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Thu Feb 23rd, 2006
What Is A Good Weight For Poker Chips?
by: Johnny Hand
I have been playing poker since my college days. I went to a small school in western Massachusetts. The funny thing is back in those days we would use anything as poker chips. It was not uncommon for us to scrape our pennies together or even break open a bag of potatoes chips that we heisted from the dorm room across the hall to use as our poker chips. Well since then I have matured and in this article I will talk about 13.5g poker chips.
I highly recommend using 13.5g poker chips.13.5g poker chips are the heaviest chips available on the poker market today and are typically of the highest quality grade. These poker chips feel like casino quality chips because they usually are casino quality and are a ton of fun to play with. In fact, these chips are usually better then casino quality poker chips. Think about it a little. The companies that produce these chips have stiff competition and casinos would not pay that much money for the quality of the chips we get on the market! A typical casino uses the 11.5 gram chips that are 39mm in diameter.
The 13.5 gram chips are a little heavier and usually a stronger chip. Again I recommend these. For example, when you have your buddies over playing a tourney and they are dropping the chips on the floor and spilling beer on them. Figuring out what kind of poker chip to splurge on, especially if you play often is important too. Those of you who host poker games should make sure your chips can withstand the consistent handling. (see above about dropping on floor) 13.5g chips are perfect for regular players because the wear and tear that human hands place on chips can be a force. Poker chips are often handled aggressively, (everyone likes to shuffle them etc..) and the cheap ones just may fall victim to the trash can after a dozen games.
Your 13.5g poker chips will compliment your poker set nicely. Good poker supplies make a huge difference in the world. Don't ever even think about short changing your game if it is something you really like. Spend a few extra bucks to get something nice that will last you a lifetime.
You can find 13.5g poker chips pretty much anywhere now. I have seen them at casinos, novelty stores, gaming stores but more importantly online gaming stores. Online gaming stores are turning up all over cyberspace and will often provide you with far cheaper price options for your high quality poker chips. If you don't feel like hopping in your car and heading to a local store, then do yourself a favor and take a peek and see what you can find on the web. However, be careful, do some homework, and don't settle on a store that is not highly suggested by other poker nuts!
In conclusion, take your time when choosing your 13.5g poker chips. Do some quick research and find a reliable source for your poker chips and accessories. Make sure you find the cheapest price for the amount of chips your willing to purchase. So at your next poker tournament that you host you will look like a king and not a peasant!
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About The Author Johnny Hand writes for http://www.the-poker-outlet.com Johny recommends: |
Wed Feb 22nd, 2006
Blackjack hands are scored by their point total. The hand with the highest total wins as long as it doesn't go over 21, which is called a bust. Cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value, and face cards (jack, queen, king) are also worth 10. An ace counts as 11 unless it would bust a hand, in which case it counts as 1.
The goal of each player is to beat the dealer, by having the higher, unbusted hand. Note that if the player busts, he loses, even if the dealer also busts. If the player's and the dealer's hands have the same point value, this is known as a "push", and neither player nor dealer wins the hand.
After initial bets are placed, the dealer deals the cards, either from one or two hand-held decks of cards, known as a "pitch" game, or more commonly from a shoe containing four or more decks. The dealer gives two cards to each player, including himself. One of the dealer's two cards is face-up so all the players can see it, and the other is face down. (The face-down card is known as the "hole card". In European blackjack, the hole card is not actually dealt until the players all play their hands.) The cards are dealt face up from a shoe, or face down if it is a pitch game.
A two-card hand of 21 (an ace plus a ten-value card) is called a "blackjack" or a "natural", and is an automatic winner. A player with a natural is usually paid 3:2 on his bet, although in 2003 some casinos started paying only 6:5 on blackjacks, a move decried by longtime blackjack players.
This is the summary of how the play proceeds after the deal.
If the dealer has a blackjack and the player doesn't, the dealer wins automatically.
If the player has a blackjack and the dealer doesn't, the player wins automatically.
If the player and dealer both have blackjack, it's a tie (push).
If neither side has a blackjack, then the first player completely plays out his hand, followed by the next player, and so on.
When all the players have finished the dealer plays his hand.
The player's options for playing his hand are:
Hit (take another card)
Stand (take no more cards)
Double down (double the wager, take exactly one more card, and then stand)
Split (when the player has identical value cards, such as 8,8, place an additional wager and have each card be the first card in a new hand)
Surrender (forfeit half his bet and give up his hand. Surrender is not offered at most casinos.)
The player's turn is over after any of the following happens:
He decides to stand.
He busts. (in which case he loses even if the dealer subsequently busts, this is the source of the house advantage)
He doubles down and receives exactly one more card.
After all the players have finished making their decisions, the dealer then reveals the hidden hole card and plays his hand. House rules say that the dealer must hit until he has at least 17, regardless of what the players have. In most casinos a dealer must also hit a soft 17 (such as an Ace and a 6). The table felt will indicate whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17.
If the dealer busts then all remaining players win. Bets are normally paid out at the odds of 1:1.
Some common rules variations
one card split aces: one card is dealt on each ace, players turn is over.
early surrender: player has the option to surrender before dealer checks for Blackjack.
late surrender: player has the option to surrender after dealer checks for Blackjack.
double-down restrictions: double-down allowed only on certain combinations.
dealer hits a soft seventeen (ace-six, which can play as seven or seventeen)
European No-Hole-Card Rule: the dealer receives only one card, dealt face-up, and does not a second card (and thus does not check for blackjack) until players have acted. This means players lose not only their original bet, but also any additional money invested from splitting and doubling down.
There are more than a few blackjack variations which can be found in the casinos, each has its own set of rules, strategies and odds. it is advised to take a look at the blackjack rules of the specific variation before playing.
Glossary
Here are some gambling terms you can brush up on:
Payout Table - A posting somewhere on the front of a slot or videopoker machine that tells you what each winning hand will pay for the number of coins or credits played.
Underlay - A bad or unfavorable bet. An event that has more money bet on its happening than can be justified by the probability of it happening.
Barred - Same as Banned. Not allowed to enter the casino premises permanently.
Non-value Chip - A gaming chip which the dollar value is determined by the amount of the buy-in and the amount of chips taken (example: in roulette). Thus, a buy-in of $300.00 for 60 chips equals a value of $5.00 per chip. In roulette, this is uaually established by the "Table Minimum Bet" amount displayed on the table.
Palette - The tool (usually a long flat wooden baton) used in the Baccarat game to move cards on the table.