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Race Track Poker Tables? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Polochris
- Start date
I've always held the opinion that full felt tables are more functional, but racetrack tables look nicer. Some people prefer something that looks nicer and less functional without being very non-functional. It all depends on what's important to you.
joseywales
Straight
1 - cards are on the cloth, not the nougahayde. But, if they land on the nougahyde they’re easy to pick up.
2 - chip shuffling, all you hear is chips.
What’s not to love!
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Poker Zombie
Royal Flush
This is probably the best (non-T-Chan) octagon I've ever seen.
However, the functionality is hampered if this guy wants to silently shove his chips in in a single move.
Simply can't do it without verbalizing.
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Yeah, I'd like the padded vinyl racetrack a lot more if it were totally flush with the playing surface. A raised (or lowered) playing surface insert just loses too much functionality over a totally flush surface.
Poker Zombie
Royal Flush
I'd wager a bet that I can shove that same number of chips* on a non-racetrack table in a single shove.
*disclaimer - I don't usually have that many chips in front of me, and if I did they wouldn't be there for long.
*disclaimer - I don't usually have that many chips in front of me, and if I did they wouldn't be there for long.
This is interesting. I always favoured the racetracks as a nice solid place to stack chips and put drinks...
I never thought about it from a functionality point of view. Having a full felt table does make it easier to go "all in" or simply slide chips around...
Is this your primary reasoning? Just easier to move chips around without having to transition between surfaces?
Jambine
Full House
Old State
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I built a race track table many years ago when buying a "professional" looking poker table was at least $3000+. I made it with a race track because it was easier to put cup holders in. Had I trusted myself to put them in the rail I would have done that and made the whole surface felt like at the casino. But there were no YouTube videos to give me confidence.
That said, in all those years, after hundreds of games with dozens of different people, including some of the whiniest ball breakers that ever lived ...most of which are Casino regulars (and play on non racetrack tables)...I have NEVER not ONCE EVER received a complaint.
NO ONE ever keeps their cards on the wood. If your forearms are resting naturally on the rail your hand is over the felt. It would be uncomfortable to have your cards that close.
I find the wood makes a convenient betting line and easily stacks chip. "Chip shufflers" ...the few that there are, shuffle on the felt anyway. Numerous drink spills have hit the wood without wetting the playing surface. I also made two center inserts that allow a NASCAR like change out.
I have received numerous complaints about the table being to high and too low, using Kem cards, not using Kem cards, basically every new card I try, the denominations on my ASM/CPC being too small (despite being standard Casino colors that they are all familiar with) etc. but NEVER about the racetrack.
That said, in all those years, after hundreds of games with dozens of different people, including some of the whiniest ball breakers that ever lived ...most of which are Casino regulars (and play on non racetrack tables)...I have NEVER not ONCE EVER received a complaint.
NO ONE ever keeps their cards on the wood. If your forearms are resting naturally on the rail your hand is over the felt. It would be uncomfortable to have your cards that close.
I find the wood makes a convenient betting line and easily stacks chip. "Chip shufflers" ...the few that there are, shuffle on the felt anyway. Numerous drink spills have hit the wood without wetting the playing surface. I also made two center inserts that allow a NASCAR like change out.
I have received numerous complaints about the table being to high and too low, using Kem cards, not using Kem cards, basically every new card I try, the denominations on my ASM/CPC being too small (despite being standard Casino colors that they are all familiar with) etc. but NEVER about the racetrack.
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That's 1 reason. Another big reason is that I find it's really hard to pick up your cards if they land on the racetrack. To me, the racetrack area is where your cards and chips should be. The transition from the racetrack to the playing surface acts like a type of betting line. If they pass into the middle felted area, it should be live (like an official bet, call or raise for chips, or a fold for cards). This leaves your cards on a wood surface so it's really hard to peek at your cards. You would have to push your cards into the middle, peek at them then pull them back onto the racetrack, or dig your fingernails under the cards to peel them up.
Some people leave their cards on the felted portion of the table so that they can pick up their cards more easily, but then the middle gets more crowded. I've lost track of how many times I've been on a table with that style and players nearly muck their cards into live hands. It works ok, but to me I feel like it's not best use of the table's playing surface.
I'm all about maximization, however I've also been known for flashiness/style points. I'll sacrifice some functionality if it means it looks nicer when I think it's appropriate.
