apache, and definitely like the overall quality enough to go this route for my set. The bank chips in particularly have really nice color combinations. I also decided I may end up hosting some lower stakes games, so I'm going to up the quantity of $1 chips.

I'm absolutely going to relabel them with custom labels, I just need to have someone create a design first (I have a few elements in mind, just not the graphics design skillset to put them together and look really good). Many of the blanks are sold out, but I tried taking off the stickers on my samples and they weren't too difficult to get off and left very little residue. I know Gear Labels always has a perpetually long waitlist, so I may go with another vendor like Sticker Mule.

Haven't 100% decided on a breakdown yet, but leaning toward:
100 $1 white Majestics
200 $5 red Bank
200 $25 green Bank
100 $100 black Bank or Majestics
50 $500 pink Royals (purple is standard for $500 chips, but I'm not crazy about any of the purples, and the pink is sex. I like the blue a lot as well, but the pink stands out more)
50 $1000 orange Royals

 

[merkong]

Yeah welcome! Keep us posted.