It really doesn’t take much to get a home game of poker going. So long as you have a deck of cards, you can play any time. But having poker chips available can ensure that you play for stakes that you feel comfortable with. Choosing the right poker chip set takes more than meets the eye.
You don’t have to go to your local casino to get the full poker experience. Online casinos can’t replicate the experience, though they come close. The key is to ensure that you have a good deck of cards but also to have the right set of poker chips at your disposal.
Though they may not seem like much, chips can be the piece that brings a poker game together. How much should you spend on a good set of chips and where would you even look? When all is said and done, you will know exactly what to look for in your next set of poker chips.
The Origins of Poker Chips
For ages, chips – plastic, metal, and otherwise – have been synonymous with poker itself. It has become so synonymous that they are even referred to as poker chips by default. These small tokens have behind them a deep, rich history that goes back centuries.
The birth of the poker chip goes back to the early portion of the 19th century in the United States. When poker was just becoming popular, players would use things like gold nuggets, coins, and other trinkets (sometimes even bones) to be the physical representation of their bets. As poker began to become more popular, reaching riverboats and saloons around the nation, there became a need for a standardized betting token.
Early poker chips were made from things like clay, wood, ivory, and bone. Early chips were either oval-shaped or rectangular, featuring a unique design to represent their value. But as demand grew, chip manufacturers started to try out new designs and materials, making them both more durable and appealing.
The birth of the clay poker chip, invented by John H. Winn in the late 19th century, marked a major development in the industry. Winn had long been renowned as a gambling equipment manufacturer and created a chip made of clay and shellac. More durable and pleasing to the touch, these chips became the ideal solution.
With poker continuing to gain popularity throughout the 20th century, high-quality poker chip sets started to become more in-demand. Manufacturers began using different materials, colors, and designs to diversify their options.
By the late 20th century, injection-molded plastic chips took things to the next level. Not only did it make them lightweight and more durable, but they could be mass-produced in different designs and colors, making them more accessible and affordable to all players.
Today, you will find a massive array of poker chips in different materials, designs, and (perhaps most importantly) price points. There are sets for casual players ranging all the way up to the most high-stakes pros. Ceramic have become popular though most high-end casinos stick with traditional clay chips that provide a sense of authenticity.
How to Choose a Poker Chip Set
If you think that you may be in the market for a new chip set in the near future, it helps to know what to look for. Each player and their requirements is different, but these basic tips can help you get started and find the poker chip set that works best for you.
Look
The vast majority of the time, home players choose their poker chip set based on the aesthetic. We all want to play with a good-looking poker chip set, something that makes it feel like we are right there are the tables in Vegas.
Designs can vary based on 6- and 8-stripe chips, full color, custom logos/photos, and more. Fully customized poker chips tend to be quite a bit more expensive but there is nothing quite like a set that looks precisely how you want it to.
Feel
While looks are important when it comes to a quality poker chip, they aren’t everything. Think about how often you and the players at your table will be handling those chips. Something that is bulky and cumbersome will fall out of favor quickly.
For that reason, it is important to find a poker chip set that is lightweight and smooth to handle. There are cheaper sets out there that tend to be made from bulkier materials. Those may be more affordable, but you may find them feeling a bit clunky in your hands.
Quality
Finally, it is important to consider the quality of the poker chip set you are buying. Cost is important to consider, but if you are going to have to replace the set sooner rather than later, are you saving money in the end?
Quality poker sets are made of durable materials and come from trusted manufacturers. These sets are meant to be used heavily without wearing down. You might pay a little more up front, but you will soon find that your new poker chip set is going to be there for years to come.
How Much to Spend on a Poker Chip Set
One of the most commonly asked questions has to do with the cost of poker chips. “How much should I spend?” At the end of the day, it all comes down to what you are comfortable spending, but there are some basic criteria to follow.
If you don’t play that often, a cheaper set around $20-$30 should do just fine. If you play for higher-stakes and do so fairly regularly, a high-end set will run between $100 and $200. Consider how much you play for and how often to know what kind of poker chip set to invest in.
The Best Poker Chip Sets
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to find out what the best sets are for your money. Not every item on this list will be for all types of players; consider what you need out of a poker chip set before ultimately making your choice.
Brybelly Poker Chips 1,000 Chip Set
If cost and frequency of use aren’t things you’re considering, then this is hands down the best set for your money. Coming with a large plastic case, this set comes with 1,000 chips that have each been stylishly designed and crafted with clay.
The carrying case alone tells you just what kind of quality you are getting. The trays are removable to make moving them in and out of the case a lot simpler. The designs are immaculate as well, making it feel like you are about to sit down to a high-stakes casino poker game.
Fat Cat Poker Chip Set
If you are looking for a casino-quality set without having to break the bank, this is the perfect set. The solid aluminum carrying case is stylish and professional, making it feel like you are walking onto the casino floor each time you break it out.
The case itself comes with 500 chips, two decks of playing cards, big/small blind buttons, and even a dealer button. Everything a home game could need to get going is here. It is perfect for home games that play regularly, costing just $40 if you manage to catch it while it is on sale.
Crown Casino Poker Chip Set
Do you want to feel like you are really sitting down at a casino poker table? This poker chip set more than gets the job done. Though it comes with a set of dice and two decks of cards, there is a lot more to love about this poker chip set than that.
With 500 chips and a beautiful case to carry everything in, the real focus is on the chips themselves. These beautiful chips feature a variety of bright colors that denote their individual values. More importantly, these look like a style and quality you would find on the casino floor. For $140, your home game can feel like the real deal.
Boyzhood Poker Chip Set
Looking for a good mix of quality, durability, and affordability? This is the set for you. The Boyzhood poker chip set features 400 beautifully crafted chips. The carrying case makes it feel like you are about to make an important delivery to the casino floor, a stylish yet secure high-quality design that is corrosion resistant.
Complete with a set of dice, two decks of cards, and a dealer button, each chip is beautifully crafted to hold up over time. Each chip has its own value denotation as well, making it simple to dish out the chips at the beginning of the game.
Goplus Poker Chip Set
Not everyone knows the little tricks that come with playing poker. Heck, not all of us know how to effectively shuffle. For that reason, the Goplus poker chip set is a great option because it comes with its own deck shuffler. Get the cards shuffled and ready for dealing in no time.
The set itself is a bit on the small side, featuring just 300 chips. That said, it also comes with blind and dealer buttons, 2 decks of cards, and even a card shoe if you want to get fancy while playing blackjack at home. The designs are also quite simple, going for standout colors rather than a standout design.
Boyzhood Poker Chip Set w/Aluminum Travel Case
For the home players who want to keep things fun without it feeling too much like the grinder that is the casino floor, this Boyzhood poker chip set with an aluminum carrying case is the perfect option. It even comes with blind and dealer buttons, two decks of cards, and a set of dice.
The chips themselves are a bit more simplistic compared to some of the other sets. Coming in six different value denotations, the design is simple and features easy-to-read values on the front. They might not have the casino-quality look but they are more than durable and get the job done.
Conclusion
Though you can realistically pick up a deck of cards and start playing anywhere, nothing brings the authentic feel to a game of poker quite like having chips. Even if they are the cheap, simple plastic chips that clink when thrown together, they get the job done.
Whether you are a part-time home player or like to invest time and effort into your games, the right set of poker chips can make a world of difference. Take your time, do your homework, and know precisely what you are getting when investing in a new set of poker chips.
