There is a huge selection of poker chips for you to choose from. On Yahoo Shopping alone you will find 29,000 results when you look for poker chips. However there are really only 3 sorts that you need to concern yourself about. They are; clay plastic and composite. As there are advantages and disadvantages to each type so you will need to do some research before you buy. Here are some pointers for you.

Plastic

Plastic is the red-headed step child of the poker chip world. Plastic poker chips won’t get you any oohs or awwwws from your poker buddies and you sure as heck can’t do any tricks with them. These chips can be found at your local Wal-mart right next to the card decks. They’re cheap, generally only about $1.50 or less per 100 chips and because they’re so cheap they’re also disposable.

They are for the one time only poker party and are useful only for the occasional poker player.

Composite

These chips are pretty cheap and will last a long time. They are easy to clean, especially if compared to clay poker chips. Whereas clay chips will only last 5-6 years maximum composite ones will last forever.

Are there any drawbacks? The real problem is the fact that they lack the look feel and sound of the authentic casino chips. Poker game enthusiasts just are not satisfied with composite chips.

Clay

These are the most elite chips you can get. The poker pros use these, and of course all casinos will use these exclusively.

So what is the lure of these chips? The look and feel of them is enough to set a poker lover’s heart racing but the sound will really be the pinnacle of excitement.

The only issue with clay poker chips is that you’ll pay for them both financially and with your time to keep them looking their best. Clay chips need to be gently hand washed and oiled to keep them looking their best. A well cared for set of clay poker chips will last for about five or six years, but a badly neglected clay chip set will turn to dust in about two. If you’re going to spend the money on clay, make sure you have the time to take care of them.

Your intended use of your chips will determine which of these types you need. Are you going to host poker games at home on a weekly basis, or just throw a one time only poker party. Take all your needs into consideration before you purchase.