Choosing the right poker chips

Which poker chips are right for me? - There are countless variants of poker chips with different quality levels. At a poker night you have the chips permanently in your hand. Therefore, the feeling that a chip gives when handling through haptics and sound should not be underestimated. In the following we would like to give you a guide so that you can decide as best as possible which poker chips are perfect for you.

 

 

First of all, the main differences in poker chips should be considered:

  • Quality (material)
  • Optics (appearance)
  • Feel
  • Numbering (with or without value)

 

1. The properties in detail

The quality of a poker chip depends largely on that Material depends on what it is made of. The common chips can usually be divided into the following material types:

  • Plastic (ABS composite or ABS PP)
  • Clay (Clay) or clay composite
  • Ceramics (Ceramic)

Plastic chips are usually the ones cheapest, Ceramic chips the most expensive.

If the quality is only judged by stability, the chip types will not take much. The chip will not break or shatter in any of the above variants if it falls on the ground. In the case of plastic chips, this still seems obvious to everyone, but the other two variants are no less robust because they are made with composite materials that provide the necessary material strength. So usually no "pure" clay chips (Ton) or ceramic chips are bought because they are too fragile.

The price differences thus basically result from the respective costs in the manufacturing process and the material costs. The more expensive chip types are made of a higher quality material that is more pleasant to the touch and has a significant impact on the feel of the game.

 

1.1. plastic poker chips

Plastic poker chips are usually made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or ABS plastic or polypropylene. In order for them to have the desired weight, which poker players * love so much, they are often fitted with a metal core. Nevertheless, plastic chips are often lighter than clay chips and the material is significantly inferior to the other two types of chips.

Plastic poker chips often exhibit the typical manufacturing characteristics that result from being manufactured in a mold, such as sharp, tactile edges on the edge. Also, they feel very smooth on the surface and the sound they make when they hit each other is flat. This makes them less grippy and the playful stacking (stack), which experienced players like to run alongside, is therefore more difficult. In addition, an imprint on plastic chips fades more quickly due to wear and tear. Colorful imprints in the middle of the chip are therefore usually stuck on by stickers. Plastic chips often don't have a sticker in the middle, but are blank.

If you like to buy cheap, plastic chips are always well advised. In our experience, however, it is the case that players quickly find the funnel that the poker heart only beats faster when they are playing with proper equipment. Often this leads to the fact that a plastic set is bought at the beginning, but then the players realize that they need an upgrade and in the end buy twice. We therefore recommend that you invest a little more directly in the initial equipment.

 

1.2. Clay poker chips

Clay poker chips are the most common and very popular among advanced players. However, these do not consist of pure clay, but of a clay-plastic mixture (clay composite), which gives the chip the necessary stability. This also creates the typical sound of these chips. The manufacturing process is more complex than with a plastic chip and leads to significantly more colorful results than with plastic chips.

 

 

Metal cores are also often used for this type of chip in order to achieve the desired weight, which is usually around 11g-14g.

Clay chips are typically not printed, but are made in a stamping process with casting molds. Each color is inserted separately at the edge with colored material, so that fading is impossible. There could be minor features from the manufacturing process. In the middle of the chip there is usually a sticker for this type of chip to make the chip more appealing or to add a number.

The main difference to the plastic chips is that clay chips have a better feel because they have a slightly rough surface due to the clay content. This gives the chip a better grip and is therefore easier to stack (stack). This difference, which should not be underestimated, is quickly noticed by experienced players and will definitely enhance a poker evening where the chips are constantly being handled.

You can find our selection of clay chips here .

 

1.3. Ceramic poker chips

Ceramic poker chips are even higher quality than clay chips due to the material used. These are not 100% ceramic either (ceramic), but contain stability-enhancing composites. They also have a typical sound that makes a poker player's heart beat faster. The chips can be designed so flexibly that even the edge can be printed.

Ceramic chips do not need any stickers, as they can be completely printed on during production. Good ceramic chips have a slightly textured surface, which ensures a special grip and colors that do not wear out so quickly.

 

 

A metal core is usually not processed here. Still, the chips typically weigh around 10g, which feels very good.

If you invest in good ceramic chips, you definitely won't go wrong and end up with high-end poker equipment.

You can find our selection of ceramic chips here . 

 

* For reasons of readability, only the masculine form is used. Of course, women are also included.