Poker chip selection
I have been asked by more than a few people about poker chips. The questions are generally “What’s the best brand?” Well, the best brands are probably the most expensive. But why?
Everyone knows that clay poker chips are “the best.” Unfortunately, not all the chips that claim to be clay are 100% clay. On Ebay if you run a quick search for “poker chips” you will see hundreds of listings claiming to have “clay” poker chips. But their BIN price is only $75.00. I can assure you, these are not casino quality poker chips. They have a clay-like exterior with a metal insert to give them the proper weight - they sound fake when they hit the table and they are usually much slicker than what they use in Vegas.
When you watch poker on TV you probably see poker players stacking chips into stacks that look 50, 60, even 100 chips high. How?! The chips in Las Vegas and other major casinos are designed to withstand the shaking and bumping of tables that occur at craps and roulette games. They have a sort of suction that allows you to stack them into huge towers. The chips you’ll find on Ebay lack this feature because they are not 100% clay and are not designed to withstand the bumping and shaking that goes on at Vegas table games.
So where can you find some real poker chips?
It’s tough to do. The casinos don’t want people to get their hands on exact replicas because people could create counterfeit chips and they already have a big enough problem dealing with counterfeit bills.
There are a few places that I have seen offering quality chips. One, The World Poker Tour Shop, has a great set of chips for $400. It comes with 500 chips, 3 different colors, and they are 100% clay. I have played with these in a home game and they feel great, you can stack them high, and do all sorts of tricks.
If you’re looking for something that isn’t branded by the WPT then you should try to find a site that is selling Paulson chips. They make the “James Bond” chips that you will see on Ebay - they usually cost over $1.00 per chip! It’s a pretty hefty price tag, but well worth it for the quality you’ll be getting. You will notice that Paulson chips weigh 10.0 grams - not the “standard” 11.5. 10.0 is the true casino weight, contrary to what Ebay sellers will have you believe. Most importantly, Paulson’s chips are created from molds and are 100% clay and offer the “suction” effect you’ll find in the best casino chips. They actually make chips for many of the biggest casinos in the world, including some in Las Vegas.
Another great set of chips on the market is “Nevada Jacks.” They’re a little less pricier than Paulson and offer a “textured” feel that only 100% clay chips can offer. They offer a fancy design on the front, I guess it’s Nevada Jack? They’re a great alternative to Paulson if you’re looking to save some money and still get a very good set of chips.
If you’re looking for some reviews or trying to find a great set of chips, 21ace.com has a comprehensive listing of different poker chips and user ratings of each chip.
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