Poker Chips
With the popularity explosion of home poker games (some people who could play legally online before can no longer do so, so they dive into the home poker scene instead), poker accessories have also seen an increase in sales. People need them now more than before, and - needless to say - poker chips stand way out in this respect. While one can play poker on the kitchen table, he just can't do so without a deck of cards and some chips. Everyone loves poker chips anyway. People like to fondle them, use them for tricks and so on. Some people find it soothing to rattle them, others just like to feel their texture. Without chips, offline play loses all its magic.
If you go to a live poker room, chips are a must there too. While playing at home has certain advantages over playing at different live venues, if you're a high stakes player on the hunt for the big money, that is the only way to go. Sure, you won't have any of the benefits that online poker provides, like multi-tabling, rakeback, speedy games, no obvious poker tells given out etc., but you won't have much of a choice.
If you decide on firing up your own little poker hotspot, you're going to have to purchase several sets of chips.
Fortunately, nowadays poker chips are made by a myriad of companies and most of these companies have online outlets. All you need to do is log on, read up on the chips, choose the right ones and order them. Heck, you don't even need to leave home to get them.
Before you choose though, there are a few things you just need to know about poker chips.
Do not go hunting for authentic casino chips because they are not sold. Those chips are just like money for the casinos and brick and mortar poker rooms, so they treat it just like money: they do not allow them to leave the premises of the establishment. The only way to get your hands on some real casino chips is to smuggle them out yourself, but then again, you won't be able to play with a couple of chips, and if you steal a pocket-load of them their nominal values will probably exceed the price of a top quality chipset, so it's not a lucrative undertaking.
Do not go looking for 100% clay chips either. You've probably heard that clay poker chips are the best ones around. Sure, but what the industry calls "clay" is not exactly clay per se. It's rather a mixture of clay, resins and different earthen materials. These chips are much more resistant than any clay chip could ever be, and they can withstand the wear and tear that comes with the handling much better.
If you're in a creative spot, you needn't even buy your chips. Just use your computer to create a unique design and have them custom made for you. You can even make your own chips if you're really into the matter. For a 10-handed table. about 400 chips should cut it for tournament play. Using 120 $25 ones, 120 $100 ones 100 $500 ones and 60 $1000 ones would make perfect sense. The $25 ones could be used for bigger denominations once the blinds escalate and they become useless. |
