What was the one chip that you saw that got you into this hobby ? (1 Viewer)

[murraythecat]

Went to Vegas for the first (and to date, only) time, and sat down at a Blackjack table in Barbary Coast...2004. I walked away with a $5 chip and carried it in my pocket for most of the time. Kept studying the damned thing, as I'd never handled a genuine clay chip before, only cheap dice chips. Cashed it in and left town. About six months later, some friends and I got a home game going and I needed to get chips. Enough studying online led to a sample set from buypokerchips.com (later became Sidepot.com). For me, the choice was either a set of Modern Clays, or Paulson classics. I went with the Classics and haven't looked back.

I need a cheaper hobby. Like scuba diving, skiing, or saltwater aquaria....

 

[Mtvernonbryan]

View attachment 77636 View attachment 77636

I bought 2 racks of these along with a few others for super cheap in 2005. It was all over after that.

 

[Wils]

My love for poker chips came from the way they feel, the tactile pleasure of shuffling and stacking chips, the luxury of gathering a big pot in with both hands, the sound of them clinking together.

That predated any specific chip lust, but the first chip I saw that made me think "wow" was the WSOP main event 5k chip (and that set in general).

 

[upNdown]

View attachment 77655

Got some myself. I am just not a very big fan of ceramics. If you ever want more than just a sample set, I have 100 of each of these denoms...

Thanks, no. I'm intrigued by the chipcos with the linen finish, but other than possibly those, I doubt I'll ever own a ceramic set.
Clay is the way.

 

[Shaggy]

My parents would go to Vegas each year and I always wanted souvenir chips. My early favorites were the Four Queens and Excalibur.

As I got older and started playing blackjack, I got a set of Sopranos from The Gamblers General store in Vegas. This was about 2003. The chips were about 40c each. Then the poker boom happened and dice chips were a plenty. Slightly lower quality than my Sopranos, but 10c a piece. I bought a set at the swap meet. This was my poker set... The Sopranos were for the blackjack table.

A couple years later a shop opened just behind Gamblers General Store in Vegas. It was called Spinettis. There I saw the plastic Dunes commemoratives. They were 27c a piece, my mind was blown... Specifically the 50c and the $5.

This was about 2006. I bought a poker breakdown and later a blackjack table breakdown. Shortly after, wandered on to Chiptalk and HPT which lead me to ASM and used casino sets. I couldn't fathom spending $1 per chip. Slowly I could fathom that, and beyond.

 

[Norman]

Thanks, no. I'm intrigued by the chipcos with the linen finish, but other than possibly those, I doubt I'll ever own a ceramic set.
Clay is the way.

Clay is the ONLY way! Unless, of course you are talking plaques, then acrylic is king! Love the sound of clay chips and acrylic plaques!

 

[LabMonkey]

My first non-dice chips were the WSOP replicas from Mr. Chip. Picked them up sometime in 2008.

 

[Wils]

'midnight rose' sent one of these to me and i was hooked

I have always wanted to ask this: what's the deal with chips that have a label that overlaps the top hat and cane? Are they flush? Is there a gap through which dirt and grime can enter?

It just seems weird to me that a casino would have a chip design that necessitates the label being bigger than the recess (other than maximising 'advertising' space).

BTW I'm assuming they're labels not inlays

 

[Gear]

BTW I'm assuming they're labels not inlays

Well, they're inlays

They are molded into the chip during pressing, no gap whatsoever between the edge of the artwork and the rest of the chip.

 

[links_slayer]

I have always wanted to ask this: what's the deal with chips that have a label that overlaps the top hat and cane? Are they flush? Is there a gap through which dirt and grime can enter?

It just seems weird to me that a casino would have a chip design that necessitates the label being bigger than the recess (other than maximising 'advertising' space).

