Keeping Up with the (Chipper) Joneses (1 Viewer)

[btbmason]

I spent all of my time and wit on the thread title, so here’s a short version for those who don’t want to read my rambling:

How many of you are able to enjoy this hobby without running your own home game, with limited funds, or with limited exposure to poker?


Long version for those who have nothing better to do than read my rambling:

I get very over-the-top into hobbies, and this is my 4th time around the poker chip (set) collecting globe in the last 12 years. I bought a new set for my latest relocation in an effort to get a new home game off the ground. When you’re over-the-top into hobbies you want to have a good setup that is liked by all, and naturally there is some comparison to what others have and what you aspire to have.

In those 12 years I have lived in 6 different cities. I have not been successful in consistently getting a home game running. I’ve now opened the window back into this (potentially expensive) hobby at a time when there are so many other things to put money towards, especially if I’m not hosting a game or even going to other’s games.

I’m starting to wonder if there are others who are still able to enjoy this hobby while not running games or even having regular games to go to, and curious to see how they are staying connected to this hobby that has brought us all here.

I’ve tried collecting singles, piecing together racks, etc. but right now it’s hard to rationalize putting money to use in that way when the stuff just sits here. I’m back to browsing PCF pretty regularly, and there are a lot of people here with a lot better uses for their chips/etc. along with quite a few people who seemingly have significantly more expendable income. It’s hard to be relegated to only window shopping.

I’ve enjoyed hobbies a lot more in the past where money was less of an issue, but now I’ve got some young kids, a more expensive mortgage, and other things to allocate money to other than, frankly, my own interests.

What better place to express all of this than a community of mostly strangers, as I’m just now resurfacing from my last respite and have very few ties to the last time I was hanging around.

Looking forward to any responses and/or other perspectives, thanks for listening!

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Personally I wouldn't be near the hobby if I wasn't hosting my own games. Just my own niche. And to speak to some of the money being mentioned, thats why we play baby stakes; I get to host and teach for people who otherwise would never play poker.

My favorite part of the hobby is being inclusive, get a real cheap set and play for $5 or $10 but deal it like its high stakes poker, youll have people gasp when someone bets a full dollar.

There's chips Ill never own and thats fine, and you cant worry about people with lots more income, thats just life lol, that'll never change.

 

[TheJestyr]

Over the past decade I’ve:

-Played poker multiple times a week for hours and hours at a time

-quit poker

-started playing micro stakes with friends

-played poker multiple times a week for hours and hours at a time

-quit poker

I’ve also bought and sold countless sets/partial sets (almost always at a loss)

Quit chipping a couple times

Thought I could get back into poker/chipping in moderation (hahahahahahahahhaahahahaha)

Dealt with several personal situations that pulled me away from poker/chipping (and almost all other hobbies)

Had three kids

Changed careers a couple times

And honestly met some really great people (and some not so great people) in poker and on this site who have overall made my life a better experience.



I don’t play like I used to. I honestly buy too many chips and don’t use them nearly enough. But I really enjoy the community, the hunt for chips and the thrill of building a “complete” set…

But at the end of the day, if I’m being totally honest, I’ve probably gotten too involved in chips and poker, and my life would have been “better” if I could have kept it in moderation…but that’s never been me, and hopefully I can get back to hosting and playing again regularly soon.

*one last note, sorry for the long post: I find that when I’m NOT playing regularly, I build sets and dream up outlandish situations where I need way more than needed (like what the heck do I need a 100 person tournament set for?!?)…when I’m playing regularly, I have a pretty clear understanding of how much I realistically need.

Ok. Done rambling. Thanks for posting this. Sometimes it’s nice to commiserate

 

[Fishman]

I know what you mean.

If it makes you feel any better, I buy fishing and hunting equipment like crazy... but never have time for either. Maybe 1 time a year.

Life gets in the way of things we enjoy. Priorities and responsibilities are more important, but doesn't mean we can't enjoy blowing our hard earned cash on things that never get used.

