[TX_kiwi]

I recently bought a cash set (Dunes Commems). I doubled up on the 25c and 50c denoms to give flexibility to play 25c/50c and 50c/$1. However, as an experiment (since I've got 'em), I've been putting all 4 denoms out for play in our 25c/50c. FWIW, here's my observations so far (based on four games):

1. If the chips are denominated, then no-one has any issues with the extra denom being in play.

2. Some players, me included (and probably any ChipTalker ), like the look of the additional colors/stacks in play.

3. Individual players tend to have a subconcious preference to always play one or the other chip denom all the time (25c or 50c) and seem to ignore that the other denom is available to them.

4. All the 25c seem to gravitate to a few players, who end up with huge stacks of the lowest value. It gets messy.

5. If you are going to mix a 50 c with a 25c then you don't need anywhere as many 25c as you would normally get. The 50c serves for most betting. (I think that this is the reason all the 25c chips gravitate to a few players).

6. Having the extra denom in play makes it harder to assess the size of a player's stack for those 'all-in' decisions.

[jdunford]

I completely agree with everything you said.

The only thing I'll add is that I can think of one scenario where you might want both 25¢ and 50¢ chips in play. Consider a denominated "casino" cash set. 25¢ chips are bloody hard to come by (read: expensive), whereas there are more 50¢ chips available (i.e. more casinos have them). If you want a 25¢/50¢ NL (or 50¢/$1 limit) set for a full table and/or want to stretch your set to 2 tables, you can get away with handing out 4 x 25¢ to each player (strictly for small blinds) and put lots of 50¢ chips in play.

But on a budget, you're probably best off getting a single non-denom chip to use as whatever fractional you need (i.e. call it 25¢ when blinds are 25¢/50¢, or call it 50¢ when blinds are 50¢/$1). You never really need both.

[StevenH72]

I'm not a big fan of having denoms that close in play, its not a big problem to use 2 $0.25 chips to make a $0.5 SB or BB.

Also although having more denoms in play is awesome, I'd rather have twice as many of one denom than 2 different denoms.

Also less denoms makes buying in/cashing out so much easier, which if people do mid-game can really be a hastle if you have 18,000 denoms (slight exaggeration for any game i'd imagine).

[Stevo]

I play with an occassional group that plays dealer-choice cash games and we use $.25, $.50, $1, and $2. Four colors out there all at once and even an occassional $5 when someone wants to rebuy.

The guys have no problems with them and I like having the multiple denoms/chips because really, it's all about the chips.

Now that said, I also play in a game where the guys are a little more serious and the limits are a little higher and they don't like all the denoms. Give em ones and fives and the occassional $25 and they are good to go.

Me, I'd rather have a big stack of all kinds of chips in front of me - like on High Stakes Poker - they got like 6 colors of chips AND stacks of cash.

If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me.

[ontheuptick]

Originally Posted by Stevo

Me, I'd rather have a big stack of all kinds of chips in front of me - like on High Stakes Poker - they got like 6 colors of chips AND stacks of cash.

For the record, in HSP, they use 100, 500, 1000, and 5000 chips, and some stacks of cash. (they also have some $5 chips, but those are just there for tipping purposes and don't count towards all-in's, etc.)

But you'll notice that some of the players gravitate towards certain denoms. For instance, almost none of them hold a bunch of $500 chips, because they all use $1000 chips. Also, some of them skip the $5000 chips and go straight from $1000 to the cash bundles.

[tomb1]

Yes, I have a large cash set that includes both 50¢ and 25¢ clay chips.

BUT, we never use both denoms for the same game. The 25¢ chips are used for a 25¢/50¢ game, and the 50¢ chips are used for 50¢/$1. I suppose we could use both denoms for the smaller game, especially if we had 2+ full tables, but that causes the problems noted above. (The chip colors/spots are different so they could be used together if necessary.)

[Seitz333]

In my home game we play .50¢-$2 spread limit dealers choice. Most people buyin for $50 and we usually have about 8-10 people.I have a set of the Protege's and we use:

.25¢ - 8
$1 - 18
$5 - 6
$25 - Used for rebuys

Chuck

[RussB42]

I have two cash sets. One P.I. Clay custom labeled w/laminated labels and one Tiki Ceamic set, 600pc each set.

I have 5, 25 & 50 cent and $1.00 demoninations on them. The folks I play with like a 15/25 cent blinds that never change and we play no-limit.

I have tried the.25/.50 blinds, but the habit is hard to change.

We can eliminate the 5 cent chips if we get started for a higher limit game.

Everyone like lots of chips in front of them to play with..

[ovo]

For a cash game I say the more the merrier. I like lots of pretty colors on the table.

[tastic]

Ditto on all counts. The 25c chips never see the 50c chips on the felt, nor do the $1 chips see some $2 chips. (The $2 chips are only for a $2/$5 game)

It's like having a new set with each level of stakes being played!

Originally Posted by tomb1

Yes, I have a large cash set that includes both 50¢ and 25¢ clay chips.

BUT, we never use both denoms for the same game. The 25¢ chips are used for a 25¢/50¢ game, and the 50¢ chips are used for 50¢/$1. I suppose we could use both denoms for the smaller game, especially if we had 2+ full tables, but that causes the problems noted above. (The chip colors/spots are different so they could be used together if necessary.)