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

What would be an ideal 500 chips breakdown for both a 05c/10c and 25c/25c cash game? Our group consists of 6-8 people and most buy-in 100BB with half rebuying once or twice and sometimes 200BB. I want to have one 500 piece chipset to be able to play both. And what starting stacks do you recommend?

Thanks in advance
5c/25c/$1/$5/$25 in either 100/100/200/50/50 or 100/100/150/100/50

Should be more than enough to cover both stake
 
Not a huge fan of 500 chip sets... un even number of racks = not good for OCD people. Lol

600 chip sets are ideal especially when trying to cover multiple stakes.

For me with (8) players I would go
(80) $.05
(100) $.25
(140) $1
(140) $5
(40) $25

Allows for (38) rebuys on the $50 buy in.

Starting stacks for $.05/$.10
10/10/17 = $20 buy in

Staring stacks for $.25/$.25
12/17/6 = $50 buy in
 
Not a huge fan of 500 chip sets... un even number of racks = not good for OCD people. Lol

600 chip sets are ideal especially when trying to cover multiple stakes.

For me with (8) players I would go
(80) $.05
(100) $.25
(140) $1
(140) $5
(40) $25

Allows for (38) rebuys on the $50 buy in.

Starting stacks for $.05/$.10
10/10/17 = $20 buy in

Staring stacks for $.25/$.25
12/17/6 = $50 buy in
Thanks but I would think that that much €5 and €25 would be too much for our playstyle.

Would this also be a good breakdown you think for 8 people?

€0,05/€0,25/€1/€5/€25
100/150/150/75/25

And then for max 200BB:
0,05/0,10 = 10/18/15/0/0
0,10/0,25 = 10/14/11/7/0
0,25/0,25 = 0/16/16/6/0

Would there still be enough left for potential rebuys?

Then again, most don't buy in 200BB, most likely 100BB with some rebuys.
 
My 500 chips, which supports my regular 25¢/50¢ game and a $1/$1 game I play in sometimes, bought in rolls of 25:

25¢ x100
$1 x150
$5 x150
$25 x75
$100 x25

I have a 300-chip case, so this is what I put in it for the 25¢/50¢ game:

100/100/70/30/18 of 25¢/$1/$5/$25/$100

Total is 318 because the case has 6 rows, and each row actually holds 53 chips. Players usually buy in for $40 (80BB).

This allows for 10 stacks of 8/8/6/0 and 5 stacks of 4/4/2/1 at $40, and 12 stacks at $50 (2x$25), for a total of 27 buy-ins. (Our players don’t care about having a ton of chips in front of them, and we don’t usually exceed $1,000 in buy-ins.)

Plus the 18x$100 can be used to color up and make more $40-$50 stacks, or someone could buy in for $100 if the big stack is at least that high.


For the $1/$1 game I’ll pack the 300-chip case with 100/125/75/18 of $1/$5/$25/$100. This allows for 10 stacks for 10/8/2/0, 9 stacks of 0/5/3/0, 7 stacks of $25x4, and $100x18 for 44 buy-ins at $100.


I can also configure the chips so that the case consists of 150/100/50 of $1/$5/$25, and all 25¢ chips are in a rack and in another rack are 50/25/25 of $5/$25/$100. I’d then bring the case and one of the racks depending on whether it’s the 25¢/50¢ game or the $1/$1 game.
 
Just remember that what actually matters is having enough of each denom on the table to keep things running smoothly. If you like to rely on uniform starting stacks to achieve that goal, fine. But it’s a lot easier to just hand the first 5 guys a barrel of fracs each, and let people sort things out amongst themselves. And if some dink who happens to have a couple stacks each of fracs and ones decides to cash out early, you will probably need to color down some chips on the table, to get those back in play, to keep stuff running smoothly.
Starting stacks a good guideline to get beginners started, but they don’t need to be the same for each player in a cash game, and they really shouldn’t be.
 
