Whenever doubts arise about chips in poker, they usually have to do with the relationship between their color and their value. But less is said about other issues that usually arise especially to those who are just starting to play poker, and it is necessary to resolve these doubts to continue advancing.
The truth is that, as we will detail as the article progresses, the amount of chips that are dealt in poker varies according to the type of event, game or tournament. This is an aspect that we must keep in mind.
Thus, in this article we are going to focus on the distribution of poker chips to shed some light on a question that is usually common among beginners. Let’s get down to it.
How many poker chips are there?
Normally, the number of chips used in a poker game change depending on the type of game. Normally, there are six kinds of chips that can be found in almost any poker game, and to keep the balance, the higher their value, the lower their presence.
The proportion would be as follows for a standard poker game:
- Chips of 1: 300 units.
- Chips of 5: 200 units.
- Chips of 10: 100 units.
- Chips of 25: 100 units.
- Chips of 50: 50 units.
- Chips of 100: 50 units.
So, how many chips does poker have? If we look at these average values which are the standard measures to quantify the amount of chips used in most poker games, we can say: 800 chips.
But if you change the game, the platform, the number of opponents or the estimated duration, the number and proportion of chips may be altered to ensure the smooth running of the game.
Do you remember what the chips were worth in poker? Think back:
Value of poker chips: detailed explanation of values by color (put URL when published)
What poker chips are dealt in poker
Deal chips in poker is not something that is done lightly or something that is left to chance. The chips represent money and, therefore, knowing how many poker chips are dealt to each player is vital to know what bankroll each player has. The first important piece of information that is important to know before the game begins.
In a poker game there are usually two types of chips: game chips and betting chips.
The game chips are the chips that come from those players who wish to bet. Their monetary value is clear and they are used to call or raise other players.
The betting chips, on the other hand, are chips that are used to indicate the minimum and maximum mandatory bets. That is, the blinds. They are an essential type of chip to start the action and to be able to increase the size of the pot.
How many chips are dealt in poker
The amount of chips that end up being distributed varies in each case. To begin with, it depends on the type of poker being played. Texas Hold’em and Omaha state that the amount of chips dealt depends on the betting structure, not the blinds.
In these cases, for example, in a Hold’em game, each player receives two-hole cards. We are talking about the hole cards. From the flop, the community cards appear in three different phases. In these phases, there is an interspersed betting round in which players can call, raise or decide to fold.
But this is not the case in all modalities. For example, Chinese poker works differently, as well as Caribbean poker and so many other types of poker games that are not based on the same fundamentals as Texas Hold’em and Omaha. Therefore, you have to know what kind of game you are going to play in order to really know how many chips are dealt in your chosen poker game.
How to deal poker chips
The chips that are dealt in poker are not only an ideal method to facilitate the management of each player’s bankroll: they are also a perfect instrument to guarantee the monetary balance of the games, maintaining a basic principle of equality.
But you should also keep this in mind about chips distribution:
- The initial assignment. It takes place before the game starts. This allocation must always be kept within previously established and announced limits, guaranteeing an equitable distribution of chips according to the structure of the game.
- The mandatory betting chips. The blinds are mandatory betting chips that set the minimum and maximum limits in each betting round. Since the positions rotate, on each street the dealer and the blinds also change. The SB (small blind) is placed to the dealer’s left, and the BB (big blind) to the dealer’s right.
- The dealing of the cards. When the blinds are set after the preflop bets, the community cards are dealt on three streets: flop, turn and river. Interspersed, there will be betting rounds, one per street, to reset the betting limits and give players the opportunity to call, raise or fold.
All this leaves us with an interesting conclusion: it is not only a matter of knowing how many chips poker has in each modality and game, but also of making an intelligent use of them. Something that has a lot to do with bankroll management, another aspect that you should begin to master as you gain experience.
