The Beginners Guide To Mapping Out A Cash Game Chip Set - 5c/10c to $5/$10 (9 Viewers)

[Phoe9x]

Update:

Well, it looks like the wait will be around 5 months to make after I pull the trigger on the CPC set...I think I may go down in amounts too...enough to cover just one table.

So....I'm going to need a decent alternate set of chips in the meantime.

Would you suggest getting just a mixed set of Paulson's from say Apache...i could make one with Jumper/Jummer? and whichever they have or get the Apache CC Pharoahs kind or another suggestion???

Want to get as close to a real clay type chip feel without spending an arm and a leg as I'm getting a CPC set by end of year anyway.

Thank you for any and all suggestions!

Just curious, have you already purchased the CPCs? Their model is basically rotating the molds so it would be 5 months from now, but in a month it’ll be 4 months (unless you miss the mold cutoff)

Anyways, you could always do a catch and release of a Paulson clay set. Buy a closed casino set (jumers, majestic star, etc) and sell them once you get your CPC set for little to no loss. There should be plenty of majestic stars out there for $25/rack, they won’t be pretty but they’ll get the job done.

China clays don’t really compare to the real thing at all sadly.

 

[davesilver88]

Last month I hosted a 1/2, 300 max NLH cash game. Starting stacks were 40 chips total:

Barrel 1:

$5 - 20

Barrel 2:

$1 - 10
$5 - 3
$25 - 7

This made it easy for me to give two barrels to start.

Tonight I have a game, same stakes. Thinking about going a different route-

$1 - 10
$5 - 15
$25 - 7

I know there isn’t any right or wrong, and we’ve talked about it endlessly. But being that it’s endless, let’s keep sharing opinions.

 

[AKomic]

I went with a quick semi-custom option which should arrive in about 3 weeks.

I know you can get away with 500-600 chips but to feel comfy and for those players that like to puff up their chest with the lower denom big stack...I have plenty.

$5 - 500
$25 - 400
$100 - 300
$500 - 200
*(these won't be in play unless the game gets big!)
$1000 - 80
$5000 - 20

I will post elsewhere when I get the chips in from BR Pro...it's my 1st set and will feel truly part of the community.

 

[Phoe9x]

Last month I hosted a 1/2, 300 max NLH cash game. Starting stacks were 40 chips total:

Barrel 1:

$5 - 20

Barrel 2:

$1 - 10
$5 - 3
$25 - 7

This made it easy for me to give two barrels to start.

Tonight I have a game, same stakes. Thinking about going a different route-

$1 - 10
$5 - 15
$25 - 7

I know there isn’t any right or wrong, and we’ve talked about it endlessly. But being that it’s endless, let’s keep sharing opinions.

What’s your set size?

I have a 120/200/260/100/40 (25c/1/5/25/100) set for my 25c/25c game. I get ~7-9 players per game. I portion out my starting stacks to get rid of my low denoms ASAP.

12/21/0+ (depending on buy in) = $25+

That way at 10 buy ins, all quarters and dollars are on the table, and any subsequent buy ins are done with $5s

 

[davesilver88]

What’s your set size?

I have a 120/200/260/100/40 (25c/1/5/25/100) set for my 25c/25c game. I get ~7-9 players per game. I portion out my starting stacks to get rid of my low denoms ASAP.

12/21/0+ (depending on buy in) = $25+

That way at 10 buy ins, all quarters and dollars are on the table, and any subsequent buy ins are done with $5s

I have 1,100 Tina card mold chips:

25¢ - 200
$1 - 200
$5 - 300
$25 - 120
$100 - 120
$500 - 50
$1k - 80
$5k 30

From my experience of hosting 50¢/$1, at first it’s fun to give 40+ chips as starting stacks. But over time I think it becomes really annoying to count out all those low denom chips at the end.

 

[Phoe9x]

I have 1,100 Tina card mold chips:

25¢ - 200
$1 - 200
$5 - 300
$25 - 120
$100 - 120
$500 - 50
$1k - 80
$5k 30

From my experience of hosting 50¢/$1, at first it’s fun to give 40+ chips as starting stacks. But over time I think it becomes really annoying to count out all those low denom chips at the end.

With your set for 1/2, I’d personally do 20/26/6 for a $300 stack. Just so you can race off your $1s and $5s and do your rebuys in $25s.