@P0k3rch1p, @RadicusScout's analysis and breakdown are great. I will note that 25¢/50¢ has slightly different needs than 25¢/25¢, since that doubles the size of the BB, so you'd need a few more higher denominations to play and also raise the size of the total bank to cover any rebuys for 25¢/50¢ than your current 25¢/25¢ game.

In general, I like to have around one barrel (20 chips) of the workhorse chip for every player at the table to allow the game to play smoothly. For 5¢/10¢, the workhorse chip is your 25¢. For 25¢/25¢, it is your generally going to be your $1. So I would recommend having at least 160 25¢ and 160 $1.

For the small blinds, I like to have at least 12-16 chips person, so at least 96-144 5¢ for 8 players. You can get away with 100 chips and not have it really affect the game running smoothly.

@upNdown makes a really valid and important point. I know we all like to have tons of workhorse chips because it just makes the game run so much more smoothly (and who doesn't love more chips on the table and in front of them?), but you really only need enough of certain denominations to allow the game to run effectively. Once you start seeing a few rebuys, the game plays deeper, so you'll see larger bets, which negates the need for smaller denominations, and you will have players with stacks that can break the high-denomination chips, so rebuys don't really need the lower denominations chips (even if having them would make it easier).

@Ben8257 makes another point you need to consider, which is the number of rebuys. If you have your full crew, based on what you mentioned, you will have 8 x 100 BB to start and then maybe 5 x 400 BB in rebuys. That is a total of 2800 BB that you would need to cover any rebuys. Let's round up to 3000 BB. At 25¢/25¢, you would need a bank of at least $750. Based on this and the above, here is another breakdown to consider, which has a bank of $1,005:
  • 5¢ x 100
  • 25¢ x 160
  • $1 x 160
  • $5 x 60
  • $25 x 20
Keep in mind my recommended breakdown above does not envision the game ever playing much bigger than 25¢/25¢. If you see it going to 25¢/50¢ or higher, then you'd need fewer 25¢ and $1 chips and more $5 and $25 chips just as @RadicusScout suggests.

To your starting stacks question, it really varies, but I would go with 10/18/5 (5¢/25¢/$1) for 100BB in 5¢/10¢ and 12/17/1 (25¢/$1/$5) for 100BB in 25¢/25¢. However, what @upNdown suggests works as well, because the chips will eventually make it around the table and making change is not difficult as long as enough of the lower denoms are in play.
 
@P0k3rch1p, @RadicusScout's analysis and breakdown are great. I will note that 25¢/50¢ has slightly different needs than 25¢/25¢, since that doubles the size of the BB, so you'd need a few more higher denominations to play and also raise the size of the total bank to cover any rebuys for 25¢/50¢ than your current 25¢/25¢ game.

In general, I like to have around one barrel (20 chips) of the workhorse chip for every player at the table to allow the game to play smoothly. For 5¢/10¢, the workhorse chip is your 25¢. For 25¢/25¢, it is your generally going to be your $1. So I would recommend having at least 160 25¢ and 160 $1.

For the small blinds, I like to have at least 12-16 chips person, so at least 96-144 5¢ for 8 players. You can get away with 100 chips and not have it really affect the game running smoothly.

@upNdown makes a really valid and important point. I know we all like to have tons of workhorse chips because it just makes the game run so much more smoothly (and who doesn't love more chips on the table and in front of them?), but you really only need enough of certain denominations to allow the game to run effectively. Once you start seeing a few rebuys, the game plays deeper, so you'll see larger bets, which negates the need for smaller denominations, and you will have players with stacks that can break the high-denomination chips, so rebuys don't really need the lower denominations chips (even if having them would make it easier).

@Ben8257 makes another point you need to consider, which is the number of rebuys. If you have your full crew, based on what you mentioned, you will have 8 x 100 BB to start and then maybe 5 x 400 BB in rebuys. That is a total of 2800 BB that you would need to cover any rebuys. Let's round up to 3000 BB. At 25¢/25¢, you would need a bank of at least $750. Based on this and the above, here is another breakdown to consider, which has a bank of $1,005:
  • 5¢ x 100
  • 25¢ x 160
  • $1 x 160
  • $5 x 60
  • $25 x 20
Keep in mind my recommended breakdown above does not envision the game ever playing much bigger than 25¢/25¢. If you see it going to 25¢/50¢ or higher, then you'd need fewer 25¢ and $1 chips and more $5 and $25 chips just as @RadicusScout suggests.

