What is a playable set? (3 Viewers)

[ovo]

a set for as little as two people , probably with at least two different denoms or non-denoms is my definition of a playable set

 

[Ronoh]

Playable set

 

[WedgeRock]

Double dog dare ya!

No, no, I don't need *another* sexual harassment lawsuit....

Should have gone right to the triple dog dare.

 

[Lemonzest]

to me a playable set is 400-500+ chip set that would support a 6 man NLHE game.

 

[Frogzilla]

Many casinos run their tournaments with only eight of each of the lowest denoms.

In the last WSOP circuit event, for a couple levels this is what was in play at our table (NLHE 9-handed):
~1500 1k chips
~20 5k chips
~20 25k chips
The poor dealers had to breakdown the stacks every bet. Even the big blind at 10k they had to verify. The mountains of chips from every pot were challenging to ship. All of that to say: the best answer might not always be "what do the casinos do."

8 vs 12 vs 10 (if your base is $1 or $5)...to each his own, but who doesn't like a nice shuffling stack of greenies.

 

[TexRex]

My definition is based on years of home poker tournaments and cash games, as a player and a host.

A general rule is that you don't have more than one instance of a chip being 2x the previous chip (500/1000 acceptable, but nowhere else). A second general rule is each chip is 4x to 5x the prior chip, so no 10/25 type chips. Breaking either of these rules really fouls it up.

Tournaments (chips in play per player, not in set)
Note: I used 300 BB as a standard. If using less than 300 BB, use fewer large chips, but not more small chips. If using more than 300 BB, use more large chips.
1 -- 10 is optimal; 15 might be OK, more is too many
5 -- 8-13 is optimal
25 -- 9-13 is optimal
100 -- 1-3 is optimal
500 -- color up
1000 -- color up

5 --10 is optimal; 15 might be OK, more is too many
25 -- 10 -14 is optimal
100 -- 10 - 12 is optimal
500 -- 3
1000 -- color up
5000 -- color up

My tournament sets start with 25 as the lowest; blinds start at either 25/50 or 50/100. For this I used 50/100. I also have no problem with 5 starting denoms as long as chips are denominated. I've even used 6 without issue.
25 - 12 is optimal
100 - 12 is optimal
500 -- 3-5 is optimal
1000 -- 7-11 is optimal
5000 -- 3-4 is optimal
25,000 -- color up

Generally for tournaments:
Lowest denom -- 8 or fewer is not enough; 10-12 is optimal; over 15 is too much.
2nd lowest -- about the same, depending somewhat on colorup philosophy. Same if you plan to either use the 2nd lowest to completely colorup the lowest or if you ever intend to make the 2nd lowest the lowest for a more flexible set or playing with higher numbers.
3rd lowest -- if you started at 25, then this is your 500. You need way fewer of these -- some people use way too many. 3-5 per player is enough if you are using 1000.
4th lowest -- about 2x the 3rd lowest

Cash
10 to 20 per denom until you get to the one where the next logical denom is 2x the previous. Having too many of one can easily lead to mistakes, especially the later it is, and the more people have had to drink.

Cash is harder to determine, but following general tournament concepts seems to work well. A lot of people overload on smaller chips and have too few of the higher values. If you max buy-in is $20 or $25, you could get by that as your highest value chip; otherwise you need at least some $100 chips.

Overall
I don't think there is a perfect formula, but having played with many, what I've said here works better than formats outside of these guidelines.

 

[JustinInMN]

So to make an actual definition, it is about ensuring the set contains enough chips of enough denominations to suit the number of players in the game.

Now the actual numbers that fit this definition is highly subjective.

 

[WedgeRock]

So to make an actual definition, it is about ensuring the set contains enough chips of enough denominations (but not too many denominations) to suit the number of players in the game.

Now the actual numbers that fit this definition is highly subjective.

Agreed, but fixed.

 

[JustinInMN]

Agreed, I am certainly of the school of thought that 3 denoms on the table are plenty 98% of the time.

 

[WedgeRock]

I almost added "...set contains enough chips (but not too many chips) of enough denominations..." but I realized, there is no such thing as too many chips in your set.

 

[Hobbyphilic]

Here's a pic with 40 chips in play, heads up. I don't know if I'd call this a 'playable set' (even though we're playing with it), but a sample set. My arbitrary definition for a playable set is two or more denoms and at least 100 chips. I have to confess, this has a lot to do with racks that hold 100 chips. If you bring 40 chips to the table on a chip rack it seems like you've just brought your starting stack.

 

[upNdown]

Here's a pic with 40 chips in play, heads up. I don't know if I'd call this a 'playable set' (even though we're playing with it), but a sample set. My arbitrary definition for a playable set is two or more denoms and at least 100 chips. I have to confess, this has a lot to do with racks that hold 100 chips. If you bring 40 chips to the table on a chip rack it seems like you've just brought your starting stack.

View attachment 145858

Kneeling on the betting line has to be some kind of penalty. Sit out one orbit?

 

[Hobbyphilic]

Kneeling on the betting line has to be some kind of penalty. Sit out one orbit?

Lol, do the dishes AND sit out one orbit. You should see him dance on the pot when he wins an all in. Penalty - Mine for coal!