Starting Out: Goals and how I plan to get there (20 Viewers)

[TheUnseen]

Instead of going nuts on a bunch of different sets I thought it might be best for me to flesh out what I intend to accomplish starting out. I have quite a few ideas and have been bouncing all over the site. The more I learn the more I'm realizing that 'you don't know what you don't know.' I'm a big believer in finding out information yourself. When you research and go looking for an answer to a question you learn so much along the way. However this often leads to some blind spots or misunderstandings.

So here is a list of things I'm looking to accomplish, how I plan on going about it. What's important to me, what's secondary. There's a lot of smart people on here and it feels like it would be foolish not to have some peer review.



Goal 1 - Cash game chip set


Most important goal for me. I have a clear idea of what I want but a not so clear clear way of getting there. I love the feel of casino chips . I've been playing poker for a long time and for me there's a big difference between Paulsons and... well everything else I've tried really.

I'm looking for my 'forever set'. ~1600 chips. I feel good about the breakdowns I have in mind. For me it comes down to balancing out getting something I love without going overboard.

I'm also looking at doing custom labels for each chip. I have a particular color scheme that I want for each denom and also want to feel loke this set is 'my set'. Added security is also nice but doesn't feel like it would be a big issue (until it unfortunately does for some).

I'm looking to spend ~$1 per chip, although I can definitely be talked up a bit. I know this excludes a lot of really great higher end chips but it is what it is. I'd love to go to CPC for my dream set but just can't afford the $5 per chip. So I've ordered lots of samples. Started with Apache and have contacted a few vendors here for samples.

What I like is the traditional casino chip feel. I'm from the north east US. Learned poker at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods and I love the feel of the Mohegan chips.

What I don't like are the feeling of chips from casinos like the Borgata. They look beautiful but to me feel plastic-y, stick together while handling and just don't feel pleasant to shuffle and handle.

I'm looking for advice for sample sets that would be within my price range that would feel somewhat close to a Paulson. Big ask, I know, but I'm looking to get what I can with the budget I have.

In terms of my taste for appearance I really like the Sands set that vendor justincarothers had posted (attached). I also love the colors of the Royal Princess Casino chips but those are far outside my price range.

The labels are going to be another big project. I have a company building me a table with a custom felt that they will be designing. I'm going to reach out and see if they can pull something from the felt design that would work for the chip label. This would give a cohesive and custom feel as I can add the denoms to the artwork. I'm looking at options for labels. I've read there's a user named Gear that does very good work. I'm unsure at this time if it would make sense at this price range. I'm more than willing to do things myself. Looking for advice on balancing where to put my money in terms of chip cost and label cost.

My chip breakdown will be something like this:

.25 - 300
.50 - 200
1 - 400
5 - 400
25 - 200
100- 100
500- 50

Total - 1650

I'm expecting to run mostly .25/.50 and .50/1 . I know I could get away with fewer chips but would like the option of having 2 tables going in the future. I also know that both .25 and .50 chips are kind of redundant but if I'm getting a set I'd like the option of having the .50s.

Sane logic with the higher denoms. I don't expect to be playing 2/5 or 5/10 at home but for a small investment I'd like that option open in the future.

I was also a bit back and forth about .05 chips but I think I'd rather do .25/.25 for the casual nights with people who don't really play poker. In my mind I'd need quite a lot of .05 chips to be functional and the few times I'd be running the game it wouldn't be worth the investment.


So, that's it for now. I'm anticipating this to take a few months to come together. I'm enjoying reading up on all the information on here and appreciate your input.

Maybe I'll see some of you in a game in the future!

I'll update as I get my samples in. Take care.

 

[BGinGA]

A solid two-table cash set to adequately cover 25c/25c up to 5/10 stakes would require:

200 x 25c
400 x $1
400 x $5
400 x $20 (or $25)
200 x $100
100 x $500
--------
1700 chips.

You might consider making the 25c chip a no-denom chip so it could be used as either a 25c (for 25c/25c or 25c/50c) or as a 50c chip (for 50c/$1). The no-denom chip could also be used as a $500 chip in higher stakes games down the road, eliminating the need for buying a dedicated $500 chip now that may never be used. This brings the total set count to 1600 chips.

I recommend the greek or web mold ceramic hybrids from @justincarothers; get samples if you haven't already. The hybrid chips have labels, so you can order your custom-design labeled chips all from a single vendor. Even the 43mm versions (highly recommended) will fall well under your budget ceiling.

 

[TheUnseen]

You might consider making the 25c chip a no-denom chip so it could be used as either a 25c (for 25c/25c or 25c/50c) or as a 50c chip (for 50c/$1).

I thought that as well but for an extra ~$100-$200 I think for me I'd prefer to have denoms on all the chips.

I have the mentality that it's a one time purchase for the set I'll be using for a long time. I'd rather spend the money and get what I want with having a bit that I don't need versus trying to be more conservative and then later on wishing that I did things differently.

Maybe I'll go a bit overboard and do something like:

300 x 25c
200 x 50c
400 x $1
400 x $5
400 x $25
200 x $100
100 x $500
--------
2,000 chips

I don't see myself in the future hosting more than 1 full table of 2/5 or 5/10 but again, it'd be nice to have the chips. I also would like having an extra rack of the .25s

I recommend the greek or web mold ceramic hybrids from @justincarothers; get samples if you haven't already. The hybrid chips have labels, so you can order your custom-design labeled chips all from a single vendor. Even the 43mm versions (highly recommended) will fall well under your budget ceiling.

Thanks! I've contacted him about a sample set of the 39 mm Web Molds. Although the oversized chips are pretty cool I think I'd prefer the standard 39s. Maybe for a tourney set in the future I'll go with the 43s.

I'm curious as to what the feel will be like for these hybrids.

Side question. Does anyone know what type of chip the Borgata uses? Trying to educate myself with references I'm familiar with.

 

[BGinGA]

Borgata uses Bud Jones v7 high-end plastics

 

[SteveEH]

Good you plan to take your time with a big long term purchase like this.

Unfortunately I don't think a Paulson relabel/CPC set is within your budget of $1/chip. As mentioned above, custom Tina hybrids from the broken arrow group buys are under budget and are the best value these days.

Personally, I would go for a more efficient breakdown and hopefully increase my budget to $3/chip for a CPC set. Also, are you being realistic with regards to two tables? You'll need a really big pool of players to fill both...

 

[TheUnseen]

Also, are you being realistic with regards to two tables? You'll need a really big pool of players to fill both...

If I'm being honest... no, not that realtic. Moreso future proofing. I could see it hapening further out. Would be more cost effective and have better consistency having one larger order vs adding on in the future.

As mentioned above, custom Tina hybrids from the broken arrow group buys are under budget and are the best value these days.

I'll check them out, thanks for the recommendation!

 

[SteveEH]

Would be more cost effective and have better consistency having one larger order vs adding on in the future.

With CPC, colors can vary a bit so yes it is best to order all together if you get OCD about that kinda thing. Check out the variation in my blue chips below. Prices go up annually too.