BTW I'm assuming they're labels not inlays

It's an inlay. Giant inlay, specifically. See PNY and Vineyards for other examples. Also here: https://www.pokerchipforum.com/resources/paulson-inlay-size-and-finish-options.27/

 

[Gear]

It just seems weird to me that a casino would have a chip design that necessitates the label being bigger than the recess

You and me both! Most often they are giant crappy inlays that just obscure the beautiful edge spots

 

[Norman]

My parents would go to Vegas each year and I always wanted souvenir chips. My early favorites were the Four Queens and Excalibur.
View attachment 77731 View attachment 77732


As I got older and started playing blackjack, I got a set of Sopranos from The Gamblers General store in Vegas. This was about 2003. The chips were about 40c each. Then the poker boom happened and dice chips were a plenty. Slightly lower quality than my Sopranos, but 10c a piece. I bought a set at the swap meet. This was my poker set... The Sopranos were for the blackjack table.

A couple years later a shop opened just behind Gamblers General Store in Vegas. It was called Spinettis. There I saw the plastic Dunes commemoratives. They were 27c a piece, my mind was blown... Specifically the 50c and the $5.
View attachment 77733

This was about 2006. I bought a poker breakdown and later a blackjack table breakdown. Shortly after, wandered on to Chiptalk and HPT which lead me to ASM and used casino sets. I couldn't fathom spending $1 per chip. Slowly I could fathom that, and beyond.

I started my craps table with that same 6-stripe set from Gambler's General Store (same place I bought my craps table)! They actually played very well. Spent many an hour with friends on a "hot" table. Fond memories!!!

 

[bivey]

I was playing lots of home game and Tunica tourney's in 2003-4 when my father bought me a set of Olivia's

I was forever screwed.

 

[72o]

I was playing lots of home game and Tunica tourney's in 2003-4 when my father bought me a set of Olivia's

I was forever screwed.

Damn...lucky you! My father wouldn't even buy me a gift cert. to the Olive Garden.

 

[bivey]

Damn...lucky you! My father wouldn't even buy me a gift cert. to the Olive Garden.

Yeah, but now that he's seen what he has done - he regrets it!

 

[RainmanTrail]

This was mine...

 

[kmccormick100]

These Paulson Pharaohs were my very first poker chips 10 years ago. Even as an 18 year old I knew there had to be better options than my buddy's shitty dice chips. Wish I had them back sometimes, we had some good times with em!

PS I think these were something like $.50-70/ea when I wheeled and dealed for them.

 

[Seeking Alpha Social Club]

While TRK Deadwoods are my favorite, Samurai Palace got me started. I was perfectly happy with my Chipco ceramics until I bought a small set of Samurais. Still one of my favorite chip sets to play with.

 

[Skitzo6_6_6]

The Milanos

 

[anstossfreak]

My first sale on CT from Jim's chiproom in 2011/12:

 

[K ALL IN 9]

This beauty right here. Still have it in my collection

 

[Dr Newnham]

This is what got me started and there is no end in sight

 

[ranger764]

It was definitely Abby's Lady Luck Club chips for me. I went from dice, to labeled slugs and was looking for more when I came across these beauties and never looked back!

 

[ParrotheadMZ]

The orange chips right over there
The set is my Holy Grail set.

 

[upNdown]

View attachment 80271
The orange chips right over there
The set is my Holy Grail set.

Any idea how many of these sets exist? I know one sold here, within the past couple of years. I'm not sure I've read of any others, but they must be out there.

 

[Joe E.]

These two were the culprits!

same here, like MSG in the Pringles

 

[ParrotheadMZ]

Any idea how many of these sets exist? I know one sold here, within the past couple of years. I'm not sure I've read of any others, but they must be out there.

Im not really sure. @BGinGA would know the answer i think. Weve talked about it before iirc.

 

[Joe E.]

View attachment 80257 This is what got me started and there is no end in sight

wish I didn't know what you meant by that!

 

[BGinGA]

Any idea how many of these sets exist? I know one sold here, within the past couple of years. I'm not sure I've read of any others, but they must be out there.

Two or three big ones, at least. Sold mine to bentax1978, forget who has the other one here (Lars, maybe?), not sure if 2nd-best Josh still has his set.

 

[kmccormick100]

Two or three big ones, at least. Sold mine to bentax1978, forget who has the other one here (Lars, maybe?), not sure if 2nd-best Josh still has his set.

I think GenghisKhan got one, either Biloxi or Gulfport...