I placed an order with Joe for 20 tables' worth tonight. I don't have an ETA from him yet, but he's going to do these on the 20 cent "whatever edge stripes we have lying around" sale.



Each set is 30 chips (3x of each design) and good for a single table. If you're interested at $6 per set plus shipping, let me know. Here's the interest list I've got so far:

Schmendr1ck: 4 sets
jzpiano: 4 sets
gnc: 2 sets
eneely: 2 sets
abby99: 2 sets

That leaves 6 sets unspoken for.

All right! I hope I can get them by December 15. That's my target date for this tournament.

My thought was to use 2 sets for a one table tournament, so that each chip could come out twice. Would any of you do this, or do you think it is better to have a single set for each table?

I'm also interested in ideas for getting more of these chips out of the bag.

I'm going to PGI to pick them up when they're ready, that should save a couple days over shipping twice. But no ETA from Joe, so they'll be done when they're done.

Each table should have a set of 30 chips, which is three of each, so every chip can come out three times.

Lower the rebuy price and play like a cracked-out monkey. That's what I did last year.

We played for $5 a buy in, rebuy and add on.

Unless you bug the hell out of him...

I had to go back and review this post and this post. Wow, I forgot so much of this.

Too bad you didn't use the "Grandma got run over by a reindeer" chip, but no matter.

Please up my order to 3 sets.

The number of special chips played is related to the number of hands won with a red king in the hole, right? Playing style doesn't change that much.

I'm wondering if pulling a chip when a red king on the board is used would work. Everyone would see it is out there, which could be an intersting aspect. Any thoughts on that?

Here is my rule: If you get to the final betting round with a hand that contains a hole card of a 2h or As you must pull a present (IE a chip from the bag). If your All in with a caller, even if you don't win, you still pull a present.

Done, that will cover you for three tables.

IIRC, we played two tables last year, and both bags were close to empty by the end. Players go nuts for the opportunity to draw a chip.

Shoot, did I misunderstand? One set is 30 chips? I thought it was only 10.

If so, 2 sets is plenty. Sorry about that.

That's why I clarified my reply. One set = one table's worth = 30 chips.

I'll put you back to two sets.

Oh, you clarified it. By writing it down.

That's the last refuge of the diligent.

my holiday favorite game is poker.

Received news today from Schmendr1ck that the chips will be done tomorrow which is when he will be picking them up.

woot!

Go, Schmendie, go!

Gotta clarify that Joe said "probably tomorrow," though knowing him I expect it'll happen.

Hey, we have some breathing room.

Great news. I emailed the gang today to save the date. We could always do it with the colored chips and a cheat sheet, but this will be so much more fun.

And maybe not having a "grandma" will loosen up the action. I don't know, but that is a thermonuclear chip.

Good news and bad news.

The good news is that I picked up the chips yesterday, and they look good. PGI picked some fun edge stripes that work well with the chips and did a good job on the printing. A few are slightly off center but not much, and the blacks look a little green (my fault for not tweaking the images after RGB to CMYK conversion). Apart from those minor quibbles I'm very happy, especially for 20¢ a chip.

The bad news is that I only got 9 of the 10 chips. I didn't get there yesterday until the PGI guys were literally walking out the door to go home, so I didn't check the boxes until later. I don't know if the last chip was printed or not. I've got an email out to Joe but don't expect an answer until Monday. I don't think this will delay shipment more than a day or two, though.

In the meantime, here's a little pr0n:

Those look great! I'm sure he can crank out the "I saw Santa" chips quickly, if he hasn't already.

A local brewery has produced a Santa's Secret ale for many years, but this year they are canning it for the first time. 4 16oz cans for $10. It is really good. The spices are very subtle. This is a beer you can drink a few of without getting sick of the spice.



A 4 pack of this has to be one of my prizes.

A 4 pack of this could be my payment for these chips!

Status update:

I talked to Joe at PGI about the missing chips, and he told me that the printing guy just overlooked one of the chip designs. He printed the missing chips right away and shipped them out yesterday, and tracking info shows that the package arrived in Orlando this morning. It should be on my porch today or tomorrow.

Props to Joe on this one - I've always had great service from PGI, and this was more of the same. From the time he found out about the problem, it was just a couple hours until the package was in the mail.