 

[BarrieJ3]

I just like social things. So I like to host. And I want to host with really cool stuff. So I bought lots of chips.

Over the first couple of years I bought lots of chips. They weren't all the nicest. Anything from .10 a chip CCs from the ABC blowout sale to nicer Paulson's. I've easily bought and sold literally hundreds of thousands of poker chips in that 3ish year period.

I often said well I prob don't need more than 25k chips. Then it was 10k chips. Then, when the realization finally hit that it doesn't matter what I buy, I'm simply never going to be able to host, I said screw it I only really need forever, meaningful to me chips.

I could write down tons of things that I think *others* do to help stay engaged, but here was my way of doing something within this hobby without dropping $100k on chips or going beyond my means:

• I found my niche. Everyone has one. Some people are dumb and do rat rod sets. Some people build a one of a kind rack/set (and are universally cheered). Some collect DBs. Some collect custom samples (I do this).
• I hosted a meetup. I love to host. I'm just not in a place where I can do that atm. So instead, I host a meetup! I've hosted a meetup back to back to back years now, and actually decided to sell poker chips to fund it. Funnily enough, I don't host so I figure I don't need chips. Yet hosting a meetup is enough to convince me to purchase 100+ chairs, 5+ tables, etc.
• Find a friend. I'm just a social dude, so I dig owning shared sets with folks, collecting custom samples from their owners, quick trips to vegas with friends, sending people sets they'll enjoy, etc. The downside of this is that this truly is a marketplace first and foremost, so if this is you you'll likely get demolished $ wise. But once you're out of chips it doesn't really matter anymore, and you can just enjoy the leftovers of the social aspect.

So yeah, I mean plenty of ways to find your way around outside of worrying about the "best" or $. Today I own a total of two poker sets, Adolofos and Paris, both forever sets that I'll always own. Until I regularly host, I don't want more in my house. A great way to stay engaged if you want to keep keeping on? Buy a set, send it to a friend. Or buy a set with a friend. Still all the fun, less worry about $, and not worried about how many chips you have vs another.

 

[Highli99]

Find and meet ither collectors in your area and “join the circuit” That will help you start your own game and you’ll get to play with lots of different chips. I've made a ton of friends here.

 

[ThrowBack]

Bro, I built a brybelly cash set that covers $7500 ( I am ordering 5x$500 plaques to round it out) and I have a huge set of the cheapest plastic chips to cover T10,000 for three tables (30 people). I did theses because they were cheap but I still got to build a set. I got to pick a color for my fracs, decide on a $20 chip vs 25, printed the stickers, chose all my tournament colors. I did it with the cheapest chips they make really, because I like the hobby.

 

[EastCoastCali]

This definitely hits home. I stopped chipping like 10 or whatever years ago cause nobody cared at all and people were wishy washy at best with caring enough to hangout/play. I’m lucky at the moment in the neighborhood the dads want to play here and there. BUT, at the same token it’s rare we can all gather (maybe once a month) and sometimes people decide they’d rather play ruit or some shit instead midway thru cards when I’m in full blown poker mode. Furthermore, at most I get “oh cool” when they see a new chip. And the one person, a friend an hour away who loves poker and chips to a degree, I’ve basically annoyed cause I was texting him so much in my excitement when I first and finally found a community that gave me some relief and a ton of like minded people with some awesome resources and sets. Quite frankly money is tight and thankfully I’m ok with and even enjoy many cheap sets because people I play with don’t know any better and I still enjoy the variety I can afford, so volume is my excitement at the moment while I focus on a single nicer cash set on the side. Sorry for the rant, but I very much feel this, and wish there were other PCF members close by that I could relate and play with more. If I have one take away, it’s that this forum has been a huge relief and focus since I dove in. I very much appreciate all of the awesome people who have made my time here a very notable and social change in my hobby/hobbies.

