Two Denoms vs Three - Does Table Feel Suffer? (1 Viewer)

[RedWolf]

Hey PCF,

I’m planning a chip upgrade for my home cash game and would love some input from the more experienced members here on how running two working denominations versus three actually affects table feel and overall game vibe.

For context, I’ve been running the game with a very basic, blank Walmart chip set up to this point, so this upgrade feels like a big step and I want to get the denominations right from the start.

I’ve been hosting a laid-back game for about two years. We play $.25/$.25 blinds with a $20 buy-in (not textbook optimal, but it’s worked well for our group with zero complaints or issues), and historically we’ve used $.25 / $.50 / $1 / $5 (with the $5 strictly as a bank chip once stacks get larger). I fully understand the logic behind not using a $.50 - after reading through the forum, it’s clear that a deeper stack of $.25s accomplishes the same thing.

One thing I’m genuinely curious about is the table feel: for those of you who run without a $.50, did it ever bother you to only have two working denominations in play? Or did it feel completely natural once the game got going? I’m trying to gauge whether dropping down to two is a non-issue in practice, or if anyone found themselves missing that third chip purely from a tactile or aesthetic standpoint.

One note: I plan to use $25 / $100 / $500 chips (divide by 100 for value), as I prefer higher denoms over fractional labeling.

At this point I’m leaning toward sticking with $25 / $100 / $500 for simplicity and chip options, acknowledging that the main argument for a $50 would be visual variety and game vibes rather than necessity.

Curious to hear your thoughts. Thanks in advance.

—Taylor

 

[curlyhead44]

Scared me for a second with the title that you wanted three denoms on the table! You mean one vs two right?

My group switched from having .25 and .50 chips when we used to use dice chips, over to .25 only with real chips, and every single person prefers the .25 only.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Nope, 50 cent isn't needed. Save yourself the hassle. We play .25/.50 and only use 0.25/1/5/25, or 20. No one in your game will care about the inclusion or exclusion, so do what makes sense economically.

 

[Jaxen]

Only reason a .50 chip works in that game is if you have a small number of what you use for .25 and .50, making it possible to need fewer of them on the table. Sounds like your $1 is going to be your workhorse, so get more of those.
Our current set has 150 .25s, 200 $1s and 250 5s, and a couple barrels of $20s, I'd like to flip the $1s and $5s and our next set will rectify that.

 

[RedWolf]

Scared me for a second with the title that you wanted three denoms on the table! You mean one vs two right?

My group switched from having .25 and .50 chips when we used to use dice chips, over to .25 only with real chips, and every single person prefers the .25 only.

Appreciate the feedback!

Nope, 50 cent isn't needed. Save yourself the hassle. We play .25/.50 and only use 0.25/1/5/25, or 20. No one in your game will care about the inclusion or exclusion, so do what makes sense economically.

Makes total sense, thanks so much for the input and advice!

Only reason a .50 chip works in that game is if you have a small number of what you use for .25 and .50, making it possible to need fewer of them on the table. Sounds like your $1 is going to be your workhorse, so get more of those.
Our current set has 150 .25s, 200 $1s and 250 5s, and a couple barrels of $20s, I'd like to flip the $1s and $5s and our next set will rectify that.

Yep you’re pretty spot on, the $1 is essentially our work horse. Really appreciate you taking the time and for your advice.

 

[JP1984]

Hey mate, take a look at this for suggested breakdowns, you'll be much better off with fewer denoms if the breakdown is right.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...ut-a-cash-game-chip-set-5c-10c-to-5-10.30897/

 

[RedWolf]

Hey mate, take a look at this for suggested breakdowns, you'll be much better off with fewer denoms if the breakdown is right.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...ut-a-cash-game-chip-set-5c-10c-to-5-10.30897/

Awesome, thank you!

 

[Mrosengrants]

Where I play the majority of the time uses cheap plastic chips. We play 25c/50c, $20 buy in with 25c, 50c, $1 and $5 all in play just like you. But the set has no 25c chip so we use the $25 in its place. I have no idea why anyone feels like that is necessary, I think it's more out of habit that function.

The problem I've found with this is there are very few 25c casino chips avaliable and tons of 50c chips out there. So when I host, we play 50c/50c which plays almost no different for 25c/50c (even the brokest of the bunch will pay a quarter to see the flop). But when I use a set that has 25c (no 50c chips) chips we go back to 25c/50. No complaints from the crew.

