[WolfieW]

I'm working on a set of customs that will be multi-functional. My kids will use them to play lower limit cash games than I will with play with my friends. We haven't played tournaments but want the set to be versatile enough to go there in the future.

I was thinking of a 1,000 chip set but the price in BCC or even the cheaper ASM's is a bit much so I'm considering scaling back to a 500-600 chip set.

By having a dual denomination for each chip I can satisfy both my cash game needs and the needs of teenagers. I'll have the dollar sign on the chip in a traditional casino progression of $5, $25, $100, $500, $1000, $5000. The kids can think of them as Cents rather than dollars. For instance:

$5 chip (5 cents)
$25 (25 cents)
$100 ($1.00)
etc.

By having 6 different chip denominations from $5 to $5000 I'm covered for both low limit games (The $ sign becomes a Cent sign) and higher limit games as a versatile cash set. This is more than I actually need for a cash game, I know. But I also want them to double as a tourney set. So...

That same 6 different chip denominations should cover me for future tournament games also.

I am thinking of a 10 player game for ease of calculation. I usually have fewer than that.

My original breakdown for a 1,000 chip set was:

$5 = 200 chips
$25 = 200
$100 = 200
$500 = 200
$1000 = 100
$5000 = 50
NCV = 50 (can double as a $2.50 chip for occasional Blackjack play or $10,000 chip for tourney play or whatever)

I know that breakdown is overkill for all cash games. However, are the $1000, $5,000 chips in sufficient quantity to support a 10 player tournament set of T25? I'm guessing a T100 game would require more high denom chips than listed here.

Never having played tourneys, I'm not sure I have enough of the higher denom chips to support tournament play.

Also, could I lower the breakdown to a 500-600 chip set and still have the same functionality that I desire for both cash and tourney games? I really would like to lower my total chip order to save some money if I can.

If I lowered the chip order I would probably just knock all of the 200 chip denoms in the 1,000 chip set to 100 chips so the breakdown would look like this. Will this work?

600 chip set:

$5 = 100 chips
$25 = 100
$100 = 100
$500 = 100
$1000 = 100
$5000 = 50
NCV = 50

Thanks for all help,

Wolfie

[links_slayer]

Just a few thoughts:

Going non-denominated would be best IMO. That way the "5" chip could be "5 cents" or "T5"

ASM is the way to go if you want to get all these different denoms. BCC charges PER design and each denom counts as a different design. The artwork alone could cost just as much as an entire set of ASMs. Plus Sandy at ASM is a joy to work with.

Getting 1000 chips is plenty (IMO) to have a separate cash set and a separate tourney set if you only have 10 players. I have the same scenario and it works just fine. Getting a set to accommodate both could save you some money on the other hand.

As far as the tourney set goes, what structure are you using? You mentioned T25 and T100 in the OP. I'd suggest a T1000 using the following:

Starting Stacks:
T5 x 20
T25 x 16
T100 x 5
========
T1000; 41 Chips per Player

Using Blinds of:
5 10
10 20
15 30
20 40
25 50
50 100
75 150
100 200
150 300
200 400 (<-- should end here using 4% rule assuming no rebuys or addons)
300 600
400 800
600 1200
800 1600
1000 2000

Set Breakdown:
200 x T5
200 x T25
200 x T100
50 x T500

This breakdown should accommodate the above tourney as well as nickel/dime cash games as well as quarter/fifty-cent cash games.

[WolfieW]

Links,

Thanks for your reply. I'm on my way to the airport for a trip so I don't have time to think about your suggestions right now. Will look into it when I get home.

I just wanted to let you know I saw your post and appreciate the time you took to respond.

Later,

Wolfie

[wijwij]

Another 600-chip set possibility:

100 x T5 (Red)
160 x T25 (Green)
160 x T100 (blacK)
100 x T500 (Purple)
80 x ND (blue?) = 1c, 10c, 12.5c, T1000, T2000, or T2500 as needed

For micro cash games you could use the ND as 1c, 10c, 12.5c, or not use it at all:

N = 1c, R = 5c, G = 25c, K = $1
R = 5c, N = 10c, G = 25c, K = $1
N = 12.5c, G = 25c, K = $1, P = $5

Buy-ins could be things like these:
10N + 8R + 6G = $2.00 if N = 1c for 1c/2c blinds (8 players)
10R + 10N + 10G + 6K = $10.00 if N = 10c for 5c/10c blinds
10R + 14G + 6K = $10 for 5c/10c blinds (if not using ND chip)
8N + 12G + 16K = $20 if N = 12.5c (one bit) for 12.5c/25c blinds (10 players)

For tournaments, many possibilities:

10N + 8R + 6G = T200 starting with T1/T2 blinds

10R + 14G + 6K = T1000 (just as good as 20R/16G/5K in my view)
10R + 14G + 11K = T1500

16G + 16K = T2000*
12G + 12K + 2P = T2500
8G + 8K + 4P = T3000 (starting stack of 20 chips fits in rack)
16G + 16K + 6P = T5000* (could use N = T1000)
8G + 8K + 8P = T5000 (could use N = T1000)
8G + 8K + 8P + 2N = T10,000 if N = T2500

10K + 8P + 6N = T20,000 if N = T2500 starting with T100/T200

*Color-up of greens if all black chips are in play would require purples.

[WolfieW]

Wijwij,

Thanks for the advice. Sorry I didn't respond to your advice sooner but I just returned from a trip to the Bahamas and am going to Vegas this Wednesday for a week. You and Links have given me some good food for thought. I appreciate the time you spent responding to my email. I'll look at both or your posts in more depth when I return from Vegas (hopefully, with more money than I leave with so that I can contribute to the "new custom chip fund!")

Wolfie