 

[btbmason]

Already lots of great responses, and thank you everyone for sharing your stories too.

I can relate to a lot of what is being said so far, especially like 90% of @TheJestyr right down to the 3 kids and career changes

I’ve been everywhere on the map in poker, from playing for sports card antes with my friends in 5 card draw, to play money on online sites, to playing for all the money I owned in back rooms in pool halls and bowling alleys, all the way up to the weekly 10/25 PLO game at Horseshoe Cleveland. What it comes down to now is just time and money.

It’s hard to find the time to play, and it’s hard to stay on top of my game without practice. I think the chips kind of keep me connected to it, and give me a reason to say, “Maybe I’ll be able to get a game going” or “Maybe now I can play more”.

I almost bought a 2,000 chip limit set yesterday. I haven’t had more than 4 people over for a game in probably 5 years. I’m down to 2 (reasonable-ish) sets that both have sentimental value to me, but all I ever think about is how I can improve or expand them, and I don’t even use what I have.

I’m actually just rambling now and it’s not exactly going anywhere, I’m just stuck in a weird place where I want to devote time and money to this thing but I feel like the timing isn’t right. I also don’t want to give it up, so I’m floating in between those two extremes.

I enjoy poker and poker chips, and being a part of this community. I’ve been to a couple meetups and other games, and everyone I’ve met has been great. I just feel like I’m struggling to connect myself back to it the way I was before.

 

[TheJestyr]

God I feel this so so much…amazing how life changes…

 

[churlbut18]

I have a slightly different point of view. I love poker. But with busy schedules I don’t play much (3-4 times per year). So I’ve used this hobby over the years as a way to stay connected to poker in the absence of playing; building a set, collecting some singles, etc…. And on the few occasions I do host, I now have what I need to make it a good experience with a few nice sets.

 

[Ben8257]

Ohh man! Time for a good ole fashioned Ben book! Yee Be Warned!!!

I haven't hosted a poker game in 3ish years and own 44 sets of poker chips! BUT I play in 2 leagues monthly that I bring ALL of the chips for cash and tourney... also bring guest sets to others games.

I like many others here have an unhealthy obsession with collecting but as it has always been said. With chips it's different! Cards, toys, guns (ok yeah you can shoot them) but chipping just for whatever reason has pulled me in and never let go! Always down to host a game... but I am kinda in the outskirts here in Maryland when several other hosts are in more central locations.

I absolutely love my Cali Jokers Wild chips for example

No I haven't done the math on my investment... ranging from $4 - $50 per chip... it doesn't matter what they cost or what they are worth because I am not selling!

Got these chips in play in VA @Seeking Alpha Social Club meet up 3 years ago

And haven't been in play since until Tuesday evening this week when my buddy Nate @ConsensualPresidency decided to throw together a last minute game. @quintooo asked to play them... so after a long break, on the felt they went again!

Doesn't really matter to me how often they see felt time! I love em and will continue to build the set!

I have close to $25k invested in this one and played it 3 times in one month (anyone that asks, I will bring any set asked for)

First time in that triple session was @longflop end of season game

And some would probably say "dude, those are dead mint chips, you're going to destroy the value!" Again I don't care... I bought them to play them! Not to sit of a shelf and look pretty!

But no you don't have to host a game to enjoy this hobby. You also don't have to spend $10k on a set to feel accomplished! I am just as happy getting the Super Poker World ceramics

In play as I am playing old school leaded TRKs

(BTW haven't played this set in 3 years and hitting the felt next Friday)

So you think someone that owns sets like that are too good for Tina's lower end chips? Well

Or

A ways try not to be envious of your neighbors! Be happy with what YOU have!

I have said it a thousand times, I absolutely love my original scrub donkey tournament set

Like literally $.27 a chip... just had them in play two months ago and nothing but compliments and personally knowing the history behind them... they make me laugh and probably would keep them over several leaded sets I own.

Screw "keepin up with the Joneses" be happy with what you have.

