0.25/0.25 blinds, 10-25 buy in and 0.25/0.50 blinds, 20-50 buy in STARTING STACK CONCERNS (1 Viewer)

[JustAnotherFishie]

Currently: I host a 0.25/0.25 blinds, 10-25 buy in and will eventually move to 0.25/0.50 blinds, 20-50 buy in when my players are more comfortable.
Starting stacks consist of
$25 $50
0.25x12 0.25x12
1.00x17 1.00x17
5.00x1 5.00x6
and all re buys are given $5 chips to make change at the table
Question: I will be buying a custom 1000 piece set, what would the ideal starting stacks look like for the 0.25/0.25 and 0.25/0.50 games? And how should the breakdown of my set look like?
Thank you!

 

[JustinInMN]

host a 0.25/0.25 blinds, 10-25 buy in and will eventually move to 0.25/0.50 blinds, 20-50 buy in when my players are more comfortable.

With 1000 chips you can easily cover two tables at either of these stakes with the following breakdown

0.25 * 200
1 * 400
5 * 300
20 * 100

I think you are on the right track with your starting stacks.
16 Stacks of 12/17/x
1 Stack of 8/18/x
11 Stacks of 0/11/x
(x is the number of 5s needed to make the desired starting stack)

And plenty of extra fives for additional rebuys.

I would advise keeping quarters to 100 per table (watch out here come the #quarterwars) otherwise they tend to just sit in stacks and make counting stacks during all ins extra complicated.

But I think this breakdown would serve just fine for both of those stakes. If you get in to even bigger blinds, add fives.

Good luck,

 

[BSteck]

I will be buying a custom 1000 piece set, what would the ideal starting stacks look like for the 0.25/0.25 and 0.25/0.50 games? And how should the breakdown of my set look like?

Unless you really think you need to cover two tables, I’d vote for a 500 piece cash set and a 500 piece tourney set.

 

[JustAnotherFishie]

Thank you @JustinInMN your advice is always spot on.
I should have mentioned that in the future I will be adding a second table! I will keep this in mind, and save for an additional tournament set @BSteck thank you!

 

[JustinInMN]

Unless you really think you need to cover two tables, I’d vote for a 500 piece cash set and a 500 piece tourney set.

Well 600 cash and 400 Tournament.

A 400 chip tournament breakdown of 120/120/60/80/20 of T25/100/500/1000/5000 comfortably covers 10 stacks of 12/12/5/6, meaning you then get 600 chips for cash .

(Which I would spend on 100/300/160/40 of 0.25/1/5/20 or 25 for 0.25-0.25 or 0.25-0.50 cash games. . )

 

[AnteAndy]

You have the starting stacks nail down, is exactly what I do for my game.

I personally would not recommend the thousand ships unless you're going to have two tables. 600 chips would be perfect for a single table, using the PCF recommended breakdown:

100x $0.25
200x $1
200x $5
100x $25 (or 80x $25 & 20x $100)
(I have mine set separately where its 120x quarters and 80x $25s)

Would help future proof your set if you ever get to larger buyins.

If you're wanting to have 1k chips for two tables, then maybe go this route:

200x $0.25
350x $1
350x $5
100x $25 (or 80x $25 & 20x $100)

Should have plenty chips for both tables and not worry much with change making for any stakes.

 

[BirdCage]

#quarterwars love it! I say 200. Larger stacks encourage betting.

Also, wonder if you (others) have increasing blinds during your cash games (and if so, how often?)

 

[JustinInMN]

I personally would not recommend the thousand ships unless you're going to have two tables. 600 chips would be perfect for a single table, using the PCF recommended breakdown:

100x $0.25
200x $1
200x $5
100x $25 (or 80x $25 & 20x $100)
(I have mine set separately where its 120x quarters and 80x $25s)

I do quibble with this breakdown for not having enough singles for the two stakes the OP mentions. In particular 25 max could be run entirely without fives. A single five is 20% of the buy in. It doesn't make sense to me to put half the set in chips that are fives and up. Fives would get more use at 50 max for sure, twenties and up getting use would be rare, but probably worth spending 40 chips on for just in case. Hundreds would never get use.

