So you’re looking for a good poker chip set but are a bit overwhelmed with all the options out there? For starters, you’re likely looking to have a decent set for your home game and not likely looking at starting a casino or anything. That’s a good thing. Poker chips can vary from pennies per chip to many many dollars per chip. And of course if you are chip collector (and there are thousands of them in the US alone!) then you can try to break the record of $100,000 for an old $100 Sahara vintage chip.
A bit steep? Well, the value of your average home poker chip set is all determined by the material the chip is made from. On the market you can find plastic chips, metal chips, composite chips, and – the most expensive – clay poker chips. Most serious poker players should really be looking at clay chips only. The advantage of clay is that they are fairly durable, and “heavy” on the fingers. They have a good weight which psychologically enhances the poker playing experience. And if you don’t believe that’s true, do what I did the other day. My son wanted to crack open his piggy bank. When I lifted it from the dresser, the thing weighed a tonne! I immediately made the observation that he must have “a lot of money in there”. Indeed it felt that way. However, when we busted it open, there was about $8 in coins (my son is 4 years old – and was convinced that balloons were where to spend his “savings” on this day). Now if I held a crisp $10 bill, it wouldn’t feel like the “value” of that piggy bank but it’s obviously worth more. Okay, so maybe it’s overly simplistic, but never underestimate the power of the human mind to cling to simplicity and tactile sensations! Size may not matter, but weight does!
Back to poker chips… the clay chips come in a variety of weight most commonly (in grams): 9, 9.5, 10, 11.5, 12, 12.2, 13, 14, and 15 grams. Generally speaking the heavier the chip, the more expensive it is. Personally, I prefer the “look” of the poker chip to the weight, but I will always buy clay chips. I would say at minimum, get at least 10-12 gram chips. They just “feel right” and are often casino grade. Several sources I know quote 11.5 as the most “popular” and presumably best-selling poker chip weight. Clay chips also seem to resist flaking, scratching and chipping. Remember, poker chips will get heavy physical usage, so you don’t want to skimp on quality. Really good clay chips should last a lifetime of use.
Paulson is one of the most popular “quality” clay poker chips on the market. I highly recommend them. Paulson supplies some of the largest casinos in the world and they make the nicest and most mainstream of the high-end poker chip. But there are dozens of manufacturers out there.
The other thing to consider is that you are not just buying one poker chip. You are likely going to be getting a full set of poker chips and I would not skimp on the quantity. Get as many as money can buy. Inevitably, some chips will get lost, damaged, destroyed etc. It all depends on how many players you typically play with. However, it’s critical to keep in mind that it is a BIG no-no to mix two different poker chip sets/designs. It looks cheap and amateur (even if one or both sets is very expensive). So don’t run short on your matching chip sets. I would opt for a 1000 piece 10 gram set over a 300 piece 14 gram set. Quality is huge in poker chips but quantity is still the final trump card in my opinion.
Finally, always get a poker chip case if your set doesn’t already come with one. Because you can buy chips in rolls/groups, it is conceivable that you may have to buy your case separately. I’m not too picky about the case so long as it has a snugly padded interior. I actually don’t mind the look of aluminum or stainless steel. Some of my colleagues like the pricey wood case or gun metal. The one case I can’t bring myself to get is a plastic case. Plastic and poker just don’t seem to jive together in my book!
And last but not least… I have a confession to make. I have to be honest. I like a lot of detailed design and definite edging in my poker chips. I just feel that the more carving, painting, detail in the chips, the more expensive and elegant they look and feel when using them. As a result you won’t see Dice Chips or Suited Chips in my house.
I will sacrifice weight for the “look” of the chip. This is totally a personal preference. But if you’re like me, you know exactly what I mean. After some digging, I found some great deals out there. Feel free to shop around, but in my opinion, these are some great picks if you’re looking for something right now. Just remember, these are subject to availability by the merchant. I can’t vouch for how long these will be available (especially at the price of the latter two sets below! Wow!)
- I mentioned Paulson is my favourite brand – but it’s like saying “I need a solid, reliable and high quality vehicle” and then buying a Porsche. But if you have the cash, the “500 Paulson National Poker Series Chips with Mahogany Case” is the set you want (GO HERE and then cut/paste the title in the search box on the site to find the set). Priced at $899, it’s definitely not a purchase you’ll want to tell your spouse about (if they’re not into poker as much as you are!).
- For something A LOT more affordable but still excellent quality, this 500 piece set is an awesome deal for $49.95. It’s also a mammoth 15 gram chip set! I especially like its sophisticated design. I would buy 2 of these to get 1000 chips in a heartbeat if I needed a set. GO HERE and search for “500pc 15 Gram “Casino Ace” Clay Poker Chip Set with silver Aluminum Case”
- Last but not least, I think this is the deal of the year! This is a wickedly priced 500 piece set that’s an unbelievable $29.99 (marked as “most discounted” from $149.95). I feel a bit strange about endorsing a set I’ve never owned, but the deal is too good to pass up. GO HERE – It’s called the “500pc 11.5 Gram “Las Vegas’ Poker Set”. I don’t like the design as much as Casino Ace, but it’s the best budget set I’ve seen that’s still decent quality at this price point. Again, I would get 2 sets… well worth under $60 in total. I actually might buy a few as gifts – it’s an awesome deal.
Bullet Point #2 – “Casino Ace” Set of 500 chips (15 grams) for only $49.95!
