Poker Chips
People all over the world have discovered the exciting game of poker. It's fun for all ages and is not limited by language barriers. Poker has evolved into something much more than a game played in dimly lit bars and casinos. It's become a favorite past time for families and friends around the world. Texas Holdem is one of the most popular games played in living rooms across the globe. You can take your game up a notch with the wonderful selection of poker chips and accessories available. You'll feel like one of the pros with a new set of stylish chips.
Because there are so many styles of poker chips available, there's something for everyone. On-line sites that specialize in poker supplies have become a popular and convenient way to find just the chips you're looking for. They've done the research for you and have a great selection of professional quality and economy styled poker chips.
Finding the right chip for me
First, don't order the first set that catches your eye. Begin by doing a little research. There are two popular types of chips: Casino Style and Real Clay. Casino chips are composed of a clay composite and resemble the ones used in casinos, but are inexpensive. Real clay poker chips are the actual chips used in casinos and are reputed to be the very best.
When choosing a chip, make sure you're not getting "seconds." These are chips that won't stack evenly and do not have consistent colors and patterns. If the price seems too good to believe, than it's probably because you're getting a set of low-quality chips.
Also, make sure to find out the weight of the chips you're interested in. 11.5 grams is the most popular, but some players prefer 8 gram chips.
Many sets come with convenient cases. Aluminum, vinyl and wood are the most popular types of cases and will hold a variety of chip quantities. Most sets are available with 300, 500, or 650 chips. Games of four to five players will need at least 300 chips. If you usually play with bigger groups, consider a set with a larger number of chips.
Choosing a pattern
After choosing the type of chip you want, it's time to consider the many patterns available. Poker chips are printed with many pattern styles including suited, dice, striped or specialty. Some manufacturers offer customized patterns such as a logo or initials.
Choosing values
Although there is no rule that says what values can be assigned to each color of poker chips, most people assign the lowest value to white chips. When choosing chips, make sure to purchase the greatest number of low-value chips. This is used the most often. Most poker circles use the following values:
White = $1
Blue = $5
Red = $10
Green = $25
Black = $100
Invite your friends and family for a night of fun with a new set of poker chips!
Clay Poker Chips
If you're looking to take your game to the next level, only clay poker chips will do. These high quality clay chips are not cheap copies, they're the actual chips used in the casinos.
Reasons for clay
Clay chips are better than composite or plastic chips for a number of reasons. First, clay is smooth and easy to handle. They're also weighted to feel "right" in your hand. Clay is also the most durable chip and meant to last through thousands of games. Finally, cheap copies often have inconsistent colors and patterns. A quality set of clay chips will always have the consistency you expect from a professional set of chips.
Styles
When choosing poker chips, there are several patterns available. Many people choose suited or striped patterns. There are also a wide selection of specialty chips which reflect popular culture or favorite hobbies and interests. Some manufacturers also offer the option of customized chips. This is a great way to make sure you always leave home with all of your chips! Customized chips also make a great gift for the serious poker player in your life.
Values
There is no rule that says a certain color is assigned to a value. However, the following chip values are the most widely accepted: white chips are valued at $1; blue at $5; red at $10; green at $25 and black chips at $100. Chips come in sets of 300, 500, and 650 pieces. In most cases, you can choose how many of each chip you want in your set. Remember, the lower values are usually used the most throughout a game, so make sure to get plenty of these.
How heavy?
11.5 grams is the most popular chip weight. Most players agree that these chips are the most comfortable and easiest to handle. Some people prefer 8 gram chips, but it is entirely a matter of preference. 5 gram chips are also available.
Don't settle for less, only clay poker chips will ensure your poker game is the best it can be.
Suited Chips
Many players love the look of suited poker chips. They're unique and stylish and say a lot about your serious playing ability. Because many suited chips also have coordinating accessories, they're a great style of chip to show off to friends and family members.
Suits
A repeated pattern of diamonds, spades, hearts or clubs can be seen encircling the edge of the chip. This design offers an aesthetic appeal and reflects your love of the game. They're available in many colors which can be assigned a different value. In most cases white chips are assigned the value of $1. This continues with $5 assigned to blue, $10 to red, $25 to green and $100 to black. Poker chips are also available in several weights. 11.5 grams is the most popular, but some people prefer the 8 or 5 gram chips.
Quantities
Poker chips usually come in 300, 500 and 650 piece sets. You can choose the number you want of each color, but it is a good idea to choose a high quantity of the lower value chips. This is because they are generally used the most in a poker game. Games with three to four players need at least 300 suited chips and larger games need 500 or more chips.
Quality
When choosing chips, the higher they're priced, usually means the higher the quality. Clay chips are the most expensive and are composed of real clay. These are the real chips used in the casinos. They have consistent colors and patterns and will stack neatly. Casino style chips are made from clay composite. These are not as durable, but are popular because they look and fee like the real thing, but are much less expensive. Cheaper chips usually have flawed patterns and colors and warping. With poker chips, you pay for what you get.
You'll always look like a pro with an attractive set of quality suited poker chips!
Casino Poker Chips
Poker night just got a lot more legitimate
The newfound popularity of poker means that more and more people are playing. Getting started is easy; all you need is a group of friends and a deck of cards. However, using coins, M&Ms, or matchsticks instead of casino poker chips to keep track of your winnings detracts from the feeling of real Las Vegas gaming. Even if you're just playing for fun and no money ever changes hands, casino poker chips will give your game the illusion of a genuine high-stakes game.
Buy the best
They may seem negligible, but the differences between quality casino poker chips and cheap re-creations mean everything to players looking for a true gaming experience.
Plastic casino poker chips
These are the most affordable casino poker chips and are generally only suitable for beginners and recreational players to whom appearance isn't as important. Plastic casino poker chips are typically lighter (around 8 grams) than clay or clay composite casino poker chips and may vary slightly in color or be susceptible to warping over time.
Clay casino poker chips
Full clay casino poker chips are the least common chips because they are expensive to make and buy and tend to break easily. The benefits of clay casino poker chips is that each chip is made with uniform thickness and perfect balance, and they are nearly indistinguishable from regulation casino poker chips used in most American casinos.
Composite clay casino poker chips
The most ideal casino poker chips are those that are made with a composite clay material molded over a metal core designed to make these casino poker chips look and feel just like the ones used in Vegas.
These casino poker chips are manufactured with rigid attention to detail in the weight (usually 11.5 grams), size (a casino-standard 39 mm), and thickness. The complete absence of visible seams ensures that composite clay casino poker chips will never break or warp, meaning that they'll stack tightly and allow you to concentrate on your hand and your opponents.
The renewed popularity of poker makes now the perfect time to get in on the game. With high-quality casino poker chips, you're sure to come up aces!
