Cash Game Guidance for Hosting First Home Cash Game (2 Viewers)

[pkr_newbee]

All, i'm excited to be part of this online community, and writing my first post here. I recently got into poker a couple years ago through a friend during COVID. I have only played virtually, but I enjoy the sport and the strategy that goes into it. I found a few local friends who also enjoy Poker and I plan on hosting cash games for now (not at the level to host a tournament, although I feel I could with the right group of participants). Overall, nothing too serious, but enough to have good food, company, and conversation. Having said that, since I am new, I have been trying to find a nice set (nothing too expensive, but nothing cheap) and landed upon the Nexgen Remix on Pokerstore. Blinds would be $0.25/$0.25 with $25 buy-in, and just interested in hosting 6/7 people (including myself).

I have been going back and forth on chip denomination and starting stacks, and feel 500 is sufficient for a set (even if folks want to rebuy), but I am ok with adding more. I don't think my game would ever warrant anyone throwing in $25 chips, but for an extra ~$25 for 2 barrels I'm comfortable adding some more color.

Chip Set:
$0.25 - 100 (should I get more?)
$1.00 - 200
$5.00 - 200
$25.00 - necessary?

And also, what are some options for how to best distribute the starting stacks for $25 buy-in. I was thinking:
$0.25 - 16 chips
$1.00 - 11 Chips
$5.00 - 2 Chips

 

[TheRealStephen12]

For .25/.25 and even .25/.50c, you have enough chips. Go with 12/22 for the first 8 buy-ins, use the remaining 4/24 for the 9th buy-in/rebuy, and use $5s for the rest. 100 quarters is plenty, moar chips are better according to everyone here, but you only need them if you move up to .25/.50.

 

[PseudoPsanity]

As far as starting stacks go, I'd probably just give the first 5 people a full barrel of quarters and dollars. Then probably 25 dollars for everybody else. I would do rebuys in all 5s.

 

[davesilver88]

My only thought would be to be potentially increase the max buy to $30

With blinds at 25¢/25¢, max $25, you are technically giving 100BB which is good. But since the SB and BB are the same, conceptually the game will play slightly bigger than if the game was 10¢/25¢.

Increasing max to $30 would be giving 120BB.

But that’s just nit picking stuff. Your chip breakdown looks good.

 

[pkr_newbee]

My only thought would be to be potentially increase the max buy to $30

With blinds at 25¢/25¢, max $25, you are technically giving 100BB which is good. But since the SB and BB are the same, conceptually the game will play slightly bigger than if the game was 10¢/25¢.

Increasing max to $30 would be giving 120BB.

But that’s just nit picking stuff. Your chip breakdown looks good.

Thanks and I'm sure I can squeeze an extra $5 from my group. Glad to hear the chip breakdown looks good

 

[Kam]

Welcome!

I think the Nexgens are really good value for what you get. The newer ‘remix’ version are brighter than my older ‘pro’ version.

Share pics when you get ‘em.

I’d also recommend some plastic playing cards and a table topper to have a solid setup.

GL

 

[pkr_newbee]

As far as starting stacks go, I'd probably just give the first 5 people a full barrel of quarters and dollars. Then probably 25 dollars for everybody else. I would do rebuys in all 5s.

I had actually modeled this out (prior to seeing the chip calculator on the site), and wasn't sure if 20 qtrs. would be too much. i'll this option out and see how it goes. thanks for the suggestion

 

[PseudoPsanity]

I had actually modeled this out (prior to seeing the chip calculator on the site), and wasn't sure if 20 qtrs. would be too much. i'll this option out and see how it goes. thanks for the suggestion

It might be. I've never played 0.25/0.25. It also varies from group to group. You really just have to try it and see what works.

 

[pkr_newbee]

For .25/.25 and even .25/.50c, you have enough chips. Go with 12/22 for the first 8 buy-ins, use the remaining 4/24 for the 9th buy-in/rebuy, and use $5s for the rest. 100 quarters is plenty, moar chips are better according to everyone here, but you only need them if you move up to .25/.50.

Great, so I'll stick with 3 denoms. .25/1/5. I like this chip distribution as well because it allows me to bring in more than my anticipated 6 players. I must admit, i'm good with math, but tend to overanalyze my options . Appreciate your perspective!

 

[Labrat]

The fractionals question breaks down to this, IMO:

If you don't mind having people constantly making change from the pot or each other, 12 each is a good amount. Upside is you don't have to teach your players how to count all those fracs during cashout.

If it drives you crazy and slows your game down when people are constantly making change from each other or the pot, then a barrel each is a good amount. Downside is teaching your players how to count all those fracs during cashout.

Personally, I like the barrel of .25s/barrel of 1s starting stacks for a $25 base buy-in and then using $5s to take it up to a max buy-in, which would be $50 in the case of my .25/.25 game. Easiest way to dole out stacks, if you ask me.

Also loosens our game up a bit.

 

[Mushmanchuman]

Yup I am a more fracs type of guy. Maybe go with 160 fracs: that way everyone gets a barrel and there is plenty on the table.

Preferably they don’t get used much. Besides the guy that counts out $2 in 8 quarters. Most of the time you’ll raise with $1 chips.

 

[JP1984]

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

The answers you seek are here...

 

[kidpurple]

My cash game has been very similar to what you've described. I host tournaments more often, but just very recently bought a bunch of the same Nexgen Remix chips for a cash game. I went a little overboard with my purchase and would certainly do it differently if I were ordering today. I thought I might pull the labels off the yellows and use them for nickels, but haven't done that yet. 25¢/25¢ seems to be small enough for even some of the beginners I play with.

If I had to go for only 500 chips, I'd probably do exactly what you listed and start with 12 or 16 quarters per player. If you were getting closer to 10 players, then there are a lot of chip cases built for 600 chips. In that case I do also like to start each player with a full barrel of quarters and a full barrel of ones so I'd add another 100 quarters to your set. I prefer more counting at the end than change making during the game.