|
|
If you are new to buying poker accessories, here are a few things to consider prior to your purchase:
- How many players will you have at your game?
As a general guideline, you should have no less than 40-50 chips
per person, though we recommend going with 75-100 chips per person if you can.
- How often are you going to play?
If you are going to play often (on a weekly basis), composite chips is probably the way to go. They are more durable than clay chips and will not chip and scuff as easily.
- What is your budget?
Only if you are on a very tight budget should you consider buying plastic chips. Composite chips are very durable and if you buy a set of them you will probably never have to replace it.
Clay composite chips are the most expensive, but also have the best playing feel according to most players.
- How important is design to you?
Because composite chips are very hard they are able to display sharp and detailed design. On the other hand, the design on clay chips vary slightly from chip to chip, as the clay material spreads out the color. Not even the clay chips in a casino all look the same. Another design issue to keep in mind is whether or not you want a sticker on your chips. Click here to see a chip with a sticker and click here to see a chip without a sticker. The stickers have a perfect design whereas the color design on clay chips varies a little from chip to chip. When purchasing poker chips with a sticker, it is important to closely check that the sticker is absolutely centered. It is a sign of poor quality if it is not.
- Do you want pre-printed values on your chips?
An advantage of using chips with no printed value is that you can assign the value you prefer to different colors. This is especially an advantage if you play different levels and with different number of players each time. A benefit to using chips with printed values is that players don’t have to remember the values of the different colors.
- Do you want to impress your friends?
The casinos in Las Vegas (and in the rest of the world for that matter) use clay chips and naturally your friends will be impressed if they get to use the same kind of poker chips in a poker game at your house.
- What sound do you prefer?
Clay chips create a “thud” sound when they are splashed against the pot, while composite chips give off more of a “ping” sound. Most players prefer the “thud” sound but there are many who favor the “ping”.
- Are you into chip tricks?
The slippery surface of composite chips is more suitable for chip tricks than the dull surface of clay composite chips. Also, most people prefer to use chips that are relatively heavy for chip tricks.
- What weight are you looking for?
Heavy poker chips generally provide a better tactile feel and are more suitable for chip tricks. Normally heavy chips are more expensive than lighter ones. On average American casino chips weighs 9 to 10.5 grams.
- What overall feeling are you looking for?
Many players favor clay chips because they have a dull texture while composite chips are more slippery. The dull surface is also what makes clay chips more suitable for stacking.
|
 |
|
