Free Poker Chips ? Are You Kidding Me?

Posted by Nick Niesen on October 26th, 2010

Is there such a thing as free poker chips? Yes and no. You don?t really need any special supplies to play cards (except, of course, the deck of cards). Everything in addition to the cards is just a bonus. So the big question is what makes the best free poker chips and why?

Really anything can be used as free poker chips. If you literally only have a deck of cards and three of your best friends and want to get the game going, you can play using nothing at all. Each player can just keep a mental note in your head of how much you have and how much you will lose? Keep all the bets and the ante the same?For example, if each player starts with fifty points, and each ante costs one point and every time you decide to raise the stakes you also have to deduct one point.

But why bother with all that math? Unless you are stranded on a desert island, there has got to be something that you can use as free poker chips, right? So what are the alternatives? Well, it depends on where you are. Whenever the boss leaves early for the day at my office, we often play a game (or twenty) sitting around one of our desks. There are many things that we can use around the office, the best alternative is paper clips. If you don?t have the colored ones to represent the different denominations, don?t worry! You can use metal paper clips for a one dollar bet, a rubber band for a five dollar bet and push-pins for a ten dollar bet.

Ok, you aren?t in the office. You want to play a game of Texas holdem, but you don?t have any chips and everyone is standing around with twenty, fifty and hundred dollar bills. What?s a guy to do? Well, you can raid your kids? board games and take the bank from it. Monopoly or Life have huge banks that you could easily use. And just imagine the thrill of being able to plunk down a $500 dollar bill, when you were just using it for a 50 cent bet!

No board games at home, don?t worry there are many other things that you can use for free poker chips. Food items can be used if you are in a pinch. For example, you can use different sweets for different denominations. Perhaps a single Skittle would be a 50 cent bet, an M&M would be a dollar bet and the five dollar bet would be a chocolate kiss. Get creative, but don?t forget that eating your wins might just hurt your bankbook!

If you really want to play a couple of games of cards and need free poker chips, there are several creative ways that you can solve this problem. Whether keeping a mental tally in your head, using office supplies, raiding the bank of a popular board game, or using some snacks you should be able to get by in a pinch. If you really are reading this from a desert island, and all you literally have is yourselves and a deck of cards, you can always bet your clothes.