To your starting stacks question, it really varies, but I would go with 10/18/5 (5¢/25¢/$1) for 100BB in 5¢/10¢ and 12/17/1 (25¢/$1/$5) for 100BB in 25¢/25¢. However, what @upNdown suggests works as well, because the chips will eventually make it around the table and making change is not difficult as long as enough of the lower denoms are in play.
Thanks for a great summary and input!

I am considering convincing the group to up the blinds and just play 0.25/0.25 so I can ditch the 0.05 chips altogether. Should run even more smoothly. I see the original thread starter mention a breakdown of a 0.10/0.25 game but not of a 0.25/0.25 game.

How many chips (breakdown of 500) in increments of 25 do you suggest If we only play 0.25/0.25 and which starting stacks?

Thanks in advance
 
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Thanks for a great summary and input!

I am considering convincing the group to up the blinds and just play 0.25/0.25 so I can ditch the 0.05 chips altogether. Should run even more smoothly. I see the original thread starter mention a breakdown of a 0.10/0.25 game but not of a 0.25/0.25 game.

How many chips (breakdown of 500) in increments of 25 do you suggest If we only play 0.25/0.25 and which starting stacks?

Thanks in advance
For 25c/25c game, Workhorse chip will be $1

25c x 100
$1 x 200
$5 x 100
$25 x 80
$100 x 20

For starting Stack for 200bb

1st 5 person 25c x 20, $1 x 20, $5 x 5
6th onward $1 x 20 , $5 x 6

Rebuy used all your $1 & $5 before releasing your $25 into game

You can also make do with $25 x 100 instead but I like the $100 x 20 in case your game grow up to 50c/$1 in the future
 
For 25c/25c game, Workhorse chip will be $1

25c x 100
$1 x 200
$5 x 100
$25 x 80
$100 x 20

For starting Stack for 200bb

1st 5 person 25c x 20, $1 x 20, $5 x 5
6th onward $1 x 20 , $5 x 6

Rebuy used all your $1 & $5 before releasing your $25 into game
Thanks! But are €100 chips really required?

I was thinking about:
150 x 25cent
200 x €1
125 x €5
25 x €25
 
Thanks! But are €100 chips really required?

I was thinking about:
150 x 25cent
200 x €1
125 x €5
25 x €25
25c is what we consider blind chip which you only be using during pre flop phrase, technically you dont need more than 3 per person every round

So 100 is more than enough, it better to invest the chips elsewhere in other denom

You can also make do with $25 x 100 instead but I like the $100 x 20 in case your game grow up to 50c/$1 in the future
 
We play microstates 10/20 kr (approximately 0.08/0.16c) with 2000kr ($16) buy-in. Usually 6 handed, usually a full rebuy for all players.
I'm thinking of building a new cash set with unconventional denominations: 10/50/200kr.
What breakdown and bankroll do you suggest?
 
We play microstates 10/20 kr (approximately 0.08/0.16c) with 2000kr ($16) buy-in. Usually 6 handed, usually a full rebuy for all players.
I'm thinking of building a new cash set with unconventional denominations: 10/50/200kr.
What breakdown and bankroll do you suggest?
You will need custom denom as I believe you are well aware

For 500 chip set
10 x 100
50 x 200
200 x 100
1k x 80 or 100
5k x 20 or 0

For 600 chip set
10 x 100
50 x 200
200 x 200
1k x 80 or 100
5k x 20 or 0
 
25c is what we consider blind chip which you only be using during pre flop phrase, technically you dont need more than 3 per person every round

So 100 is more than enough, it better to invest the chips elsewhere in other denom

You can also make do with $25 x 100 instead but I like the $100 x 20 in case your game grow up to 50c/$1 in the future
Makes sense, thanks!