Lastly, I hope I'm not overloading, I would never put a drink on a racetrack. I would rather not have a drink because I know I'd be the clumsy one who spills my drink and the only place the liquid is going is on the playing surface.
Cards are harder to pick up and chips are harder to shuffle. Both belong on a padded, fabric surface. That’s the whole point of a card table, isn’t it?
Old State
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No one I play with shoves all their chips in. They declare "all in" and begin counting them out if needed. My crowd usually frowns on Hollywood/TV style poker schtick. Show up with a lucky chip protector and you will most likely be the inspiration for hours mediocre comedy material. Show up with sunglasses and prepared for a three hour roast.
Invite me -- or any one of a dozen or more others around here -- and that will change.
joseywales
Straight
When our folks go all in, they declare it and stack the chips. If someone shoved chips in, and they don’t remain in stacks, isn’t that a mess that slows down th game?
With my padded rail, there’s no issue with lifting cards or chips.
My guys complain about the cost of pizza, the free candy, free dessert or even the size of the free water bottles, but have NEVER complained about my table
With my padded rail, there’s no issue with lifting cards or chips.
My guys complain about the cost of pizza, the free candy, free dessert or even the size of the free water bottles, but have NEVER complained about my table
Lol I love how universal it is for poker players to complain. My friends are also so whiny. Because we have played with dice chips on the kitchen table for so many years everyone is impressed with my setup even though it is actually ghetto by PCF standards...
Anyway that is all going to change soon as I plan on implementing a Chanman table soon... My friend has a homemade table with a walnut racetrack which works pretty well. It was never really an issue and I thought it worked well for stacking chips.
In any case I do think the Chanman style of having drink holders directly in the rail is optimum strictly from a spill reduction point of view.
Anyway that is all going to change soon as I plan on implementing a Chanman table soon... My friend has a homemade table with a walnut racetrack which works pretty well. It was never really an issue and I thought it worked well for stacking chips.
In any case I do think the Chanman style of having drink holders directly in the rail is optimum strictly from a spill reduction point of view.
I've built two tables that I use while hosting my monthly poker tourney's. One is a ten person wood race track, the newer one is an oval 8 person with the cup holders in the rail (its my profile pic). The guys have said that they prefer the newer table, but that's due to it having speed cloth, 60 lb. foam in the rail and the higher grade foam under the cloth. never a comment about the racetrack vs. lack of race track. Just like chips, there's a bunch of opinions for a bunch of choices.
WedgeRock
Royal Flush
I just don't get this.
Push them back on the felt, or push down on opposite corners and squeeze in so the card bows up enough to pick up the cards. My felt isn't even flush on the one racetrack table I have and this hasn't been a problem in the 12 years I've used the table. Unless you have a 9" race track, I really don't get the "cards are hard to pick up" complaint. Like @Old State said, I've never heard one complaint from my players (although most are not complainers, there are a few whiney bitches in the bunch).
I really think its a matter of personal preference and people find reasons to justify their preference.
Of course that totally works. It is certainly a matter of preference. I don't hear too many complaints about racetrack tables, usually everyone is happy to be playing on a table that's not a regular dining table.
I do the same thing whenever I play on a racetrack table, squeeze the ends so that the middle bows up or push the cards back into the middle to lift them up.
I'm not trying to bash racetrack tables, my preference happens to be full felt and I think it's harder to pick up cards on a wood surface than a padded one.
I do the same thing whenever I play on a racetrack table, squeeze the ends so that the middle bows up or push the cards back into the middle to lift them up.
I'm not trying to bash racetrack tables, my preference happens to be full felt and I think it's harder to pick up cards on a wood surface than a padded one.
WedgeRock
Royal Flush
Its also harder to deposit thirty $20 bills than it is six $100 bills. But neither is such an inconvenience that I'd complain about it one way or the other.
I can appreciate your opinion/preference, I just don't understand the perspective some have that racetracks are so horrible that dice chips on a kitchen table with paper cards would be a better experience.
I can appreciate your opinion/preference, I just don't understand the perspective some have that racetracks are so horrible that dice chips on a kitchen table with paper cards would be a better experience.
A bit overboard on your defense, imo.