Now if the OP was asking about 100 max or 200 max games, that changes the equation and for only 600 chips, the wider the range, the tighter it is to cover.

 

[JustinInMN]

#quarterwars love it! I say 200. Larger stacks encourage betting.

Also, wonder if you (others) have increasing blinds during your cash games (and if so, how often?)

No, cash games are not tournaments. .

 

[jonn1ecakes]

@JustAnotherFishie - I'm in the same boat as you; I'm used to playing $1/$2, but trying to get this gourp of guys comfortable with the game so we're doing $0.25/$0/50. I honestly try to limit the amount of $0.25s in the case and on the table. The setup I am working with will consist of:

80-100 $0.25
220 $1
400 $5
200 $25
100 $100

I know the $100s are a bit much but I am hoping the game grows to 1/2 and this breakdown does cover that if it gets there. Hindsight, maybe less $100s and more $25s but I'm ok with it.

 

[BirdCage]

No, cash games are not tournaments. .

Indeed. However, I have at least one player that suggest raising the .25/.50 to .50/1.00 after a couple of hours. We haven't tried that yet. I think maybe he's just trying to shake the liimpers - which is nearly everyone with low blind poker.

 

[AnteAndy]

I do quibble with this breakdown for not having enough singles for the two stakes the OP mentions. In particular 25 max could be run entirely without fives. A single five is 20% of the buy in. It doesn't make sense to me to put half the set in chips that are fives and up. Fives would get more use at 50 max for sure, twenties and up getting use would be rare, but probably worth spending 40 chips on for just in case. Hundreds would never get use.

Now if the OP was asking about 100 max or 200 max games, that changes the equation and for only 600 chips, the wider the range, the tighter it is to cover.

The games I've played in that have roughly this breakdown always has enough chips. My personal said has 180 singles and it and I feels like more than enough for a 9 person table, out of a 500 set I have for now. And I see nothing wrong with having this many fives, like I said the future proof your game in case it gets bigger.

I personally do not like having a ton of physical chips in home games that just takes up so much room. We need to make a bet of $5, much rather just use a $5 chip than five singles most the time, and keep the singles for smaller bets. Nothing wrong with that.

And the whole "having more singles to make the players play more loose" never applied to any game I played it. Most of them are loose either way, haha.

 

[JustinInMN]

Indeed. However, I have at least one player that suggest raising the .25/.50 to .50/1.00 after a couple of hours. We haven't tried that yet. I think maybe he's just trying to shake the liimpers - which is nearly everyone with low blind poker.

From Robert’s Rules of Poker for Private Games
2-House Policies
"The poker form and stakes that had been agreed upon when the game was started shall not be changed if more than one player objects."

Bluntly, it's plain rude to attempt to change the stake of a cash game to something different than what people showed up for, and such suggestions should not be well taken unless there is some certainly it would be near unanimous.

You could try and host the higher stake in the first place to accommodate this player, and then see who shows up. Then at least this player would figure out whether or not there is appetite for higher stakes, or if this player will have to deal with lower stakes or not play.

 

[abby99]

For a custom set, buying a 1000-pc set now would allow you to really future-proof your set. It would be a shame if, in a couple of years, you raised the stakes or decided to spread two tables. You want to add on to your custom set but you can't because the mold was taken out of service, you can't match the colors, or in the case of ceramics, the blanks are no longer available. Worst case is that you're SOL because the manufacturer of your cherished customs is no longer in business.

 

[Jambine]

0.25 * 200
1 * 400
5 * 300
20 * 100

I like this

 

[boltonguy]

I have a travel set for two 6-max tables (12 players) of $0.25/$0.50.