If there is anything I do suggest to younger chippers is to find something pretty rare, something you can find a chip here or there... maybe even 4 to 5 chips a year like my Artichokes

The Jokers Wild above, or my Atlantic city mixed Trump house molds

Something that keeps you on the hunt and active in the community! But feeds that hunger to buy more sets. It's ok if some of them are $50 each if you only find a couple a year. Those long term builds are what keep me going.

Playable or not, it is trully one of this hobbies most hidden treasures ans most gratifying experiences, building sets or even racks a chip at a time! Set buying can be redisculous! Plus I find when you buy a set... it's not the same ownership ad something YOU yourself put the hard work in on!

So buy a cheap/low end set that covers your game, believe me! Non chippers don't give two craps about chips! A nice table, chairs and lighting will go 100 times further with group enjoyment... than any set of chips that cost $20k because they are super rare, only you and other chippers are trully going to understand and appreciate the effort put in on those high end sets! That's the truth

You're still part of the community and we are happy to have YA!!

Fellow Chipper Ben

Also @BarrieJ3 I love your mention of "sharing" sets! If you ever see anything you would like to borrow for a game or whatever... you need only ask brotha!^

 

[BarrieJ3]

Ohh man! Time for a good ole fashioned Ben book! Yee Be Warned!!!

I haven't hosted a poker game in 3ish years and own 44 sets of poker chips! BUT I play in 2 leagues monthly that I bring ALL of the chips for cash and tourney... also bring guest sets to others games.

I like many others here have an unhealthy obsession with collecting but as it has always been said. With chips it's different! Cards, toys, guns (ok yeah you can shoot them) but chipping just for whatever reason has pulled me in and never let go! Always down to host a game... but I am kinda in the outskirts here in Maryland when several other hosts are in more central locations.

I absolutely love my Cali Jokers Wild chips for example
View attachment 1347264
No I haven't done the math on my investment... ranging from $4 - $50 per chip... it doesn't matter what they cost or what they are worth because I am not selling!

Got these chips in play in VA @Seeking Alpha Social Club meet up 3 years ago
View attachment 1347267
And haven't been in play since until Tuesday evening this week when my buddy Nate @ConsensualPresidency decided to throw together a last minute game. @quintooo asked to play them... so after a long break, on the felt they went again!
View attachment 1347271
Doesn't really matter to me how often they see felt time! I love em and will continue to build the set!

I have close to $25k invested in this one and played it 3 times in one month (anyone that asks, I will bring any set asked for)
View attachment 1347272
First time in that triple session was @longflop end of season game
View attachment 1347273
And some would probably say "dude, those are dead mint chips, you're going to destroy the value!" Again I don't care... I bought them to play them! Not to sit of a shelf and look pretty!

But no you don't have to host a game to enjoy this hobby. You also don't have to spend $10k on a set to feel accomplished! I am just as happy getting the Super Poker World ceramics
View attachment 1347275
In play as I am playing old school leaded TRKs
View attachment 1347276
(BTW haven't played this set in 3 years and hitting the felt next Friday)

So you think someone that owns sets like that are too good for Tina's lower end chips? Well
View attachment 1347277
Or
View attachment 1347278
A ways try not to be envious of your neighbors! Be happy with what YOU have!

I have said it a thousand times, I absolutely love my original scrub donkey tournament set
View attachment 1347280
Like literally $.27 a chip... just had them in play two months ago and nothing but compliments and personally knowing the history behind them... they make me laugh and probably would keep them over several leaded sets I own.

Screw "keepin up with the Joneses" be happy with what you have.

If there is anything I do suggest to younger chippers is to find something pretty rare, something you can find a chip here or there... maybe even 4 to 5 chips a year like my Artichokes
View attachment 1347283
The Jokers Wild above, or my Atlantic city mixed Trump house molds
View attachment 1347284
Something that keeps you on the hunt and active in the community! But feeds that hunger to buy more sets. It's ok if some of them are $50 each if you only find a couple a year. Those long term builds are what keep me going.

