Help a n00b out (1 Viewer)

[podunkeric]

Looking for my 1st poker table. Trying to get the guy down to $400. Anyone have experience or thoughts on the BBO Ultimate 10 seater? Not a huge fan of the felt graphics but figured I could change that easily if the table works out.
Thanks!

 

[CraigT78]

I’m not a fan of the wood racetrack. It’s too hard to pick cards off of and chips don’t slide to the center on one of those. Pulse you can build your own for $400 if you’ve got the tools and are handy. Otherwise there is another option to have a brand new budget table from @T_Chan for not a whole lot more than your current budget.

 

[v1pe]

I personally hate playing with a wooden racetrack. Have you looked at T Chan basic tables? His 8 man table is about $500 USD and is an awesome value. Shipping is a bit spendy from CAN...but if you have access to a commercial address it can be a brought down a bit.

 

[podunkeric]

I’m not a fan of the wood racetrack. It’s too hard to pick cards off of and chips don’t slide to the center on one of those. Pulse you can build your own for $400 if you’ve got the tools and are handy. Otherwise there is another option to have a brand new budget table from @T_Chan for not a whole lot more than your current budget.

Is that a Tchan basic in your room? I have to say I do like the rail to rail felt vs racetrack. And the tuckunder cupholders are super functional and deep.

 

[justsomedude]

I have wooden racetracks and don't mind them... but I think those cup holders IN the racetrack would absolutely drive me bonkers. Cup holders in rail, or no cup holders at all, is my policy.

 

[CraigT78]

Is that a Tchan basic in your room? I have to say I do like the rail to rail felt vs racetrack. And the tuckunder cupholders are super functional and deep.

It's not - it's a @T_Chan felt - but I built the tables myself for way more than it would have cost me to just order them from him I had to buy all the tools.

Unlike @justsomedude policy - I wanted cupholders to slide under, so people can choose where to put them, or not use any at all. If you put them in the rails, you are basically making people sit in front of them, and as I have a standard sized table for 8, but routinely seat 10 it would have been wonky as to where I put them. I do agree with his comment on the holders in the racetrack - it would tilt me pulling chips out of them all night. The wooden racetrack is going to be a per person feeling - either people love them or hate them. I love how they look, hate how they play.

 

[justsomedude]

I do agree with his comment on the holders in the racetrack - it would tilt me pulling chips out of them all night.

+1000000000000

 

[podunkeric]

LOL Ok. Makes total sense. Does Tony pay you guys a commission? He has quite the enthusiastic sales force here in the forum...we should talk him into a distribution center here in the states...

 

[CraigT78]

LOL Ok. Makes total sense. Does Tony pay you guys a commission? He has quite the enthusiastic sales force here in the forum...we should talk him into a distribution center here in the states...

He does not. His work is just that good. You will not be disappointed if you choose a table, or even just a felt from him.

 

[upNdown]

Don’t buy a table with a wooden racetrack unless you’re 100% sure that’s a feature you want. They look great, but you’re definitely making a form over function tradeoff.

 

[William White]

BBO makes great tables. But yeah, the wood racetrack is super annoying and makes no sense on a poker table imo. I have the BOO Aces Pro (has NO racetrack) and I absolutely love it. Got it for a steal on Amazon for $500. They're back up to "normal" price now though at $800.

If you don't mind the racetrack, I think you're getting sweet deal at the $400 price point on that table. It'll nice, sturdy, and solid.

 

[BGinGA]

It's bad enough when a table has a noisy wooden racetrack as a design 'feature'. Add in an elevated playing surface (or worse, one that is sunken) and you're venturing into nearly unplayable territory (or unpleasant at the very least). Throw in some major junk catchers (chips, cards, foodstuffs, dirt/lint) with fixed-spacing in that wood racetrack, and you hit the crappy table trifecta, no matter who built it.

I'd pass if he was offering me $200 to take it off his hands. Seriously. Would take more than that to fix it.

 

[Perthmike]

It's bad enough when a table has a noisy wooden racetrack as a design 'feature'. Add in an elevated playing surface (or worse, one that is sunken) and you're venturing into nearly unplayable territory (or unpleasant at the very least). Throw in some major junk catchers (chips, cards, foodstuffs, dirt/lint) with fixed-spacing in that wood racetrack, and you hit the crappy table trifecta, no matter who built it.

I'd pass if he was offering me $200 to take it off his hands. Seriously. Would take more than that to fix it.

Hahahaah I don’t think you could have verbally ruined that table any more if you tried. Love it.

@podunkeric I’m about to get my first ever table and thought about going down the cheaper option, but I’ve since been convinced not to because so many on here love their t chan tables.

I’m going to go for a t chan felt and build my own because It’s too expensive to ship to Aus. I’d buy the full table for sure if I was in the US.

 

[Lemonzest]

for a first good table Tchan basic is fantastic. I went with it and I love it.

 

[davin]

I absolutely hate wood race track or any racetrack

 

[allforcharity]

I have two Chanman tables. The ability to customize and Tony's solid workmanship are the reasons why.

 

[CHP TD]

It's not - it's a @T_Chan felt - but I built the tables myself for way more than it would have cost me to just order them from him I had to buy all the tools.

