subject: Buying Poker Chips - How To Choose The Suitable Types For Your Game [print this page] This guide will help you choose the best chips for your budget when buying poker chips on the web. Inexpensive department store chips just won't cut it if you want a more genuine casino sensation for your home poker games.
You can get plastic, clay, or composite clay chips. They have a heavy weight and the feel tends to be better the higher the price.
The 3 types of poker chips are:
Clay Material: One major drawback of plastic chips is their slickness which makes it difficult to slide a stack since it falls over. Clay chips have a more rough texture so they stack much better.
Composite: This is a mid-grade chip that is composed of a mixture of clay and plastic. They are more slippery than clay chips so they don't stack as well and cost less. They are more durable than clay due to the plastic content.
Plastic: These ABS chips are very slick so they don't stack well at all. They are, however the toughest in terms of how much punishment they can take so are ideal for large tournaments where cost is an issue too.
Let's look at how to decide which chips are best for you:
Cost: The low-end ABS poker chips are the least expensive and are great when you need a large number such as a poker tournament. The clay chips are the most costly but the most authentic look, sound, and feel. Composites are in the middle and a nice choice as a gift or lower budget.
Toughness: The most hardy poker chips are the ABS Plastic. They can stand up to rigorous use so are great for tournaments. The most brittle chips are the clay so should only be for home use.
Casino Feel: The best chips and the most authentic are the clay. The more clay content, the more they feel and sound like casino chips.
Authentic Sound: Since the heaviness of the poker chips is accomplished by adding a metal insert, this tends to detract from the nice "plunk" sound from lighter chips that don't have it, giving it a metallic ping instead.
When buying poker chips, consider what you are willing to spend and how durable they need to be. For home use look at the higher clay content chips to get the most authentic casino feel and sound.