I know our group usually limps. Pre flop raising doesn't happen too often. Most of them are casual players. Only 3 take it more seriously
 
25c is what we consider blind chip which you only be using during pre flop phrase, technically you dont need more than 3 per person every round

So 100 is more than enough, it better to invest the chips elsewhere in other denom

You can also make do with $25 x 100 instead but I like the $100 x 20 in case your game grow up to 50c/$1 in the future
In a small 25c/25c i think the 25c chips might be used a fair bit after the flop as well.

It all depends how the game plays. It seems that considering the players are used to playing 5/10c, the game might not play very big.

I think I like a set with a bit more small denoms for this group, just based on @P0k3rch1p posts (who has several times questioned the need for so many high denoms). A barrel each of 25c seems reasonable (although maybe not necessary).

8 players
160x 25c
200x $1
120x $5
20x $25

500 chips.
Total bank: $1340, or 53x $25 buyins which should be more than enough.
 
We play microstates 10/20 kr (approximately 0.08/0.16c) with 2000kr ($16) buy-in. Usually 6 handed, usually a full rebuy for all players.
I'm thinking of building a new cash set with unconventional denominations: 10/50/200kr.
What breakdown and bankroll do you suggest?
We play 10/20 kr with 10s, 100s and 500s/1ks. Works great, but IMO you need minimum 200x 10s for a full table. For 6 players you dont really need 500 chips.

I would say
200x 10
180x 100
20x 500

Total bank: 30 000 kr 15x 2000buyins.
First 10x buyins with 20x10 and 18x100 chips. The last 5 with only 500s.

You can change the 500s to 1000s to easily get a bit more bank, or add another barrel of either 500 or 1000s if you feel the total bank is a bit low or want to make sure you can handle 8-9 players on the nights were more people want to play.


If you want to future proof a little bit more, you can do 500 total chips with something like:

200
240
60

Of course if you want to do 10/50/200/1000 denoms I'm sure that would work fine as well, just wanted to share something that I like from over here.
 
@P0k3rch1p, @Marius L's advice here is really solid:
In a small 25c/25c i think the 25c chips might be used a fair bit after the flop as well.

It all depends how the game plays. It seems that considering the players are used to playing 5/10c, the game might not play very big.

I think I like a set with a bit more small denoms for this group, just based on @P0k3rch1p posts (who has several times questioned the need for so many high denoms). A barrel each of 25c seems reasonable (although maybe not necessary).

8 players
160x 25c
200x $1
120x $5
20x $25

500 chips.
Total bank: $1340, or 53x $25 buyins which should be more than enough.
If you need them in increments of 25, then what you suggest here could work well:
Thanks! But are €100 chips really required?

I was thinking about:
150 x 25cent
200 x €1
125 x €5
25 x €25
That might, might be just a tad light on the 25¢ chips since the 25¢ chips are needed more than after the flop in 25¢/25¢, but it's easily playable. I would perhaps consider turning 25 of those €5 chips into 25¢ since I don't anticipate the players playing big (at least at first) jumping from 5¢/10¢ to 25¢/25¢, but it's probably not necessary and having a bigger bank helps cover you on nights when perhaps the group does buy in a lot more than normal.

For the starting stacks, I would probably go with 12/17/1 (25¢/$1/$5) for a 100 BB buy-in. Then, as rebuys happen, use your lower denominations first and then work up. I'd make the first few rebuys use up the remaining 25¢ and $1s in your bank. Then all of the remaining rebuys would use $5s and $25s unless you want to color up some of the larger stacks at the table or players cash out replenishing the lower denominations in your bank.
 
@P0k3rch1p, @Marius L's advice here is really solid:

If you need them in increments of 25, then what you suggest here could work well:

That might, might be just a tad light on the 25¢ chips since the 25¢ chips are needed more than after the flop in 25¢/25¢, but it's easily playable. I would perhaps consider turning 25 of those €5 chips into 25¢ since I don't anticipate the players playing big (at least at first) jumping from 5¢/10¢ to 25¢/25¢, but it's probably not necessary and having a bigger bank helps cover you on nights when perhaps the group does buy in a lot more than normal.

