Discovering The Weight Of A Poker Chip
May 22, 2008
As you look at the various chips available, you will notice that different types of chips have varying weights. The assortment is quite wide and can be anything from 9 grams up to 13 grams. So what is the exact weight that a chip should be?
There is no definite answer available for that question. This is because it is all a matter of personal taste. For the purists who have to know the exact weight a further clue will be “that depends.”
Alright. Now I’m going to stop being so dang cryptic and explain to you what I mean. The most common poker chip size is 11.5 grams. Don’t ask me why, it just is. These are the poker chips that used to flood the retail outlets (and still do in some areas) and that most people have in their garages. If you go by shear volume, then 11.5 grams is the “right” weight for a poker chip. It’s certainly the weight most familiar to the average home gamer who lives far away from a casino.
But if you mean, “What size chip do the casinos use?” when you ask what the “right” weight is for a poker chip, then the answer is definitely not 11.5 grams. In fact, the answer becomes a bit of a moving target.
There are some differences in the weight of Las Vegas. The usual weight for the casino chip is 10 grams. As these chips are made of clay it is probably the weight of the material in a certain size of chip. You can also find 13 gram chips, but these are generally weighted with metal flakes.
If you’re looking for a hard, fast, “official” weight; then I’d have to go with 10 grams. However go out and grab a handful of chips and mess around with them. Buy whichever size feels best for you. You may find that 10 grams is miserably light and that you’d much prefer a set of 13 gram chips.
Of course the ultimate decision will be if you and your poker friends are happy with a particular weight of chips. You want your poker friends to be happy as this will give a better atmosphere to your home games.
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