The Beginners Guide To Mapping Out A Cash Game Chip Set - 5c/10c to $5/$10 (6 Viewers)

[or4nge]

And now you're talking about going out and adding 300 more chips, why not get 100 fracs and 100 more 1s and 5s? I think you'll be able to spread a decent range of stakes that way, and no chip will need to morph into a scalar multiple of itself.

Scaling in decimals appeals to me because it gives me flexibility to run games like 0.1/0.2. Texas hold'em isn't too popular of a game in my parts so I think the flexibility is especially useful to draw new players in.

Can you run a full ring 25c/50c game with only one rack each of quarters, ones, and fives? Yeah, maybe, but it's going to be clumsy. And definitely not if the five is your top denomination. You can cover two $50 rebuys then your bank is done. I guess you could let $25 bills play but why go to that trouble? Seems such a shame since you have a $25 chip already and $25 bills are hard to come by.

If you're building a set you should try to build it with the appropriate denominations. The quoted advice about devoting ~2/3 of the set to workhorses is generally good advice. Most of the bets throughout the night, the sizes of which should be largely driven by the blinds and the overall stack sizes, will be made in units of these chips so they will sort of fly around the table all night. For example in a 25c/50c game where the average stack is between $50-$200, most bets will be in multiples of $1 early on, then multiples of $5 on later streets. Less likely they will be multiples of $25 or $100 very routinely, though this of course will happen at times. Winning players will accumulate large stacks of workhorses, losing players will (re)buy stacks of them. Eventually you (the bank) run out and move to larger value chips, which are then exchanged with one of the previously mentioned winning players for more workhorses and a few blind chips. The game will operate much more smoothly.

Really appreciate the tip and it makes sense to me. I reckon what I'll do is I'll run a 8x 8x 8x 100BB game once to experience the issue first hand, and before running off to get 300 more chips. Hopefully with 18x workhorse chips each it'd be safely sufficient?

 

[Nine_high]

Scaling in decimals appeals to me because it gives me flexibility to run games like 0.1/0.2. Texas hold'em isn't too popular of a game in my parts so I think the flexibility is especially useful to draw new players in.

Then I guess I would recommend building a good 1/2 and 2/5 breakdown. Adding a rack each of 5 and 25 should be all you really need, though you could get more if you want. You can scale it to play as .10/.10, .10/.20 or .20/.50. Or play straight value 1/1, 1/2, etc. I would abandon the .25/.50 at this point, you aren't built for it and you don't need it anyway.

Really appreciate the tip and it makes sense to me. I reckon what I'll do is I'll run a 8x 8x 8x 100BB game once to experience the issue first hand, and before running off to get 300 more chips. Hopefully with 18x workhorse chips each it'd be safely sufficient?

Different people have different opinions on the number of 5s and 25s you need. I personally think 200 is enough since you have the 100x 100s and 500s. More would also be fine.

 

[ChipWhisperer]

I have looked everywhere for a simple guide like this. Thanks so much, doing the exact $20 buy in you mentioned.

 

[CaptainR93]

Love this, thank you for these breakdowns! Very helpful!

 

[KillingDyl]

Awesome guide. I've been looking to start a home game soon and was looking at different distributions to build out my set for the future as well!

 

[louBdub]

Bump for all the newer folks.

Bookmark this one

 

[mic]

Bump for the people who need some guidelines.

 

[joeyshin]

I purposely made my frac an “X” so it can be any denom frac for whatever stake I need. I have another rack of other chips with “X” too in case I need 2 fracs.

I usually play 25c/50c but I’ve used them for 5c/10c too

 

[Fezzyfezz]

General Rules To Mapping Out A Cash Set

1. Plan your chip set around 10 players per table. A full table is 10 players, you may only run 7-8 normally but I'm a big believer in being prepared. Someone might bring a friend and who wants to turn down action? I don't! The extra chips will also provide you cushion with your set.