Playable or not, it is trully one of this hobbies most hidden treasures ans most gratifying experiences, building sets or even racks a chip at a time! Set buying can be redisculous! Plus I find when you buy a set... it's not the same ownership ad something YOU yourself put the hard work in on!

So buy a cheap/low end set that covers your game, believe me! Non chippers don't give two craps about chips! A nice table, chairs and lighting will go 100 times further with group enjoyment... than any set of chips that cost $20k because they are super rare, only you and other chippers are trully going to understand and appreciate the effort put in on those high end sets! That's the truth

You're still part of the community and we are happy to have YA!!

Fellow Chipper Ben

Also @BarrieJ3 I love your mention of "sharing" sets! If you ever see anything you would like to borrow for a game or whatever... you need only ask brotha!^

Once we finally move at some point, it’s an hour and a half flight.

A table outside on then porch or deck or whatever, surrounded by trees, for an early evening game with the TRKs. Sounds like a good visit and a great unwinding destressing weekend.

Scoop a Scarney pot, walk down to the river and take a puff, head back up to finish cards. Don’t know why you don’t host, that sounds pretty idyllic! I’m on the way after the move.

 

[raynmanas]

i love hosting, miss hosting, but rarely host anymore.

since ~2002 when i first got the bug from a friend of a friend's CdM set (which I tried but failed to buy at the time), i've been through (in order):

dice
TRK casbah club
TRK custom kings crown GB (inlaid)
TRK custom kings crown GB (hotstamped)
PCR v1
Majestics
Jack Detroit
so many starbursts (still have a few)
tons of sample sets (still have)
custom CPC (still have most)
minor custom CPC changes (still have)

I bought the CPCs fully intending to be done set collecting. I have no need or desire to own multiple sets, and locking myself into customs without resale value seemed like a good way to kill the buy/sell bug. i did sell off a couple color combos that werent working for me (at a loss, of course) but now that those are replaced, so far, so good!

 

[wcsmik]

Ohh man! Time for a good ole fashioned Ben book! Yee Be Warned!!!

I haven't hosted a poker game in 3ish years and own 44 sets of poker chips! BUT I play in 2 leagues monthly that I bring ALL of the chips for cash and tourney... also bring guest sets to others games.

I like many others here have an unhealthy obsession with collecting but as it has always been said. With chips it's different! Cards, toys, guns (ok yeah you can shoot them) but chipping just for whatever reason has pulled me in and never let go! Always down to host a game... but I am kinda in the outskirts here in Maryland when several other hosts are in more central locations.

I absolutely love my Cali Jokers Wild chips for example
View attachment 1347264
No I haven't done the math on my investment... ranging from $4 - $50 per chip... it doesn't matter what they cost or what they are worth because I am not selling!

Got these chips in play in VA @Seeking Alpha Social Club meet up 3 years ago
View attachment 1347267
And haven't been in play since until Tuesday evening this week when my buddy Nate @ConsensualPresidency decided to throw together a last minute game. @quintooo asked to play them... so after a long break, on the felt they went again!
View attachment 1347271
Doesn't really matter to me how often they see felt time! I love em and will continue to build the set!

I have close to $25k invested in this one and played it 3 times in one month (anyone that asks, I will bring any set asked for)
View attachment 1347272
First time in that triple session was @longflop end of season game
View attachment 1347273
And some would probably say "dude, those are dead mint chips, you're going to destroy the value!" Again I don't care... I bought them to play them! Not to sit of a shelf and look pretty!

But no you don't have to host a game to enjoy this hobby. You also don't have to spend $10k on a set to feel accomplished! I am just as happy getting the Super Poker World ceramics
View attachment 1347275
In play as I am playing old school leaded TRKs
View attachment 1347276
(BTW haven't played this set in 3 years and hitting the felt next Friday)

So you think someone that owns sets like that are too good for Tina's lower end chips? Well
View attachment 1347277
Or
View attachment 1347278
A ways try not to be envious of your neighbors! Be happy with what YOU have!

