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Brand New And Researching For First Set (1 Viewer)

Key question: have you ever played in a casino? For home games, any of the options you're talking about are a huge improvement over dice chips, or similar lower-tier options. However, once you get your hands on some real Paulsons, there's just something that captures you. They just feel "right." I can never go back. I started with PNYs (President Casino New Yorker) about 10 years ago. I didn't know what I had then, but they spoiled me forever.

EDIT: PNYs were 15ish years ago? Whenever the first batch hit the market I lucked into a rack of 5s and a rack of 25s for around $75 each.
 
I have played at casinos and always loved the way "real" chips feel. The first sample I got was from CPC and nothing compared until the Paulsons started coming in: Jacks, Monaco, Harrah's
I like the hard edge corners and smooth straight barrels of real chips.
You're right, it's hard to go back. That being said, if similar quality casino chips will be available in months to years, I can be patient and start off with ceramics, china clays, or even high-quality injected plastics (the lattermost if only for a few months).
If this is a really good opportunity unlikely to arise again for several years, though, I'd be willing to take advantage.
 
Welcome! My 2c is to save up and buy what you really want. Don't waste time and money on buying a cheaper set you don't really love.
 
Follow up on what I actually bought:
Although I had planned on working my way up over time, my wife was on board to go straight for Paulsons after playing with the Jacks sample set.
I ended up following @MoeTremper's suggestion and buying a Horseshoe Cincy 500 set from @The Chip Exchange.
I also got a rack of Jack quarters from @Apache via eBay, and have a barrel of Jack 100 secondary (not pictured) coming in from @justincarothers.

Having a 500 set plus a rack I got a 600 chip acrylic case for display/storage. As I get more I'll probably get a 1000 chip acrylic case, a metal case and who knows what else. I also have 12 Paulson trays on the way as well.

Overall, I'm very happy with the chips I have so far and the helpfulness and kindness found on this forum! Since Jacks were what my wife and I really wanted, at first I wasn't sure about the choice about the Horseshoe Cincys, but after having both I'm glad I got them. I love the Jacks, but they feel and look so good mint, that I'll probably keep them mainly for display and only pull out for play on special occasions. The cincys look really good too, design-wise, and are casino used, so I won't feel bad using them heavily. I guess they will be my chip equivalent of a daily-driver (weekly-player?). Over the next few months I'll be trying to source the following Jacks: 200 $1, 200 $5, 20 $100 primary. I'm not in a rush atm, so I'll just browse the classifieds as they popup instead of posting a wanted ad.

Thank you again for all of your help guys!

Pic: my starter walmart suited set, a rack of sample sets I acquired during research, my case of cincys and 1 rack of quarter jacks.
291675
 
Congratulations and thanks for posting a follow up ;). Awesome to see a new fellow chipper dive right into Paulsons where they can. Great stuff.
 
I do love my sample set of majestics, but I'm concerned about the comments about staying away from CC's for reasons like smell and warping.

I have a 13.5 slug set from back when I thought that weight was everything. It's not; it's all about feel. Now that I've switched to ceramics, 10g is a real sweet spot. My 13.5's just feel like heavy crap now.
 
BearMetal said:
I do love my sample set of majestics, but I'm concerned about the comments about staying away from CC's for reasons like smell and warping.

I have a 13.5 slug set from back when I thought that weight was everything. It's not; it's all about feel. Now that I've switched to ceramics, 10g is a real sweet spot. My 13.5's just feel like heavy crap now.
Click to expand...
Majestics don't seem to have the same smell issues as some of the other CC's. Mine have no smell at all. YMMV.
 
sidjun said:
Mine didn't have a smell either (or at least one I could tell with my bad nose lol)
Click to expand...

But Majestics are still CCs, right? Nothing special about them? If I stick them up to my nose, there is an odor of PVC or slight chemical or something. I don't notice it normally with only 10 chips, but if there were 500 of them out, I'd expect I'd smell something.

I'd expect something similar with the new Royals from Apache as well.
 
Hey guys,

New here starting to research my first set and just wanted to say this thread is super useful. Though some of these wonderful chips are probably out of the range of our .10/.25 blinds hah!

Anyone have any thoughts for the new chips being released next month by Apache vs milanos? I feel like they might be Overkill for a low stakes game but look oh so nice
 
Schrodngercat said:
Hey guys,

New here starting to research my first set and just wanted to say this thread is super useful. Though some of these wonderful chips are probably out of the range of our .10/.25 blinds hah!
Click to expand...
Since I joined this madhouse, the value of my chips are almost always more than the money on the table!
 
With our crew depending on the night we may only have $200 on the table so it's pretty easy for that to happen to us. I wanted to get rid of our .10 sb and replace it with a .25/.25 blinds but our group quickly vetoed me on that idea
 
Schrodngercat said:
Hey guys,

New here starting to research my first set and just wanted to say this thread is super useful. Though some of these wonderful chips are probably out of the range of our .10/.25 blinds hah!

Anyone have any thoughts for the new chips being released next month by Apache vs milanos? I feel like they might be Overkill for a low stakes game but look oh so nice
Click to expand...

Those Royals certainly look sweet. I purchased many sample sets (recommended) and ended up on Majestics for my first set.

Currently I think I'll eventually relabel those to avoid the CPC/Paulson bug if can help it. My friends love the Majestics and those Royals will only be better. Apache does a great job and I will order more coming up. I'm thinking something mixed between Majestics and Royals for an intermediate set. :)
 
b77alan said:
Hey. Planning on 8-10 players. Tourney. No limit. So what do you guys think?
Click to expand...
For a 10-player T10000 tourney, 400 chips is pretty standard:

T25x120
T100x120
T500x60
T1000x80
T5000x20

Starting stacks of 12/12/5/6

Allows plenty for rebuys, color ups, and even can handle a deep stack game.

If you want to be really efficient, you could get by with 300 chips, starting stacks of 8/8/4/7.
T25x80
T100x80
T500x50
T1000x80
T5000x10

At any rate, at $200, you’re in the ceramic or china clay (Majestics, Dunes, Pharaoh) range. Get samples!

There have been rumblings of another group buy for 43mm Sunfly hybrids, which are oversized ceramics with a recess for a label. They’re terrific, and will likely be about 75¢/chip. Lots of great options to be found. Learn all you can, and get samples.

Did I mention to get samples? :)
 
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