Thanks for doing this. I really appreciate the time you took on this. Let me know how to pay you.

I've heard nothing but good things here about PGI. He ought to be a sponsor here.

On the other hand, why should he? We're doing it for free.

Update to my earlier status update:

Missing chips arrived in today's mail - will post pics later tonight if I have time (work is busy and I'm hosting a game tonight, so it might be very late or tomorrow).

I would appreciate it if those who have hosted this game would post whatever they have written down to explain their game to their players. As I recall, there were some differing ideas last year, and I'd like to compare notes.

I'll kick it off with my write-up, revised for this new chip set.

In addition, we'll have a potluck dinner before we start.

Santa Gone Wild Poker Tournament
The Game: NLHE Rebuy Tournament
Buy-In: $10 entry for 4,000 chips + Secret Santa Gift + Potluck Dish
Rebuys: $5 for 4,000 chips until the first break. Must bust to rebuy.
Add On: One add-on for $5 for 4,000 chips will be available during the first break
Special: Santa's Bag 'o Presents!

#1 Rule: HAVE FUN!

#2 Rule: If you play a hand down to the river and show a red king as one of your hole cards, you pull one present (at random) from the Bag 'o Presents.

#3 Rule: If the river is a red King, after a round of betting, a sixth card will be dealt face up, with another round of betting. If the sixth card is the other red King, there will be a seventh board card and another round of betting.

Bag 'o Presents Chips

1. Add-on chips of 500, 1000 and 5000 chips, paid immediately.
2. “Secret Santa” – You’re feeling so generous you will be moving ALL-IN blind next hand.
3. “Merry Christmas!” – May exchange for one free buy in when busto. If you have this chip at the break exchange for a free add on.
4. “Gift Exchange” – Exchange all of your chips, including special ones, with the player on your left.
5. "Christmas in Omaha" - At any point, trade in this chip for 2 more hole cards. Use any combination of the board cards and your four cards to make the best hand. If you have this chip after the first break exchange it for 4,000 chips.
   
6. "Company's Coming" - You must exchange places with another player of your choice and that player takes your spot. Take all of your chips with you.
7. "I think I Saw Santa" - This chip may be played at any time. When played you expose at random one hole card of your choice of every opponent left in the hand.
8. "Bah Humbug!" - Keep this chip until you win a pot or bust. While you have this chip you only get dealt one hole card. If you have this chip after the break exchange it for a 500 chip. Bah, humbug to you too!

Rules for Bag 'o Presents
1) You do not need to win the hand at showdown to claim a present, but you must show your cards. Your hand just needs to be in play after the final round of betting, or all-in with a caller. If you win the hand, you must show and draw. If you lose the hand, you have the option to show and draw.

2) If you bust out, but win a present, the present you've drawn is applied after you re-buy. If you choose not to re-buy, you don't pull a present. If it is after the rebuy period and you bust out you are still in the game with the one chip you pull from the bag as a "Last Minute Christmas Gift."

3) After the first break all of the special chips left in the bag will be exchanged for 4,000 in chips.

3) If you pull a present that's already been colored up, the present is discarded. Feel free to shout, "Bah, humbug" if you'd like.

4) "The Night Before XMas" When there are 10 minutes left in the 4th blind level, the clock is paused and play on all tables is paused once the current hands are done. The puck is moved and, starting with the small blind, each player may optionally draw once from the bag 'o presents. Once everything's resolved, the clock is unpaused and play continues.

Secret Santa Gift
In addition to your $5 buy-in, you are to bring in a wrapped Secret Santa gift worth $10-$15. This gift can really be anything you want; something cool, a funny joke, or something politically incorrect. When you bust out of the tournament, you get to pick one of the Secret Santa gifts, open it, and display it proudly for all to see. But you cannot select the present you brought, unless it is the last present available.

Payouts (Rounded to Nearest $5):
1st Place - 50%
2nd Place - 30%
3rd Place - 20%

I generally don't pay much attention to ceramic chips, but the turnaround and service on these is amazing. Impressive show, PGI.

Thanks again for doing this, Schmendr1ck. LMK how to pay you. If it's cheaper, please ship my chips with jz's order.