2. Only have denominations that are 4-5x the value of the previous denomination. This one is very important. I know some of y'all have guys that like a bunch of different chips. I read one post in my forum searches where a guy runs $1/$2/$3 and $5 chips all in one game. This is such a waste of chips and only makes cash outs at the end of the night more of a headache. Follow the KISS mantra - Keep It Simple Stupid. You as the host are also the banker. Make your job easier and save money on chip sets by keeping the denominations simple. When I started my game, my 25c/50c game had denoms of 25c/50c/$1/$5/$10/$25/$50/$100... don't do this. Don't be that guy. It's a waste of chips and thus, a waste of money on your initial investment.

3. Plan the chip set around a starting stack of 200 big blinds. The max buy in of my 25c/50c game is $100. Not everyone does this, but some nights everyone does. Your game might not be at that point, but if you want your game to last, you'll need to be prepared to handle growth. Some players are more gamblers than others. Be prepared and have the chips at your disposal. Having the chips will only add more flexibility to your capabilities to host.


Mapping Out A Chip Set For 1 Table Of 10 Players

The following chip counts are meant to be a guide to efficiently map out a chip set, thus saving you money on your total chip purchase. I will cover each stake from 5c/10c to $5/$10. There is great debate over using a $20 or $25 chip. I've mapped this guide out to be as efficient as possible based on the stakes. Some use $20, others $25. You may like different stacks sizes too. Example, my guys like big stacks for my 25c/50c game. My mapping is $100 stacks of 12/17/16 of 25c/$1/$5 chips respectively.

This is meant to be a general guide to help get you started and thinking in the process you need to map out your chip set efficiently. These set guides are written with the considerations of: most places when you order chips require you to order in increments of 25 and I'm not using "odd" denominations that are hard to find, example: a $2.50 chip. They're useful, however a bit harder to track down. These will use the easier to find denominations.

Now, let's get started. These map outs will provide you with 10x starting playable stacks with enough in higher denomination chips to cover color ups, top offs and rebuys with a total bank averaging 3x 200 big blind buy ins per player at the table (600 big blinds total x 10 players). Sure, this might not happen all the time... but when it does, you'll be glad you have the chips.

My motto is always buy once, cry once.


5c/10c Mapping - $20 Max Buy In for 200 Big Blinds

Chip Denominations

5c/25c/$1/$5/$20

Max Buy In Starting Stacks

10x 5c (50c)
18x 25c ($4.50)
15x $1 ($15)

Chips Needed - 500 Total Chips

100x 5c ($5)
200x 25c ($50)
150x $1 ($150)
25x $5 ($125)
25x $20 ($500)


Total Bank: $830

10c/25c Mapping - $50 Max Buy In for 200 Big Blinds

Chip Denominations

5c/25c/$1/$5/$25

Max Buy In Starting Stacks

10x 5c (50c)
14x 25c ($3.50)
11x $1 ($11)
7x $5 ($35)

Chips Needed - 500 Total Chips

100x 5c ($5)
150x 25c ($37.50)
125x $1 ($125)
75x $5 ($375)
50x $25 ($1,250)

Total Bank: $1,792.50


25c/50c Mapping - $100 Max Buy In for 200 Big Blinds

Chip Denominations

25c/$1/$5/$25

Max Buy In Starting Stacks

8x 25c ($2)
18x $1 ($18)
16x $5 ($80)

Chips Needed - 600 Total Chips

100x 25c ($25)
250x $1 ($250)
175x $5 ($875)
75x $25 ($1,875)

Total Bank: $3,025

50c/$1 Mapping - $200 Max Buy In for 200 Big Blinds

Chip Denominations

25c/$1/$5/$25/$100

Max Buy In Starting Stacks

8x 25c ($2)
8x $1 ($8)
13x $5 ($65)
5x $25 ($125)

Chips Needed - 500 Total Chips

100x 25c ($25)
100x $1 ($100)
150x $5 ($150)
50x $25 ($1,250)
50x $100 ($5,000)