So I guess what I'm saying is 25c or 50c chips will work for your game but both are definitely not needed.

Look for a good set of chips but don't be concerned if you can't find a 25c chip for the set.

Ive played with tournament sets like you were saying (t25 for the quarter, t100 for the $1 and t500 for the $5). No one minded this at all. I've found so many more options for chip sets this way. Plus if you go with a tournament set, no one will be thrown off by a $ sign not really being what it says (T25=25 pennies, t500=500 pennies) as opposed to using a cash set this way ($25=25c, $500=$5).

Hope this helps!!

 

[RedWolf]

Super helpful, thanks for taking the time man! All of what you said makes total sense and I appreciate the detailed response. Cheers my friend

 

[Jimulacrum]

All that most cash games need are three denominations:

• blind chips (25c in your case)
• workhorse chips ($1 in your case)
• color-up chips ($5 in your case)

Anything more is not necessary unless you're playing with abnormally deep stacks or a limited bank of color-up chips (e.g., you might need to introduce $25s if you've already used up all your $5s; this happens in my 25c/50c game sometimes because I only bring 1 rack of $5s).

Any in-between denominations like 50c are not only unnecessary but a burden.

 

[RedWolf]

All that most cash games need are three denominations:

• blind chips (25c in your case)
• workhorse chips ($1 in your case)
• color-up chips ($5 in your case)

Anything more is not necessary unless you're playing with abnormally deep stacks or a limited bank of color-up chips (e.g., you might need to introduce $25s if you've already used up all your $5s; this happens in my 25c/50c game sometimes because I only bring 1 rack of $5s).

Any in-between denominations like 50c are not only unnecessary but a burden.

Makes complete sense and this seems to be the consensus amongst most. Thank you so much for the explanation and breakdown, much appreciated!

 

[vulp]

All that most cash games need are three denominations:

• blind chips (25c in your case)
• workhorse chips ($1 in your case)
• color-up chips ($5 in your case)

Anything more is not necessary unless you're playing with abnormally deep stacks or a limited bank of color-up chips (e.g., you might need to introduce $25s if you've already used up all your $5s; this happens in my 25c/50c game sometimes because I only bring 1 rack of $5s).

Any in-between denominations like 50c are not only unnecessary but a burden.

This comment should be automatically linked in every "what distribution of chips should I buy" thread! Love it!

 

[Kid_Eastwood]

The set which - I hope - will be produced at CPC will have only 3 colors.
120 x color 1 (+ 5 spares)
240 x color 2 (+ 10 spares)
120 x color 3 (+ 5 spares)
It's planned for 6 or 8 players.
I plan to use it with SB = BB and 100BB deep.

Ex. if NL20, the chips value will be :
- color 1 = 0.20
- color 2 = 1
- color 3 = 5
Blinds = 0.20 - 0.20

With 6 players, 1st buyin = 20/16/0 and next 6 buyins will be 0/20/0.

So for some time, there will be only 2 denoms on the table.

With 8-handed, initial buyin = 15/17/0, the next 5 will be 0/20/0 and then only the third denom will be introduced.

In fact that's the breakdown I used to have with my dice chips back in the days.

 

[Old State]

I had .50 chips made for all three of my customers sets. Originally it was to play .50/1 limit holdem in the early 2000s AND to pay 3-2 black jack.

$2/4 or 3/6 limit became our normal game then $1/2 NL $300 max around 2005. Rarely ever used the .50s after that.

.50/.50 is the smallest game I play…usually with novice neighbors or my friend who aren’t that into poker so I added them to my new sets just for that…..but my new regular game since right before covid started as 50/1 NL but is now $1/1 NL $120 max. I did that to get the extra denomination off the table

The LEAST amount of chips on the table the better. At 3am when the game ran 9-10 handed for 7 hours with multiple reloads, a few thousand in chips out, and possible one to many beers…you want the least amount of denominations when you are cashing out.

If you play $1/3 or $2/5 at a casino you will rarely be given $1s at the cage unless you ask. There are very few in play. The work horse chip for $1/3 is the $5

The .50s rarely are used but still nice to have.