ctestb
High Hand
What is the idea chip count/ breakdown for a $.25/ $.50 cash game (vs. a $.50/$1 cash game) Do either of these play better or is it just preference of the players?
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$.025/$0.50 Chip Breakdown (6 Viewers)
- Thread starter ctestb
- Start date
Consensus minimum chip count for .25/.25 or .25/.50 games:
(100) .25
(200) $1
(200) $5
(80) $25
(20) $100
Add $5s to your heart’s content (typically up to 300-400, some fight for even more). Double the $25 & $100 counts for bigger bank.
Typical min buy-in for games can range from 100-200 big blinds, so just do the math for what works with your group (e.g., if average $50 buy-in, consider .25/.25 or .25/.50).
.50/$1 will obviously play much bigger, so you’d want to lean towards a larger bank.
.50/.50 is also popular, however, and lets you use your fracs for multiple games … obviously just preference.
*edit* also this is a popular link:
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...ut-a-cash-game-chip-set-5c-10c-to-5-10.30897/
(100) .25
(200) $1
(200) $5
(80) $25
(20) $100
Add $5s to your heart’s content (typically up to 300-400, some fight for even more). Double the $25 & $100 counts for bigger bank.
Typical min buy-in for games can range from 100-200 big blinds, so just do the math for what works with your group (e.g., if average $50 buy-in, consider .25/.25 or .25/.50).
.50/$1 will obviously play much bigger, so you’d want to lean towards a larger bank.
.50/.50 is also popular, however, and lets you use your fracs for multiple games … obviously just preference.
*edit* also this is a popular link:
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...ut-a-cash-game-chip-set-5c-10c-to-5-10.30897/
NotRealNameNoSir
4 of a Kind
You're right for sure on minimum. As for games we prefer .25/.50. Preflop raises are probably similar to the .50/1 anyways but we like some ante games as well and its easier with everyone chucking in a quarter.
My players are limpy and will have the .25 and $1s doing more work so I picked up 200 quarters (.25/.25) and 300 $1s. Many games wont need that many but they prefer bigger stacks and pots over more $5s, and I love the Flamingo $1.
200 fracs
300 $1s
200 $5s
100 $20s
12 $100s
And yes: the $100s will probably never see the table BUT Im still considering filling the barrel out lol.
detroitdad
Royal Flush
iLogik
Flush
I’d suggest an extra rack of 1s if you have a small game or extra 5s if your buying are bigger 
OP
OP
ctestb
High Hand
Thank you, this is helpful
SeanGecko
4 of a Kind
NotRealNameNoSir
4 of a Kind
Disregard the chips, let me get those cards from you.
wickedwonka121
Flush
Work peeps don't like using fracs. Last game after a couple of hours they all voted just go $1/$1. But I had this and it played really well:
(100) .25
(300) $1
(140) $5
(50) $20
(10) $100
Bank $3025
Most were buying in with $60.
In the previous game we used the CPC Rounders and had only one 5k chip in play representing $50. So I didn't need a bunch of hundos, hence the half barrel.
(100) .25
(300) $1
(140) $5
(50) $20
(10) $100
Bank $3025
Most were buying in with $60.
In the previous game we used the CPC Rounders and had only one 5k chip in play representing $50. So I didn't need a bunch of hundos, hence the half barrel.
+1
this is $4,225 in bank, I would suggest at least another rack of 5s
I have a link to a post where I go Indepth on break down, you're welcome to give it a read
OP
OP
ctestb
High Hand
Thank you! I just feel more .25 are needed, no?
SeanGecko
4 of a Kind
Trickiest part is the fractionals. IMHO, DO NOT denominate them.
Just have 100 of them to be played as either .20 or .25, or .50, or even $2s in eventually bigger games.
100x ND
200x $1
200x $5
100x $20
20x $100
Potentially up to a $5,400 bank, good from .20/.20 to "reasonable" or "friendly" $1/2
620 CPC chips fit in a Versa Deluxe case "500" if the middle dividers are taken out (simply by bare hands) leaving room for 4 hard tubes carrying at least 25 chips each.
Paulsons, especially used ones, or "ceramics" are even thinner, so more fit in the above array.
My 2c.
Just have 100 of them to be played as either .20 or .25, or .50, or even $2s in eventually bigger games.
100x ND
200x $1
200x $5
100x $20
20x $100
Potentially up to a $5,400 bank, good from .20/.20 to "reasonable" or "friendly" $1/2
620 CPC chips fit in a Versa Deluxe case "500" if the middle dividers are taken out (simply by bare hands) leaving room for 4 hard tubes carrying at least 25 chips each.
Paulsons, especially used ones, or "ceramics" are even thinner, so more fit in the above array.
My 2c.