Total Bank: $6,525

$1/$2 Mapping - $400 Max Buy In for 200 Big Blinds

Chip Denominations

$1/$5/$25/$100

Max Buy In Starting Stacks

10x $1 ($10)
18X $5 ($90)
8x $25 ($200)
1x $100 ($100)

Chips Needed - 500 Total Chips

100x $1 ($100)
200x $5 ($1000)
100x $25 ($2,500)
100x $100 ($10,000)

Total Bank: $13,600

$2/$5 Mapping - $1,000 Max Buy In for 200 Big Blinds

Chip Denominations

$1/$5/$25/$100/$500

Max Buy In Starting Stacks

5x $1 ($5)
14x $5 ($70)
13x $25 ($325)
1x $100 ($100)
1x $500 ($500)

Chips Needed - 750 Total Chips

50x $1 ($50)
300x $5 ($1,500)
275x $25 ($6,875)
100x $100 ($10,000)
25x $500 ($12,500)

Total Bank: $30,925

$5/$10 Mapping - $2,000 Max Buy In for 200 Big Blinds

Chip Denominations

$5/$25/$100/$500

Max Buy In Starting Stacks

10x $5 ($50)
10x $25 ($250)
7x $100 ($700)
2x $500 ($1000)

Chips Needed - 375 Total Chips

100x $5 ($500)
100x $25 ($2,500)
75x $100 ($7,500)
100x $500 ($50,000)

Total Bank: $60,500



Well that's what I got. If you grow to 2 tables, simply x2 these chips sets and you're covered.

If anyone notices any typos, bad math on my part, etc. please post and I will make changes.

I've proof read this 4 times but I'm still only human.

A lot of good info thank you

 

[bpmpg]

good info, thank you. we typically run two 1/2 tables on our nights. I can't remember the specific breakdown, but its pretty close!

 

[Taghkanic]

[2/5] Max Buy In Starting Stacks

5x $1 ($5)
14x $5 ($70)
13x $25 ($325)
1x $100 ($100)
1x $500 ($500)

I host 2/5 and would not recommend giving anyone 50% of their initial buy-in with a single chip (here, a 500 chip for a $1K buy-in).

Really, at any stakes I don’t see that 50% percentage as good for the game.

At 2/5 I give people their buy-ins as a mix of 5s and 25s.

I have a dealer with a rack including plenty of the smaller denom for change. He will typically exchange one $5 chip for five $1s when people sit down, if they want them to start. (Some don’t.) Or else we’ll just get smaller change onto the table / into their stacks via normal gameplay.

Only once most or all of the 5s and 25s are in play will I start giving out further buys with 100s.

While I do have $500 chips for nights where people are really getting spewy, it is almost never necessary to get these in play.

 

[JustinInMN]

At 2/5 I give people their buy-ins as a mix 5s and 25s.

I have a dealer with a rack including plenty of the smaller denom for change. He will typically exchange one $5 chip for five $1s when people sit down, if they want them to start. (Some don’t.) Or else we’ll just get smaller change onto the table / into their stacks via normal gameplay.

Only once most or all of the 5s and 25s are in play wil I start giving out further buys with 100s.

This is the way.

And by the time you exhaust your fives and twenty-fives, they are all on the table and you aren't adding new players, so there is plenty of change to be found when issuing the rebuys in all blackbirds at that point.

 

[dobdob]

I purposely made my frac an “X” so it can be any denom frac for whatever stake I need. I have another rack of other chips with “X” too in case I need 2 fracs.

I usually play 25c/50c but I’ve used them for 5c/10c too

View attachment 1252940View attachment 1252941

Wow, I love this labeling / color scheme, can you tell us more about this set? Are these real Paulson chips or did you have them made (or both?)

I'll go snoop your profile, but do you have any more pics of the faces / progression? Oooh I spy the white hundos in the back...

How did you select/arrive at your color scheme and spot progression? Was the label designed first and you worked around that, or done in tandem with the chips? It's a great example of a color scheme that "keeps working" as you move up thru the denominations ... My designs always stop "making sense" at some point, haven't been able to crack through to a fully fledged progression like this. Congrats on a fantastic result!