I have said it a thousand times, I absolutely love my original scrub donkey tournament set
View attachment 1347280
Like literally $.27 a chip... just had them in play two months ago and nothing but compliments and personally knowing the history behind them... they make me laugh and probably would keep them over several leaded sets I own.

Screw "keepin up with the Joneses" be happy with what you have.

If there is anything I do suggest to younger chippers is to find something pretty rare, something you can find a chip here or there... maybe even 4 to 5 chips a year like my Artichokes
View attachment 1347283
The Jokers Wild above, or my Atlantic city mixed Trump house molds
View attachment 1347284
Something that keeps you on the hunt and active in the community! But feeds that hunger to buy more sets. It's ok if some of them are $50 each if you only find a couple a year. Those long term builds are what keep me going.

Playable or not, it is trully one of this hobbies most hidden treasures ans most gratifying experiences, building sets or even racks a chip at a time! Set buying can be redisculous! Plus I find when you buy a set... it's not the same ownership ad something YOU yourself put the hard work in on!

So buy a cheap/low end set that covers your game, believe me! Non chippers don't give two craps about chips! A nice table, chairs and lighting will go 100 times further with group enjoyment... than any set of chips that cost $20k because they are super rare, only you and other chippers are trully going to understand and appreciate the effort put in on those high end sets! That's the truth

You're still part of the community and we are happy to have YA!!

Fellow Chipper Ben

Also @BarrieJ3 I love your mention of "sharing" sets! If you ever see anything you would like to borrow for a game or whatever... you need only ask brotha!^

I’m currently accepting donations

 

[TheWhat]

I'd have a hard time being involved without playing, or more specifically hosting. I love it, our friends who play love it. It's our social outing, we played when we first met, had a bit of a hiatus when the kids were small, and have now returned full speed. It's the table, the chairs, the cards, the hot dog roller ... the chips are almost a distant memory!

Although what will keep me going, is I have really taken on enjoying finding, and selling chips. Often I lose money, plenty of times I've just given chips away. I know how I feel when I crack open that package, and really like putting in some work for others.

My highlight to this point hasnt been the relabled Paulson set, or the CPC designing, but a couple years ago found and sold 1000s of solids, and have been able to harvest a couple 1000 out of a nearby casino, and it's awesome to know someone was happy to get them, and to think their group somewhere is hopefully as appreciative as our friends are to us.

I'll never have grail set money, but I don't feel we need it to be a part of this place.

 

[btbmason]

I’m not sure anyone is waiting on the edge of their seats for an update, but figured I’d at least put a little closure on this from my side for now.

I’m still failing on getting a home game off the ground here. I’ve done very well at not impulse buying more chips and cards since posting this thread, though I’ve been close a few times.

I’ve also started to declutter a bit. Selling things is hard for me, as I’m sure it is for a lot of people. Generally due to the fear of not being able to replace what I’m selling for the price I have into it/the price I sell it for.

Poker has been a low priority for a while now, and I’m standing pat at my 3 sets and TChan table, none of which ever see any use. I do want to make an effort to get on the felt a little more, but I’m resigning myself to the role of visitor/participant instead of forceable host which has not seemed to work out for me.

I do very much enjoy the community here, it’s just very tempting to fall back into old purchasing/“hoard alert” habits. I’m still hoping to participate as much as I can without causing any more harm to my bank account, and try to get out of my shell a bit more and make it to games/meetups when they’re within driving distance.

That being said, I’ll be in the Cleveland area next weekend for @TheJestyr ’s mystery box game, looking forward to seeing some fellow chippers again!

Thanks to everyone for the additional perspectives and personal stories.

 

[allforcharity]

Starting up a steady home game is hard. Kudos to those who do it regularly and keep those seats filled.