Breakdown is 800 chips:
$0.25 x 200
$1 x 300
$5 x 200
$20 x 80
$100 x 20

Set supports $100 buy in per player and more than enough for one rebuy each. Bank is $5,350.
I dont think you need 1000 chips for your game. If you wanted to buy 1000 though you could buy another 100 x $5, 80 x $20, and 20 x $100
$25 would work just as well.

 

[allforcharity]

If you can afford more chips, buy more chips.

However, if you want to stretch your budget to buy the best you can with the money you have, then choose a lower number of chips with reasonable efficiency.

A single 10-person cash table can get away with 600 chips. A single 10-person tournament table can get away with 300-400 chips. Both would include a reasonable number of reloads/rebuys.

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

From Robert’s Rules of Poker for Private Games
2-House Policies
"The poker form and stakes that had been agreed upon when the game was started shall not be changed if more than one player objects."

Bluntly, it's plain rude to attempt to change the stake of a cash game to something different than what people showed up for, and such suggestions should not be well taken unless there is some certainly it would be near unanimous.

You could try and host the higher stake in the first place to accommodate this player, and then see who shows up. Then at least this player would figure out whether or not there is appetite for higher stakes, or if this player will have to deal with lower stakes or not play.

Completely agree that it is inappropriate to try and raise the agreed upon blinds in a cash game after everyone is sitting at the table. But there is an alternative. You could let everyone know ahead of time that a change will take place at a specific time. For example, state in advance to all invited that from 7PM to 10PM we will play .25/.25, then after 10 it's going up to .25/.50 for the rest of the night. You may also need to adjust your re-buy amount depending on what your house rules may be. That way anyone uncomfortable with the higher stakes can plan to leave when they go up.

 

[Beakertwang]

One note: I would wager that if you kept the blinds at .25/.25, and just raised the max buy-in to $50, you would probably find it would have practically the same result as if you raised the blinds as well.

 

[mummel]

MOAR!!!!!!

I roll 20x25c + 20x$1 starting stacks = $25 with 25c/25c blinds. Rebuys with $5s.

Makes setting up and cashing out a total breeze. More chips = looser game play. Plus, you know, MOAR!!!!!!

 

[boltonguy]

MOAR!!!!!!

I roll 20x25c + 20x$1 starting stacks = $25 with 25c/25c blinds. Rebuys with $5s.

Makes setting up and cashing out a total breeze. More chips = looser game play. Plus, you know, MOAR!!!!!!

I do the same! Send out the barrels each buyin until they are gone

 

[MyLastChip]

I do the same! Send out the barrels each buyin until they are gone

I like this. Going to host my first cash game in a couple weeks. Me and a few friends. Never to serious. Just a reason to get together. But I think my group would like the more chips the better concept. And they tend to keep that “big” chip as if it was an insurance policy. Lol

 

[BGinGA]

Larger stacks encourage betting.

More chips = looser game play.

Yes, but only when they are betting chips, not when they are chips used just for blinds. Loading up on the workhorse chips works, vs having a smaller number and adding high value denomination chips.

 

[mummel]

Yes, but only when they are betting chips, not when they are chips used just for blinds. Loading up on the workhorse chips works, vs having a smaller number and adding high value denomination chips.

In a 25/25c game, 3X = 75c, so they’re used quite a bit.

 

[BGinGA]

In a 25/25c game, 3X = 75c, so they’re used quite a bit.

Only pre-flop. One betting round of four.

 

[TheWhat]

Our game doesn't play huge, so we easily get away with ~400.

.25 x100
1.00 x110
2.00 x 40
5.00 x 100
20.00 x 40

I know the $2 are a little redundant, but gets a 5th color in.

.25 / .50 Starting stacks:

.25 x12
1.00 x12
2.00 x5
5.00 x5

A busier game here (Really just enjoying each other) is like 8 players, and 6 reloads, so only hitting $700 total; and the above covers like $1500.