Help me choose my first set of quality tournament chips!

EnergY30 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007, 07:52 PM

Hi all!

Ive finally decided to buy myself a set of quality tournament chips for my home game. The problem is that ive played with plastic dice chips as long as ive played poker, so its hard to find out what i should go for alone. I need chips for up to 20 players (with rebuys and addons), so i guess 1000 chips will be enough. Ive already posted a thread in the chip breakdown forum, so dont think about that problem for now. I will not pay more than $1 per chip, hopefully way under that too.

I know that i have to choose between clay and ceramic, and that both are very good. The first chips i was looking at was the WSOP replicas (ceramic), so i ordered a sample set of them immidiately, and i got them yesterday. They are so nice, i just love them, but remember this is the first quality chips i have ever had in front of me. In the sample set there was smooth aligned chips, but if im going to buy these, i can choose between aligned/unaligned and textured/smooth.

So what do you guys think? Are the WSOP replicas worth it? If so, aligned/unaligned and textured/smooth? What else kind of sets can you recommend me? I guess i better buy some other sample sets too before doing the final decision. Keep in mind that im the big fish here!

I live in Norway by the way. How are the shipping costs that far?

I really do appreciate the help i can get in this forum.

EnergY30

WolfPack · #2 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007, 09:25 PM

I always encourage people to go with a custom designed set. I am sure the WSOP replicas were from Mr. Chips, he can also do customs for you I believe.

A-Ro · #3 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WolfPack

I always encourage people to go with a custom designed set. I am sure the WSOP replicas were from Mr. Chips, he can also do customs for you I believe.

Get all the quality chip samples you can within your geography. I'd recommend customs as well. Mr Chip would do them for under $1/chip too.

the3rd · #4 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnergY30

I know that i have to choose between clay and ceramic, and that both are very good. The first chips i was looking at was the WSOP replicas (ceramic), so i ordered a sample set of them immidiately, and i got them yesterday. They are so nice, i just love them, but remember this is the first quality chips i have ever had in front of me. In the sample set there was smooth aligned chips, but if im going to buy these, i can choose between aligned/unaligned and textured/smooth.

So what do you guys think? Are the WSOP replicas worth it? If so, aligned/unaligned and textured/smooth? What else kind of sets can you recommend me? I guess i better buy some other sample sets too before doing the final decision. Keep in mind that im the big fish here!

I live in Norway by the way. How are the shipping costs that far?

I really do appreciate the help i can get in this forum.

EnergY30

You answered your own question.

I personally do not like designs that try to simulate edge spots, but if I really wanted a certain chip, I would get the aligned option. That's just the OCD in me. Mr. Chips' WSOP are worth the money IMO. You have to feel both chips and decide for yourself what texture you like.

Look at the site sponsors in the Marketplace. Send them an email for shipping costs. Make sure you get current samples. ABC discontinued textured ceramics. Nevada Jacks now uses Sunfly blanks. NJ samples are cheaper through holdempokerchip.com. In addition to the basic samples they provide, I think you should get samples of Tikis from Palm Imports and Kokopellis from ABC. Even if you don't buy a full set they are pretty enough to keep around just to look at. You can get stock designs from Chipco that fall within your budget so get a few of those.

Get samples of Paulsons using the old and new molds to compare if you are interested in clays. Get some t-mold blanks from HPC. They have a very classy mold design and you can customize them with vinyl labels from personalpokerchip.com. ASM and BCC have a couple options in your price range, just not full customs. Just keep looking until you find something you like. Maybe a European member who has a bunch of samples can send some to you.

Joe85 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 06:28 AM

If it is only for tournament play, I like where you are going with the WSOP replica's. Why not have the tournament chips and denominations of the most prestigious tournament in poker?

EnergY30 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 11:14 AM

How are the Faux Clays? I dont really get the logic here... Do they cost only a few cents per chip, but still are clay chips of the highest quality availible? Hmm..

the3rd · #7 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 01:53 PM

Fauxs are a injection molded plastic chip without a metal center. The formulation of the plastic is unique and makes then tough as nails. You can even bake them without any noticeable damage. A faux sounds and feels more like a clay chip than a plastic chip. They are one of the best stacking chips around. The faux clay nation has shown the chip's versatility by dyeing white chips any color of the rainbow. You have to do this now since many colors are no longer available.

If you want a ceramic tournament chip, you should also look at the new Bellagio replica group buy offered by Palm Imports. Joe is terminating his sponsorship of the site, but said he will honor any current offer. He is taking orders until the end of the month of March. http://www.chiptalk.net/forum/palmim...-accepted.html
This thread is locked so you can't post in it, but you can email him at sales()palmimports()com . It is easier contacting him through email than private message. The prices and options are in the original post.

Mike Sears · #8 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007, 01:07 PM

Get samples of chips that look good to you and then take your time picking one of them. Other CTer's will give you good suggestions on chips also.

I don't think you need 1,000 chips for a 20 player tournament. I do it with a 700 ct set and we start with 10,000 in chips with a 5,000 rebuy or add-on.

160 - $25
200 - $100
150 - $500
150 - $1K
40 - $5K

Starting stack is 8-$25; 8-$100; 6-$500; 6-$1k
You'll have enough high values left for color-up and rebuys.

Good luck.

BPTDirector · #9 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Sears

Get samples of chips that look good to you and then take your time picking one of them. Other CTer's will give you good suggestions on chips also.

I don't think you need 1,000 chips for a 20 player tournament. I do it with a 700 ct set and we start with 10,000 in chips with a 5,000 rebuy or add-on.

160 - $25
200 - $100
150 - $500
150 - $1K
40 - $5K

Starting stack is 8-$25; 8-$100; 6-$500; 6-$1k
You'll have enough high values left for color-up and rebuys.

Good luck.

I definitely agree with this breakdown for a 20 player game - I have this myself and it works very, very well.

Oh yeah, if you want those WSOP replicas get 'em....a friend of mine has a set just like the Chipco's you mention and loves them. However, it is best to get all the samples you want before deciding. As you'll be able to tell, some love replica's, some love originality, but we all love chips!!!

BPT

EnergY30 · #10 (**permalink**) 04-11-2007, 07:45 AM

Okey guys, its time do make my order! Ive been looking at some different sample sets the last weeks, and finally ive decided to go for the WSOP replicas (textured and unaligned).

The chip breakdown will probably be like this:
240 x 25's
300 x 100's
200 x 500's
200 x 1,000's
60 x 5,000's
-------------
1,000 total chips

Thats working for 20 players with a 12-12-7-5 breakdown, and even 30 players with 8-8-6-6 breakdown (thx to jdunford for good breakdown advices!).

There's only one thing i worry about. I have no 25's and 100's left after color up with 20 players and 12-12-7-5, so if a chip is broken or i lose one, that sucks. Should i worry about this? I guess it doesnt mean that very much because we will rarely be 20 anyway (mostly 12-15 players), but its the kinda thing that will make me a little irritated...

Any last comments before i make the order?