First "real" chips: Paulson James Bonds vs. World TH&Cane vs. Samurai (Holdemchip)?

[nygiantsfan3342]

Howdy everyone,

This is my first thread here and I wanted to say how cool it is to have a site dedicated to chip lovers. I thought I was a little OCD for wanting to do so much research before I bought my chips. I tend to second guess myself on unnecessary splurges, so I like to exhaust every resource pertaining to my new hooby/interest.

So for my question: I am choosing between the current Paulson James Bonds, the Paulson World Top Hat & Cane (known here as "shaped inlays"), and the Holdemchips.com Samurai Chips.

I will have about $600 to spend on a 500 chip set. I host a spread limit tourney and occasional cash game. I would like input on the style of chips I should buy, as well as quantities you suggest. The denominations I buy will be $1,5,25,100, and about 25-50 of the $500 denom. of whichever style I end up choosing.

Given these denominations and three style options, how many of each denomination and which style should I choose?

Personal Preferences: I prefer chips that shuffle easily, and I do plan on oiling whichever set I buy. The chips will rarely need to be in stacks larger than 25-30, and will be used exclusively by adults who will respect the chips.

Thanks for your input and I look forward to learning a lot on this forum!

Jeremy

[Wylecoyo]

Welcome to the boards. If you like the graphics on the Samurai chips then I would recommend them heartily. I did a review of them here, if you are interested: http://www.chiptalk.net/forum/poker-...ker-chips.html

They are very, very nice and, given the designs you stated you are considering, if it were me this is the way I would go.

[kweniston]

If you like denominated chips with the $ sign, the Samurais are the chips of my choice too. They just radiate "classiness" with their subdued colours, and I love the textured inlay (Paulson, wake up) and also the different inlay design on each side of the chip.

If I were American ($), I would've chosen Samurais for my main chipset, hands down. However , that not being the case, I got the NCV Pharaoh's instead.

[noelsarchs]

First post and asks such a difficult question....even I don't know how to answer that one.

Welcome and check your wallet...at the chipdoor

[xmotrcity]

These are all nice chips and I would strongly suggest to get samples of each to see which one you like best.

[w-thompson]

You have a tough choice since you narrowed it down to 3 really great sets. I am partial to the James Bond chips as my first set of clay chips was the 2005 JBs. I also have samples of the Samurai and Paulson world chips. The Samurai chips on the t-mold are fantastic chips. With one exception, they are the best looking of the 3 choices. I personally can't stand the mis-shaped inlays, so that is why I do not have a set of them. The Paulson world chips are fantastic with an awesome new mold, very nice colors and edge spots and of course the shaped inlays. The warpage that has been widely reported is there but unless you are making stacks over 40 chips high I think it is a non-factor. The Bonds are flat and stack forever, have the best of the "Paulson Chips" mold and I personally love the inlay. The only (slight) knock on the Bonds is they, like the Paulson Classics and Pharoahs do have color transfer issues as they are used. I would suggest going with either of the Paulsons for a cash set and some Faux clays for your tournament set. That way you don't have to comprimise on chips/denom counts and your guests can start the cash game and have it going so you can join in after you win the tourney!!

I suggest getting samples to help in the choice.

-Wayne

ps.
What part of DFW are you in? I live in Sachse NE of Dallas and have had a regular Friday night game for >6 1/2 years.

[jdunford]

Personally I'm a HUGE fan of the Samurais (have about 1500 of them myself). Having said that, the nicest Samurais (in my opinion) are the $0.25, and the $500 up. The $1 is also very nice, but honestly, the $25, $5, and $100 are probably my least favourite in the set (in that order). I really like the reserved (some say "muted") colours of this set. It just oozes class!

The others you are looking at are also very nice. You should be aware of the warping issues that the new "Top Hat & Cane" chips have (and any chips on the new "suited" mold). That may or may not bother you. Those chips are still really nice if you like bright colours. The James Bond chips are somewhere in the middle as far as "bright" versus "muted" colours, and unfortunately use the "advertising" mold that says "Paulson Chips" on it. That might not bother you, but it sort of cheapens the look, in my opinion.

Really it comes down to which you like best. They're all very nice, and I've only told you why I like the Samurais best, but it depends what you like in a chip. I highly recommend getting some samples first. You won't know for sure until you've checked them out up close yourself.

[smitty007]

I got some samples of the James Bond's and personally I don't like them as much as the Paulson Shaped Inlays. I really like the Shaped Inlays, but I don't have any samples of the Samuri's to compare them to. I think they are on the BCC T-mold and I got a few samples of the T-mold. Really liked them.

I think I would get some samples first. I have a a set of Paulson Shaped Inlay's for sale if you get interested in those. PM me or check the Member-to-member sales, I am selling them separately in lots of 50 as well as the entire set together.

Good luck!

[Chase261]

Those are all nice sets. I prefer the sound and the feel of the Pharaohs (which are the same as the James Bonds with a different inlay) to both the shaped-inlays and the Samurai. Also, FWIW, I had an easier time shuffling the Paulsons over the Samurai, but the Samurai does have the classiness going for it.

I'd recommend samples, too. They help, but when you get samples of 3 nice chip sets, it doesn't make the decision easier. The problem is that there is no perfect chip, yet. What I ended up doing is figuring out what I liked best about each set and compared that to what negatives I could tolorate. I decided I can live with the Paulson Chip advertisment mold and possible color transfer on the Pharaohs. However, I'm still hoping the Proteges will be the elusive perfect chips so I haven't bought the Pharaoh's yet.

Anyway, as to what denominations you should buy, there is a chip calculator here that's awesome. You can enter your variables for up to 6 different games and it will give you a total of each denomination you should have on hand.

http://www.chiptalk.net/x-poker-chips-breakdown.html

Good luck w/ your decision.

[nygiantsfan3342]

Originally Posted by w-thompson

The Samurai chips on the t-mold are fantastic chips. With one exception, they are the best looking of the 3 choices. I personally can't stand the mis-shaped inlays, so that is why I do not have a set of them.

I suggest getting samples to help in the choice.

-Wayne

ps.
What part of DFW are you in? I live in Sachse NE of Dallas and have had a regular Friday night game for >6 1/2 years.

I am confused. You say with one exception,they are the best looking. What exception? Are you saying the Samurai have mishaped inlays or the Paulsons?

And sorry to all who answered to this effect, but I have ordered 10 chips of each style. I have to play with and oil all three styles before I decide. Right now, I am leaning towards the Samurai, with the James Bonds a VERY close 2nd. And I hear that oiling the Samurai really makes the colors sharper/bolder.

I have a question that I want to ask, but I don't want it to change the focus of this thread: If the Paulson World Top Hat & Cane shaped inlay chips have such warping problems, or even the reputation for warping problems, why doesn't Paulson (or whomever is making the "warped chips") do something about it? With all the Warped Paulson threads here, you would think that word would get to the manufacturer and they would address the issue.

I still want your opinions on the original thread question, but if anyone can answer my second, less important query, I would be much obliged. Thanks

Jeremy

p.s. Wayne, I live in Mansfield, which is sw of Arlington. What type of poker game you play on Friday?