I think that’s why people suggest a max of 1 rack of fracs, since it’s more efficient to use workhorse chips. But also if you can count by 5s and 20s then cashing out shouldn’t really be an issue since you can easily match the heights of the stacks to know how many chips are in a pile.

 

[davesilver88]

With your set for 1/2, I’d personally do 20/26/6 for a $300 stack. Just so you can race off your $1s and $5s and do your rebuys in $25s.

I think that’s why people suggest a max of 1 rack of fracs, since it’s more efficient to use workhorse chips. But also if you can count by 5s and 20s then cashing out shouldn’t really be an issue since you can easily match the heights of the stacks to know how many chips are in a pile.

Yea I’ve thought about getting all of the 1’s in play. But I’m actually gonna cap it to only 100.

Just personal preference, and perhaps it’s also how my game plays. With a half barrel of 1’s, you get 5 BB. That’s plenty for my game. Making change doesn’t slow up the game as much as counting all ins when people have many 1’s.

But again, no right or wrong. It’s fun to keep talking about it. I used to be on the side of moar is best. Now I’m kind of in between and heading in the opposite direction. Funny how that happens.

 

[Machine]

Yea I’ve thought about getting all of the 1’s in play. But I’m actually gonna cap it to only 100.

I am all about efficiency, my .5/.5 PLO game plays big for 50c.

I have found what I think is the perfect balance using .25 chips and 1s

I use 60 .25 fracs, and 180 1s, 3 to 400 5s and a barrel or 2 of 20s, and a few 100s

I then switched to non denom fracs and use them as .50, I could get by with 45 but I put up to 60 in play, unless I have PCFers in the game, then I just let them buy as many as they want. I did buy a full rack of fracs this last order instead of 60, because of resale, its easier to have a rack than 60. Also as they are non denom, if I'm playing a larger game I can put them in as 25s and skip using the 20s depending on the crowd.

 

[JustinInMN]

I went with a quick semi-custom option which should arrive in about 3 weeks.

I know you can get away with 500-600 chips but to feel comfy and for those players that like to puff up their chest with the lower denom big stack...I have plenty.

$5 - 500
$25 - 400
$100 - 300
$500 - 200
*(these won't be in play unless the game gets big!)
$1000 - 80
$5000 - 20

I will post elsewhere when I get the chips in from BR Pro...it's my 1st set and will feel truly part of the community.

This was a good choice, and if you are talking 2-tables, really 1000 chips should be the true minimum. This breakdown of 1500 should be pretty good for the game as you described it. I will look forward to the pictures.

 

[JustinInMN]

I have 1,100 Tina card mold chips:

25¢ - 200
$1 - 200
$5 - 300
$25 - 120
$100 - 120
$500 - 50
$1k - 80
$5k 30

From my experience of hosting 50¢/$1, at first it’s fun to give 40+ chips as starting stacks. But over time I think it becomes really annoying to count out all those low denom chips at the end.

Does seem a little light on fives . But it does help to know the whole set.

Yea I’ve thought about getting all of the 1’s in play. But I’m actually gonna cap it to only 100.

Just personal preference, and perhaps it’s also how my game plays. With a half barrel of 1’s, you get 5 BB. That’s plenty for my game. Making change doesn’t slow up the game as much as counting all ins when people have many 1’s.

But again, no right or wrong. It’s fun to keep talking about it. I used to be on the side of moar is best. Now I’m kind of in between and heading in the opposite direction. Funny how that happens.

Yeah, I would agree, I would probably stick to 100 singles, maybe 150 at the most. I use 150 when I host 50¢ - 1 blinds.

I would do something like 10 stacks of 10/28/6 of denoms 1/5/25. 44 chips. You can arrange 10/28/2 in two barrels to make $200 and just add on the greens as needed. This would use all the singles and then the 11th stack would be 0/20/8, which then exhausts your fives.

You would still have $1300 left over in 25s (4+ $300 buy-ins) and then $12K in 100s for any additional buy-ins.

 

[JustinInMN]

I am all about efficiency, my .5/.5 PLO game plays big for 50c.

I have found what I think is the perfect balance using .25 chips and 1s

I use 60 .25 fracs, and 180 1s, 3 to 400 5s and a barrel or 2 of 20s, and a few 100s

I then switched to non denom fracs and use them as .50, I could get by with 45 but I put up to 60 in play, unless I have PCFers in the game, then I just let them buy as many as they want. I did buy a full rack of fracs this last order instead of 60, because of resale, its easier to have a rack than 60. Also as they are non denom, if I'm playing a larger game I can put them in as 25s and skip using the 20s depending on the crowd.