Unlike @justsomedude policy - I wanted cupholders to slide under, so people can choose where to put them, or not use any at all. If you put them in the rails, you are basically making people sit in front of them, and as I have a standard sized table for 8, but routinely seat 10 it would have been wonky as to where I put them. I do agree with his comment on the holders in the racetrack - it would tilt me pulling chips out of them all night. The wooden racetrack is going to be a per person feeling - either people love them or hate them. I love how they look, hate how they play.

How funny is that. We could argue this all night. But it would be like a priest and an atheist trying to get the other to change.

another fave of mine is rhc chips versus the other ones. I love that people hate em. More for me LOL.

I LOVE race tracks. I dont get why you would ever put cards on them???? Cards are always on the felt. Chips are for the race track. Period.

Slide under cup holders i suppose would work if you didn't have a race track but they would do my head in. Worse still would be putting then in the rail. how can you use a rail with cup holders in them? I just dot get that deal. But some people like it that way.

Soooo Whats the take away form this?

there is not a right answer. there are just opinions. Everyone has one.

Get what YOU love then love it to death!

for me RHC chips on a 96 inch race track table with really big cup holders in the race track. Mmmmmm Heaven on a stick.

Ok everyone - ill just get the cross up cause i cant nail the last nail in myself.

 

[upNdown]

How funny is that. We could argue this all night. But it would be like a priest and an atheist trying to get the other to change.

another fave of mine is rhc chips versus the other ones. I love that people hate em. More for me LOL.

I LOVE race tracks. I dont get why you would ever put cards on them???? Cards are always on the felt. Chips are for the race track. Period.

Slide under cup holders i suppose would work if you didn't have a race track but they would do my head in. Worse still would be putting then in the rail. how can you use a rail with cup holders in them? I just dot get that deal. But some people like it that way.

Soooo Whats the take away form this?

there is not a right answer. there are just opinions. Everyone has one.

Get what YOU love then love it to death!

for me RHC chips on a 96 inch race track table with really big cup holders in the race track. Mmmmmm Heaven on a stick.

Ok everyone - ill just get the cross up cause i cant nail the last nail in myself.

I won’t try to convert you, but would you at least agree with @BGinGA point above, that the raised playing surface is less than ideal?

 

[BGinGA]

Chips don't belong on the racetrack; they belong on the felt too.

My chips cost more than cards, and are more easily damaged when used on or around any hard surface, including wood and metal cupholders.

May as well just play on the kitchen table and take your chances.

 

[longflop]

How funny is that. We could argue this all night. But it would be like a priest and an atheist trying to get the other to change.

another fave of mine is rhc chips versus the other ones. I love that people hate em. More for me LOL.

I LOVE race tracks. I dont get why you would ever put cards on them???? Cards are always on the felt. Chips are for the race track. Period.

Slide under cup holders i suppose would work if you didn't have a race track but they would do my head in. Worse still would be putting then in the rail. how can you use a rail with cup holders in them? I just dot get that deal. But some people like it that way.

Soooo Whats the take away form this?

there is not a right answer. there are just opinions. Everyone has one.

Get what YOU love then love it to death!

for me RHC chips on a 96 inch race track table with really big cup holders in the race track. Mmmmmm Heaven on a stick.

Ok everyone - ill just get the cross up cause i cant nail the last nail in myself.

That's how I do it. Chips on the wood, cards on the felt, right in front of me with a chip on them. @BGinGA has a point, but I play my tourneys with my poker knights set, so nothing is getting damaged there.

I built one with edge to edge felt with cup holders in the rail and one wooden race track with cupholders in the wood. I love them both. The wooden racetrack has a bit more sentimental value to me because it was my first table and I built it with my dad. My next project is a 60" round or octagon with no cupholders, so I can tell which is best. I have a feeling the answer will be all of them.

its total personal preference, there are no wrong answers. The only thing I would advocate is that if you are handy at all, you should build the table. It is highly unlikely you will produce the quality of a @T_Chan table, but its good to get your hands dirty, and its just fun to build things!

 

[DoubleEagle]

Add me to the no racetrack contingent. I built one for myself about 10 years ago. Played on it one time. Hated it! The next day I converted it to a full felt table. The oak racetrack insert sat around my shop for several years and I eventually cut it up an threw it away.

 

[DoubleEagle]

The only thing I would advocate is that if you are handy at all, you should build the table. It is highly unlikely you will produce the quality of a @T_Chan table, but its good to get your hands dirty, and its just fun to build things!

We all start somewhere. I remember @T_Chan 's first table he built on Scott Keen many years ago. It will give you a great sense of pride when you are finished. Go for it!

 

[ChipEnvy]

Someone had a super skinny (like 39mm width) racetrack that I thought looked great and avoided all the playing issues mentioned above. Sorry too lazy to find the pic.

 

[rowlin]

Someone had a super skinny (like 39mm width) racetrack that I thought looked great and avoided all the playing issues mentioned above. Sorry too lazy to find the pic.

Not sure if this is the one you meant, but Irish posted some shots of a really nice narrow racetrack setup here: link to thread

 

[ChipEnvy]

Not sure if this is the one you meant, but Irish posted some shots of a really nice narrow racetrack setup here: link to thread

Yup... That's the one! Actually everything in post #35 is pretty ideal to me.

 

[CHP TD]

I won’t try to convert you, but would you at least agree with @BGinGA point above, that the raised playing surface is less than ideal?

Totally.agree with that. raised playing surface is just awful!