I would never choose dice chips/kitchen table over a racetrack table. I would also never choose a racetrack table over a full-surface table.
Racetrack tables have inherent problems just not found in full-surface tables. I prefer playing on a table without the problems.
I would never choose dice chips/kitchen table over a racetrack table. I would also never choose a racetrack table over a full-surface table.
Racetrack tables have inherent problems just not found in full-surface tables. I prefer playing on a table without the problems.
Poker Zombie
Royal Flush
My thoughts exactly. The only thing that makes racetracks superior over full felt is the looks. Wood isn't any easier to stack chips on - at least not when stacking chips in playable heights. It does limit where you can stack, chips falling on wood is an unpleasant sound, you can't silently shove in a full stack in one motion, and your cupholder location is almost always dictated when a racetrack is involved.
I would probably not complain about a racetrack, but if T_Chan were to sent me a free table of my choosing
... I would pick the non-racetrack table every single time. If I were to pay for it - the cheaper full felt is a no brainer.
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WedgeRock
Royal Flush
bsdunbar1
4 of a Kind
joseywales
Straight
Inherent problems? I don’t know. Maybe the style of racetrack table matters???
My cup holders are in the rail.
My racetrack is paddded, so no issue with picking up cards or chip noise on wood.
I installed the fabric cord to tie the top and track together for a clean look, but also to set the depth of the track. Chips stack neatly and plaques fit length-wise, perfectly.
No chips are spilling into play surface.
Knock the rail and a drink spills? It hits the track, instead of the fabric. 5 second cleanup and the game moves on. Full surface table: you have a mess and possibly a ruined cloth.
Crumbs from the feeding hogs? In the track. Quick vacuum post-game, all good. A full surface table: crumbs can get ground in and have to be scrubbed out.
Look, I love my table, so I’m not offended. I’ve played on full surface tables, not near the quality of mine, and preferred certain aspects of those. I’m just not sure it’s accurate to say any style table is perfect.
My cup holders are in the rail.
My racetrack is paddded, so no issue with picking up cards or chip noise on wood.
I installed the fabric cord to tie the top and track together for a clean look, but also to set the depth of the track. Chips stack neatly and plaques fit length-wise, perfectly.
No chips are spilling into play surface.
Knock the rail and a drink spills? It hits the track, instead of the fabric. 5 second cleanup and the game moves on. Full surface table: you have a mess and possibly a ruined cloth.
Crumbs from the feeding hogs? In the track. Quick vacuum post-game, all good. A full surface table: crumbs can get ground in and have to be scrubbed out.
Look, I love my table, so I’m not offended. I’ve played on full surface tables, not near the quality of mine, and preferred certain aspects of those. I’m just not sure it’s accurate to say any style table is perfect.
I don't think that you would ever hear anyone seriously make that comparison. Anyone who complains about a poker table over a kitchen table is suffering from serious first world problems.
I had someone complain to me once that my snacks were kind of crappy. I asked them what kind of snacks that serves at the games he hosts and he responded that he doesn't host because he's too lazy. It took him a second to realize what he was saying as we locked eyes for a good 5 seconds. I haven't heard any complaints since. He's probably the type of guy who would go to a poker game and tell someone their table isn't "nice enough".
Probably the same type of guy who comes to my game and complains that he can't shuffle mint TRKs better than dice chips because they are smaller, lighter, and sharper edged.
Whiny, hateful bitches
Old State
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Like I stated, had I had more confidence in myself (back in 2003 with out dozens of instructional videos) I would have made a table that looked like the casino tables I played on with no racetrack and cup holders in the rail.
That said one nice and unexpected benefit of the racetrack is added spill protection that I have unfortunately experienced. Also the ability to switch out the center piece. (I may get a blackjack print). I'm starting to think there must be some super wide racetracks out there as I just don't get the issue.
If I was to get a new table it would probably be without a race track and cup holders in the rail.....but only for cosmetic reasons - it would be more Casino looking.
That said one nice and unexpected benefit of the racetrack is added spill protection that I have unfortunately experienced. Also the ability to switch out the center piece. (I may get a blackjack print). I'm starting to think there must be some super wide racetracks out there as I just don't get the issue.
If I was to get a new table it would probably be without a race track and cup holders in the rail.....but only for cosmetic reasons - it would be more Casino looking.
Thank you for noticing.
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