18xx Training's Beginner's guide to poker chips

This video is a beginner’s guide to using poker chips in 18xx games. It describes several of the difficulties in choosing a set, gives an overview of 6 commonly used sets and helps you figure out how many chips are needed for a game.

You can reach me at:

or on Online 18xx friends discord

Turn on the Klingon channel for corrections. Thank you.

Time Codes:
0:00 start
0:20 Custom Sets
0:40 Overview
1:50 Inclined Plane Demonstration
2:21 ABS Metal Slug chips (Monti Carlo)
3:32 Mass Market Striped Dice Chips
5:01 Iron Clays
6:10 Apache Bank Chips
7:07 Boardgame Geek Gaming Chips
8:03 Super Diamond Chips
8:57 Quantity and Distribution

Useful Links
Golden Spike Games:
All Aboard Games:
Small White boxes:

[docteurslump]

This channel is getting more and more interesting content about 18xx, good job Mr Leone :)

[tomasmesen]

I used to play with Iron Clays but last year I found a copy of Hold'em-opoly which includes a nice set of mini poker chips with printed denominations. I've since sold my Iron Clays since these mini chips are so portable.

[BenLeinweber]

Thanks for the video Joe! It's a good quick start guide on the topic!

[watchmaker]

I went with Iron Clays a few years ago simply because I had backed the massive Roxley Brass kickstarter a while back and already had a good amount of the necessary set.

I did have to spend about an hour one day lightly sanding both sides of all the chips to counteract the slipperiness.

I'm glad to have the set. They are my 18xx group's favorite to play with because they have 20s and feel weighty and substantial.

[BenLeinweber]

I find having a small amount of intermediate denominations quite helpful. Something like 2-3 chips per player of 10's and 50's feels about right, as long as your players are chipping up each round.

[drputt]

Joe great seeing ya @ WBC… can’t wait to get with ya again

[BenLeinweber]

I started with the Apache Bank chips after quite a bit of personal research. I like your suggestion though that if you need chips before the research to use the dice chips. I've played poker with those babies before and they're a good cheap place to start!

[Madeleine-zy]

Good video! I personally have a set of Montecarlo chips, but unlike the ones in the video, they are clay. They are not slippery and weight 13-14g per chip. Some people prefer 10g chips, but since I never travel with them, I prefer how the heavier ones feel. I think that Iron Clays are one of the worst options, too overprice for their quality, and people just get them because of popularity and aesthetic reasons.

[ourfamilytogether]

Not an 18XXer but want a set for economic Euros. I was waiting on the Roxley Iron Clay restock but noticed that the Apache Banks are being restocked next week and I have my order in. It’s a tight window but I’m hoping to get them in time before we leave for WBC on the 20th!

[truce]

is there any update to your poker chip preferences as of 2024? Are you close to southeast TN?

[MadCity]

Apache Bank Chips set of 300. Have to be ordered in packs of 25 so: 50- 1's, 25 Train chips for odd denominations(2's in 1862 and 200's in 1835 for example), 25- 5's, 50- 10's, 50- 20's, 25- 50's, 50- 100's, 25- 500's. Later added 25- 1000's for overflow in the last OR's when the bank runs out. I won't need another set, that's 20, 425 ...not including the Train chips. The extra 25k in 1000's was overkill actually, hindsight shortcut being 25- 10's maybe with 25- 1000's rounding out the 300(45, 175+25 Train Chips).

[geraldstacy]

I just have a set that my mother got as a free gift from one of her casino trips after Colorado legalized gambling. Of course, I don't play 18xx games with them. Not sure I'd be able to field a full bank's worth.

[Phasmtis]

Great video as usual. I went with Iron Clays because I bought them with the 2 Brass games, but I have been tempted to buy another set of Apaches. Does anyone play with the smaller chips?

[Peace]

Great video. But, hey! What about Ceramic and Clay Poker Chips?

[manjr]

Yeah, I could do without the 10s and 50s. Nice review!

[PowrThru]

Apache chips by a mile in my mind. You don’t need 10’s and 50’s, that’s nonsense.

[Peace]

I just received my order of Custom Ceramic Poker Chips. If anyone is interested in what is possible with Custom Ceramic Poker Chips, just Search; "1830 Poker Chips (39mm). Priority Deal Button (80.772mm). Player Order Buttons (49mm)." in their search engine. No quotes necessary. Thank you.