Poker chip calculator
List the chips in your case and how many of each you have. The calculator splits them into equal starting stacks and never uses more chips than you own.
How the split is chosen
There are usually many ways to make a starting stack. The calculator looks for an exact one that:
- stays within the chips you have, after setting aside any spare stacks for rebuys and late entries;
- gives everyone a handful of the smallest useful chips, so players can post the early blinds and make change;
- avoids huge stacks of chips and chips worth a large share of the whole stack.
The result is one sensible option. Adjust any count with the + and − buttons; the totals and what is left in the case update as you go.
When a stack is impossible
Two things can stop an exact split. If the stack is not a multiple of your smallest chip (10,010 with 25-value chips, say), no combination adds up. If there are not enough chips for every player, the calculator says how much each player could get instead and offers the nearest stacks you can make.
From chips to blinds
Choose “Use this setup in a tournament” to carry the players, starting stack and chip values into the poker timer. The blind schedule then uses amounts your smallest chip can pay, and the clock tells you which chips to colour up at breaks.
Chip values here are tournament chips. They have no cash value; the money side is handled by the payout calculator.
Questions
How many chips should each player start with?
Around 20 to 30 chips per player is easy to handle. Give everyone enough of the smallest chip to post the first few blinds, usually 6 to 10 of them, and make up the rest with larger values.
What starting stack works for a home game?
Stacks of 100 to 150 big blinds at the first level give plenty of play. With 25/50 blinds that is a 5,000 to 7,500 stack; with 50/100 it is 10,000 to 15,000. The timer builds blinds to match whatever stack you choose.
Should I keep chips back for rebuys?
Yes, if you allow rebuys or late entries. Set the number of spare stacks and the calculator keeps that many full stacks in the case.
What does colouring up mean?
When the blinds grow, the smallest chips are no longer needed. At a break, players swap them for larger chips. If you use your chip setup in a tournament, the clock shows which chips can be coloured up at each break.