Poker chips, also known as checks or cheques, are generally found in casinos. They are casino tokens that players use in lieu of actual money or currency. Players also use poker chips to represent play money when they take part in casual games.

Poker chips originated as pure clay chips but these original chips were not of a high quality: they broke easily. These chips were the forerunners to the chips we know today – chips that are mostly composed of synthetic materials, though some companies still manufacture chips from pure clay.

Casino chips

These chips are some of the best quality that players will find anywhere: they generally consist of synthetic material and the composition makes it difficult to counterfeit the chips. Casino chips imitate the look and feel of all clay chips but with far better security features, which are very attractive to poker players and casinos.

Composite metal core chips

This type of chip is heavy but durable and can also handle extra security features. These chips are heavier than all other poker chips – it’s the metal core that’s responsible for the extra weight. The chips do last a long time but try to find chips from Taiwan instead of the ones from China. Occasional players may enjoy using these chips; however, they are not casino grade chips.

All clay chips

Poker players who know enough about poker generally prefer clay chips – these chips can last a lifetime in the hands of someone who knows how to take good care of them. Their sound is distinct and they’re also much easier to handle: they’re rougher and generally feel nicer to hold in one’s hand. The only disadvantage to these chips is that they do break down after prolonged use.

Plastic chips

Plastic chips tend not to show up in reputable casinos; their natural habitat is in a player’s home, far away from the glitz of casinos. It is for a reason: plastic chips are not as high in quality as other chips. The one advantage to these chips, however, is that they are cheap and easy to find in nearly all parts of the world.

Author bio:

All Africa Poker wrote this article about the big variety there exists in poker chips.