Yeah I like both of these breakdowns a lot, both with the quarters or the halves. I know 60 quarters may seem tight, but by the same token, you are probably only playing PLO 8-handed, so it's still roughly 7-8 per player, seems quite doable. In a 10-handed game, I would think 60 quarters would feel tight.

I also use the 50¢ frac in my hold'em and mixed games. I think 40-60 per table is the butter zone. With the availability of the single, 4-6 halves per player seems plenty. And change making with the 50¢ frac is always just a matter of swapping a half for a dollar one direction or the other.

 

[AKomic]

This was a good choice, and if you are talking 2-tables, really 1000 chips should be the true minimum. This breakdown of 1500 should be pretty good for the game as you described it. I will look forward to the pictures.

Thanks.

This thread was a great resource to guide me in the right direction!

I would say to use the guidelines but also just trust your gut if you need to adjust from the norm.

I know that my group likes to tip big with the $5's so I'm getting a rack or 2 more than I need.

My next set up is going to be even bigger!
600/500/400/200 (5,25,100,500) and 100 yet to be decided.

I can't wait to share!

 

[AKomic]

Sneak peak! (without the name)

Pics look a bit blurry, but you get the idea.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Sneak peak! (without the name)View attachment 1465586View attachment 1465587

Pics look a bit blurry, but you get the idea.

Ooooh! Love the beach edgespot, fantastic. Well done!

 

[Nex]

Be aware that the making of the chips and also placement of the inlays is done manually, so only very few of the chips will have a placement as perfect as in the design tool - most will be off very slightly. They do a great job at aligning but it's still a manual task as already said and while in the press, the chip mass often shifts a little and displaces the label even when it was placed perfectly beforehand.

 

[AKomic]

Be aware that the making of the chips and also placement of the inlays is done manually, so only very few of the chips will have a placement as perfect as in the design tool - most will be off very slightly. They do a great job at aligning but it's still a manual task as already said and while in the press, the chip mass often shifts a little and displaces the label even when it was placed perfectly beforehand.

I mean it's just like how they make the real casino chips, right?

I'm happy and expect the little imperfections that will make my set special.

Maybe I'll get an upside down one and it'll be worth a fortune in the future like that plane on the stamp.

 

[exodus]

Last month I hosted a 1/2, 300 max NLH cash game. Starting stacks were 40 chips total:

Barrel 1:

$5 - 20

Barrel 2:

$1 - 10
$5 - 3
$25 - 7

This made it easy for me to give two barrels to start.

Tonight I have a game, same stakes. Thinking about going a different route-

$1 - 10
$5 - 15
$25 - 7

I know there isn’t any right or wrong, and we’ve talked about it endlessly. But being that it’s endless, let’s keep sharing opinions.

I host a monthly $1/$2 game, $400 max with about 6 guys. I tried to lower the amount of $1 chips from 100 to 60 and I got so many complaints of needing to make change. Funny thing is most guys are raising $10-$15 so they are using the $1 chips only for blinds. Did you have a similar experience with giving 10 $1 chips to start?

 

[davesilver88]

No. My 1/2 is just developing. And based on other home games and my experience with my own 50¢/$1 game, I decided 5BB was enough.

In my 50¢/$1, $100 max I used to like giving a barrel of 25¢, barrel of $1, and five $5. The quarters were only being used for the small blind and essentially delayed the game counting out all ins and such. So that’s why I’m starting to go in the other direction.

I don’t think I’ll get any complaints of not enough $1’s, but we’ll see.

 

[Nex]

I mean it's just like how they make the real casino chips, right?

I'm happy and expect the little imperfections that will make my set special.

Maybe I'll get an upside down one and it'll be worth a fortune in the future like that plane on the stamp.

Paulsons on the other hand are made with a higher degree of automation, but to be fair, even there manual work is involved which does produce weird error chips where you can guess what the manual parts of the process are, e.g. feeding the correct clay color to this-and-that input to their machinery.

 

[AKomic]

Paulsons on the other hand are made with a higher degree of automation, but to be fair, even there manual work is involved which does produce weird error chips where you can guess what the manual parts of the process are, e.g. feeding the correct clay color to this-and-that input to their machinery.

I've seen enough of CPC's work here @ PCF that I think I'll be happy with whatever they come up with.

If anything does look crappy...it'll most likely come from my end...choosing the wrong fonts, number size, placement, etc.