For the starting stacks, I would probably go with 12/17/1 (25¢/$1/$5) for a 100 BB buy-in. Then, as rebuys happen, use your lower denominations first and then work up. I'd make the first few rebuys use up the remaining 25¢ and $1s in your bank. Then all of the remaining rebuys would use $5s and $25s unless you want to color up some of the larger stacks at the table or players cash out replenishing the lower denominations in your bank.
Thanks for the advice @UnicornFlash and @Marius L

and of course all the rest.

It seems everyone has a different opinion about how many of the lowest denom chips should be in the chipset. I understand it also has to do with the groups play style and how you want it to be (in the future).

I think I have enough information. I will play with the amounts a bit and make a decision.

Thanks again. It is much appreciated!
 
Just my 2 cents

There is really no need for 160 or 200 frac in a 25c/25c game, since OP is only going to build a 500 chip set and should avoid wasting more chip in low denomination it better to spend lesser and build a 400 chip set rather than wasting space on 100 more fracs chip

You can make a case for more chip is better if you going to build a 1000 1200 chip set that is more than enough chip for Multi Table

You can bet 25c using $1 chip after preflop and collect the change from the preflop POOL Of 25c chip in a family limping pot.
Even if 8 ppl using 3 x 25c on preflop flop turn and river you will only need 3 x 4 x 8 = 96 chip

The work horse for 25c/25c game are $1 chip
 
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Just my 2 cents

There is really no need for 160 or 200 frac in a 25c/25c game, since OP is only going to build a 500 chip set and should avoid wasting more chip in low denomination it better to spend lesser and build a 400 chip set rather than wasting space on 100 more fracs chip

You can make a case for more chip is better if you going to build a 1000 1200 chip set that is more than enough chip for Multi Table

You can bet 25c using $1 chip after preflop and collect the change from the preflop POOL Of 25c chip in a family limping pot.
Even if 8 ppl using 3 x 25c on preflop flop turn and river you will only need 3 x 4 x 8 = 96 chip

The work horse for 25c/25c game are $1 chip
Thanks LeLe.

I think this breakdown would be the best for my group. I left increments of 25 out of the picture. Going to buy somewhere where that is not an issue.

120 x €0,25
220 x €1
120 x €5
40 x €25
 
Hi guys,

What denomination would you advise for a $10/$20 cash game?
500 chips set for 8 players.

Thanks!
 
Forgot to add, currently I have a 600 chips set consisting of

$1 x 100
$5 x 200
$10 x 100
$25 x 150
$100 x 50.

We started off from $1/$2 and my chips were more than enough. Then we started to play $5/$10 and things went crazy. My $100 chips were mostly not enough. So I guess it’s time to add more chips in case a $10/20 game comes along.
Time for $500 and $1000 chips now. Kindly advise. Greatly appreciated.
 
How much total money on your table on the biggest night?

I collected about $20k (8 players) and I had to use my $1 chips to substitute as $500 chips so if we are going to play $10/$20, I do not know how many $100,$500 and $1000 to buy. Should I buy more $25 chips too or add in blue $10 chips? ( I never had blue so I wondered if I should buy to collect)

Forgot to add, the $10 blue chips I have are not mine. Technically I only have 500 chips
 
Hi guys,

What denomination would you advise for a $10/$20 cash game?
500 chips set for 8 players.

Thanks!
$10 x 100
$50 x 100
$100 x 200
$500 x 100 or $500 x 80 $1000 x 20

Will give you $76k of bank which is 38 buyin enough to cover > 4x per person

If you want more chip to make it 600 chip set, you can add on another rack of $100
 
You would make your life a lot easier with 600 chips.
Variable stakes are hard to cover with just 500 chips.
I spoke with the group and they want to be able to play 0.05/0.10 and occasionally 0.25/0.25. I am going for a 600 chips set. Which breakdown of chips is best you think?
 

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