My First Post. My First Samples (With Mini-Reviews), My First Potential Purchase.

Obfuscation · #1 (**permalink**) 03-02-2007, 05:30 PM

So I've been reading about chips of all kinds through the fervent postings of all you maniacs here (I mean that in a good way!) for a little while now and just registered.

For whatever reason, I've suddenly got an urge and a half to buy myself a nice set of high quality chips. Until maybe 2 weeks ago I knew nothing at all about the subject except that the home chips I have are pretty low grade stuff. Since I've been playing more homegames, I figure why not?

So I went ahead and read a bunch of reviews and browed some of the more popular chipseller websites. Found some cool stuff I might be interested in and fired off for some samples. They all came today along with two nice new Copaq setups I can't wait to play with.

Here's a quick rundown of what I received today and my thoughts. I'd also love to hear more personal thoughts on the below chips and the whole process in general.

chipsandgames.com:
Got the basic free sampler of various dice and composite chips. Eh. They are all pretty much the same as the chips I bought at the mall. Nothing of any interest here. Although it was nice that they labeled each chip with product #.

Casino Da Vinci: Pretty nice clays. They seem like they have a broken-in feel. Very easy to shuffle. I find that the wider inlay cuts down on the noise a bit. Nice chip and obviously 100x nicer than the other stuff above but nothing particularly interesting.

holdempokerchips.com:

Pharoah's: Awesome chips. Love the colors especially on the higher denoms. The orange 1k is sweet. I play in a club that uses Nationals and these are literally the exact same chips. They have a slighty chalky feel at first but I really like them.

Egyptian Composites: These are ok. I like the designs and the graphics but I was hoping for something more akin to the chips that are used at the Palms in Vegas which I think are really sweet and non-traditional. I like these but I might take a pass. What is the chip that they use at the Palms that is extremely textured?

Mardi Gras: The best of the bunch. A little more manageable in the hand than the Pharaoh's, imo and I really like the color schemes on the lower denominations (which is really what I'm looking for anyway: to build a 500 chip .50/1.00 and 1/2 NL cash game set). The Pharaohs use white for the 1 and blue for the .25. The Mardi Gras uses baby blues for the 1 and white for the .25 which I prefer. I'm sick of white dollars from Atlantic City so the blue would be a nice switch up.

And that's about it. I'm seriously considering dropping the dough to get a set of the MG's or Pharaohs but now I'm seeing some custom stuff out there. I looked at the pokerchips.com page (with the cool chip designer tool) and that looks like a pretty decent deal so now I'm thinking maybe I should go that route. Are these what are referred to as ASM's? Sorry for the beginner question. Can anyone comment on the comparison between the Mardi Gras, Pharoahs and the customs (ASM?) from pokerchip.com?

Anyway, I post on several forums on different topics and always try to do something worthwhile with a first post. Hope to hang out a bit here and report back once I take the plunge and grab my first set of high quality chips.

A-Ro · #2 (**permalink**) 03-02-2007, 05:38 PM

All three of the chip types you are interested in: ASM (pokerchips.com), Mardi Gras (blue chip company found at holdempokerchips.com), and Pharoahs (paulson) would be good choices. It all depends what YOU like the best. All of those manufacturers make actual casino chips so the quality will be good.

The big question is: Do you want a fantasy set or a custom set in which you have control over exactly how the chip looks from inlay to edge spots. Personally, I want all customs. They will always be mine and nobody could EVER sneek chips into my game.

Welcome to the site...get ready for your bank account go negative.

T.Rob · #3 (**permalink**) 03-02-2007, 05:42 PM

be sure to read the reviews on this site.

And you can play with a custom chip tool on this site as well with more options to confuse you even farther. Site tools - poker chip factory. On this tool you can pick different manufacturers, diff molds, and many edgespots. Understanding that all edgespots and mold options are not available for custom order anywhere - but make for good dreaming.

This may lead you to looking at Blue chip co. (BCC)
And, yes ASM does custom clays with a few more mold options.

keep reading the threads here, and getting samples as you are doing, and you'll soon be spending more money on more chips than you need.

Welcome!

WolfPack · #4 (**permalink**) 03-02-2007, 05:44 PM

I prefer customs as well. You mentioned ASM, but don't forget Blue Chip (the company who makes the Mardi Gras) does customs as well.

It sounds as if you like clays over ceramics so those are pretty much your 2 options for customs.

Obfuscation · #5 (**permalink**) 03-02-2007, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A-Ro

All three of the chip types you are interested in: ASM (pokerchips.com), Mardi Gras (blue chip company found at holdempokerchips.com), and Pharoahs (paulson) would be good choices. It all depends what YOU like the best. All of those manufacturers make actual casino chips so the quality will be good.

The big question is: Do you want a fantasy set or a custom set in which you have control over exactly how the chip looks from inlay to edge spots. Personally, I want all customs. They will always be mine and nobody could EVER sneek chips into my game.

Welcome to the site...get ready for your bank account go negative.

Thanks. I guess I should work on my game then.

Are the ASM's the best route for customs? It seems generally reasonable considering the design fees appear to be included.

A-Ro · #6 (**permalink**) 03-02-2007, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obfuscation

Thanks. I guess I should work on my game then.

Are the ASM's the best route for customs? It seems generally reasonable considering the design fees appear to be included.

When you take into consideration that the chip cost includes all artwork it's a great deal. There are no extra charges for two sided chips or totally different designs on each denom.

checkm8r · #7 (**permalink**) 03-02-2007, 05:58 PM

I say go with the Mardi Gras. These are sweet chips. I regret selling mine off:

toblat · #8 (**permalink**) 03-02-2007, 07:35 PM

go ASM. don't get me wrong I love the mardi gras chips but the white being the .25 just pisses me off

, but you have explained that you like that so...but ASM's are custom!!!! custom!!!! and one more time CUSTOM!!!!!

your welcome in advance for the guidance

Obfuscation · #9 (**permalink**) 03-04-2007, 09:42 PM

Well, I gave it some more thought and just ordered a set of 500 Pharaohs.

Between the feel, looks and reviews of the Paulsons and compared with the price of the ASM customs, I just went for the Pharaohs.

In the end, I just liked the varied graphics on the Pharaohs vs. the Mardi Gras. Plus, looking at my sample of MG's, there were several off-center labels.

I'm eager to get a nice set for a new homegame I'm starting so I figure I'll hold off on the ASM's for now. That's something that definitely on my list though.

Ordered a set of 500 from dice702 for 495 with case. 525 out the door which was the best price I found. So apparently they'll ship tomorrow. I'm pumped.

I wanted a cash game set to handle .50 / 1.00 NL as well as maybe a smaller 1/2 NL game. So here was my breakdown:

.25 = 100
1.00 = 175
5.00 = 175
25.00 = 50

And so it begins, I suppose.