The perfect 0.25/0.50 single table cash set breakdown (?)

jdunford · #1 (**permalink**) 10-20-2006, 12:38 AM

I think I just figured out the perfect cash set breakdown...

For up to 10 players at blinds of 25¢/50¢, assuming $20 buy-in (typical for players on a budget), I've always believed you don't need more than 300 chips (but you can of course have more if you want). And most wooden cases that hold 300 chips have 3 removable racks that each hold 25 x 4 like this:

or

Given this information, I've often found myself swaying between going with

150 x $0.25
100 x $1
50 x $5

or

100 x 25¢
150 x $1
50 x $5

for my cash set breakdown. This of course conveniently lets one separate their different denominations of chips/cheques so they exactly fill rows in the cases above.

Well, I don't know why it took me so long, but I just realized a convenient coincidence:

12 x 25¢
12 x $1
1 x $5
--------
25 chips = $20

That's not new to most people, and that's a typical starting rack that I hand out... but wait! Why not sort my chips like this when I store them?! That way, chips are in 25-chip stacks ready to go with the above breakdown. One can put this breakdown in 10 of the 12 rows; fill the other 2 rows with $5s (for rebuys) and you've got yourself $450 in chips with the total breakdown of:

120 x 25¢
120 x $1
60 x $5

I especially like the look of having the single $5 between the 25¢s and the $1s:

Comments?

jdunford · #2 (**permalink**) 10-20-2006, 12:45 AM

Oh, and before somebody says it, if you need more than $450 on the table, you can always stash some $25 denom chips under the racks in theses cases, or partially fill one of the "rebuy" rows with $25s instead of $5s... but my friends don't have this problem (cheap bastages).

_GUN_ · #3 (**permalink**) 10-20-2006, 01:03 AM

I personally like

20 x .25
5 x $1
2 x $5 (243, if playing 9-handed)

or

16 x .25
6 x $1
2 x $5 (216, if playing 9-handed)

but if you're going for exactly 25 to fit snugly in the rack, then you have the right formula already.

Brewster · #4 (**permalink**) 10-20-2006, 05:11 AM

When I was ready to order my TR Kings, I went through the same sort of thinking. Since my chips were going to be travelling with me from game to game, I went with the 300 piece WPT aluminum case (very nice). I also noticed the TR Kings were a bit thinner than some other chips so I could fit a few more in the case with no problems (total of 332 chips).

My final breakdown was:
25¢ x 98
$1 x 158
$5 x 58
$20 x 18

My starting stacks are a bit different though (12 x 25¢, 17 x $1). I use the $5 chips for rebuys and have never even been close to using the $20 chips.

jdunford · #5 (**permalink**) 10-20-2006, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _GUN_

I personally like

20 x .25
5 x $1
2 x $5 (243, if playing 9-handed)

or

16 x .25
6 x $1
2 x $5 (216, if playing 9-handed)

but if you're going for exactly 25 to fit snugly in the rack, then you have the right formula already.

For a small table (< 7), I often give out:

20 x $0.25
10 x $1
1 x $5

just to put more chips on the table. I'm not sure how you can get away with so few $1s... they're my workhorse chips for .25/.50...

ky70 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-20-2006, 09:11 AM

I'm biased but after tweaking my cash game starting stacks more times than I care to admit, I settled on this perfect handout (for my purposes). I hand out identical stacks of the .25 chips and the $1 chips for all buy ins $50 and under. This way, as the buy-in is decided for a particular cash game, all I have to do is adjust the number of $5 chips that I hand out (see below).

$20 Buy in:
16 x .25
16 x $1

$25 Buy in:
16 x .25
16 x $1
1 x $5

$30 Buy in:
16 x .25
16 x $1
2 x $5

$40 Buy in:
16 x .25
16 x $1
4 x $5

$50 Buy in:
16 x .25
16 x $1
6 x $5

I have my chips already pre-separated for a $20 buy-in (16 x .25 and 16 x $1) and simply add the appropriate
number of $5 chips for the set buy-in for the night. Almost maintenance free.

The same thing can be done using 12 x .25 and 12 x $1 as your foundation (I use to also use the 12,12 and 1 setup as my starting stack breakdown), but I like having more chips on the table. And as jdunford points out, this works really well if you have 4 x 25 chip trays.

*acesandfaces* · #7 (**permalink**) 10-20-2006, 09:18 AM

You stated my exact breakdown for our cash game:

12 x $0.25
12 x $1
1 x $5
--------
25 chips = $20

jdunford · #8 (**permalink**) 10-20-2006, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ky70

I'm biased but after tweaking my cash game starting stacks more times than I care to admit, I settled on this perfect handout (for my purposes). I hand out identical stacks of the .25 chips and the $1 chips for all buy ins $50 and under. This way, as the buy-in is decided for a particular cash game, all I have to do is adjust the number of $5 chips that I hand out (see below).

$20 Buy in:
16 x .25
16 x $1

$25 Buy in:
16 x .25
16 x $1
1 x $5

$30 Buy in:
16 x .25
16 x $1
2 x $5

$40 Buy in:
16 x .25
16 x $1
4 x $5

$50 Buy in:
16 x .25
16 x $1
6 x $5

I have my chips already pre-separated for a $20 buy-in (16 x .25 and 16 x $1) and simply add the appropriate
number of $5 chips for the set buy-in for the night. Almost maintenance free.

The same thing can be done using 12 x .25 and 12 x $1 as your foundation (I use to also use the 12,12 and 1 setup as my starting stack breakdown), but I like having more chips on the table. And as jdunford points out, this works really well if you have 4 x 25 chip trays.

Well, I can see going with 16-16-x for a smaller group, but with 10 players, you'd need a minimum of 160 of each $0.25 and $1 chips...

But I agree that $5s can be added to make the buy-in arbitrary from $15 to whatever (so long as you have wealthy enough friends and enough $5s).

ky70 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-20-2006, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdunford

Well, I can see going with 16-16-x for a smaller group, but with 10 players, you'd need a minimum of 160 of each $0.25 and $1 chips...

But I agree that $5s can be added to make the buy-in arbitrary from $15 to whatever (so long as you have wealthy enough friends and enough $5s).

All my chip handouts are based on being able to accommodate a full table of 10 (I have 260 .25 and 245 $1 chips) so put me down in the camp that likes to play with more chips on the table but I would have no issue breaking down to the 12/12/1 formula if I had/wanted less chips.

I also have my rebuy handouts prearranged as I like to be able to think as little as possible about stuff not relating to the actual game when I'm playing and hosting.

jdunford · #10 (**permalink**) 10-20-2006, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ky70

I also have my rebuy handouts prearranged as I like to be able to think as little as possible about stuff not relating to the actual game when I'm playing and hosting.

That's what I was going for when I realized that 12-12-1 fits nicely in those 25-chip racks...