Home Poker Chip Setup Guide
A good chip setup keeps your game moving.
A bad one creates constant change-making and slows every street.
Core goals
- Easy mental math
- Enough small chips for early hands
- Clean buy-in and rebuy flow
Recommended chip denominations (casual NLHE)
A simple structure for most home games:
- 1 unit
- 5 units
- 25 units
- 100 units
Avoid too many denominations unless your game is deep-stacked and long.
Example starting stack (100bb style)
If blinds are 1/2 and you want 200 starting chips:
- 10 x 1
- 10 x 5
- 4 x 25
- 0–1 x 100 (optional)
Adjust counts based on your blind structure and table size.
Buy-in and rebuy best practices
- Set min/max buy-in before game starts
- Use one rebuy rule for everyone
- Do not change buy-in policy mid-session
Consistency avoids most home-game disputes.
Fast-flow tips
- Keep a chip bank with one person
- Color up only on planned breaks
- Announce blind changes clearly
Good chip logistics can add a surprising number of hands per night.