OP
OP
ctestb
High Hand
What do you mean by not denominating them? SOrry I know what the frac's are but typically to me that would mean don't put a $ on the chip but don't think that's what you mean
They’re really not. If you love quarters or if you have a crowd of people who love to limp and if you think it’s fun when half the table has two stacks of quarters, go for it; it’s your game. But 100 are fine and 120 is plenty. You could put three racks of quarters on the table and eventually you’ll have people making change. So don’t do it to avoid change-making. But if you love quarters, go for it. Just don’t do it at the expense of $5s. I feel strongly that two racks of $5s are the bare minimum and three racks plus is more comfortable. But that depends on how many people are rebuying.
I mean they could not have a standard value, but rather a value according to each game.
From .20 to $2, the difference from game to game doesn't pose a noteworthy game security threat financially, if a chip is stolen from a cheap game to be tabled at a more expensive game.
The standard 100/200/200/80/20 works fine. I personally like more 1's and/or 5's, depending on how the game plays. Our local game is very splashy, often $2000 or more in play. We have 100/300/300/100, and it works great.
OP
OP
ctestb
High Hand
Ahhh okay got it. So don’t use $500 for a $5 chip incase someone pockets it to use later in a higher stake game. That’s part of why I want an obscure Paulson set as well. Just for added security
THIS doesn't have a standard value. In each game, its value may be different.
No, I would suggest you start with a .25/.25 game, PLO plays larger and is more action, I recently went to .5/.5 and it is better as we don't wait for you to finish a convo to check, you make action or it moves.
personally if I want to make a $5 wager, I'm not looking to put in 20 (.25) chips.
There is an argument for OCD people, that 120 is optimal, it lets everyone start with 12 fracs or $3 in fracs, considering a 10 man table. Personally I only have 60 .25 chips for my game. This is also a good option if you want to be able to spread 2 tables, but causes a diff OCD issue in storage.
PLO is played with max of 9, 1 rack of fracs is good enough. I've played in games where they have 5 and 6 racks, its tedious to play
This DOES have a standard value in any game
This has been one of the more enjoyable aspects of the journey, I love efficiency of chips; I use 60/180/400/40/10
I love love love the 180!
I have a 8 person table and I was totally comfortable with only 160 $1s. When I first started building sets, I usually went for 300 $1s. But after playing enough, I realized the third rack was totally unnecessary. I’ll argue for days that a single barrel of $1s per person is perfect for .25/.50 stakes.
(I eventually ended up filling out my second rack of $1s, just because I like buying things. But this is a good reminder that I could go back, cherry-pick, and sell off the 40 crappiest $1s.)
Most of my single table sets use the following:
100 - .25
300 - 1
300 - 5
80 - 20 or 25 depending on set
20 - 100
I do have some 2 table sets that use 200 quarters and 400 ones and fives. 25s and 100s stay pretty much the same although I have some that are 60/40 instead of 80/20.
I also have .50 frac sets that use the same breakdowns with .50 instead of .25
But all these variations work very well for our .25/.50 or .50/.50 games (that actually play like 1/3 games...)
100 - .25
300 - 1
300 - 5
80 - 20 or 25 depending on set
20 - 100
I do have some 2 table sets that use 200 quarters and 400 ones and fives. 25s and 100s stay pretty much the same although I have some that are 60/40 instead of 80/20.
I also have .50 frac sets that use the same breakdowns with .50 instead of .25
But all these variations work very well for our .25/.50 or .50/.50 games (that actually play like 1/3 games...)
Yeah, we need the extra 5's more than we need the 1's.
wickedwonka121
Flush
This chip represents value "awesome". Lol!
LeLe
4 of a Kind
For 25/50c
25c x 100
$1 x 200
$5 x 200
$25 x 80
$100 x 20
For 50/$1, I will swap 20 x $25 for 20 x $100 as u will need a bigger bank compare to 25/50
25c x 100
$1 x 200
$5 x 200
$25 x 60
$100 x 40
If you want to use 50c instead of 25c for 50/$1
50c x 40
$1 x 200
$5 x 200
$25 x 60
$100 x 40
25c x 100
$1 x 200
$5 x 200
$25 x 80
$100 x 20
For 50/$1, I will swap 20 x $25 for 20 x $100 as u will need a bigger bank compare to 25/50
25c x 100
$1 x 200
$5 x 200
$25 x 60
$100 x 40
If you want to use 50c instead of 25c for 50/$1
50c x 40
$1 x 200
$5 x 200
$25 x 60
$100 x 40
Most 25c/50c breakdowns focus on more than 200 $5s. But if you play a smaller game like my players, I much prefer more $1s. It’s the only practical way to get more than 30 chips per player on the table.
I like that idea.
Considering doing a variable frac for my upcoming CPC set:
(inlay is my crude mockup and not by any means final)
It'd be used as quarters (most of the time) or half dollars if we play 50¢/$1.
NotRealNameNoSir
4 of a Kind
Efficiency Gods be tilted! $100 in my .25/.50 gets you a 20 fracs, 30 $1s, and 13 $5s, FLOOD THE TABLE.
Do you prefer 1/X over just X? Just a design question, the X being the variable of interest is better in my eyes but I'm not the one buying the set. Love the idea of a variable frac, think I'm doing the same with mine.
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