It’s traded hand to hand, shuffled from one side of the table to the next, and tossed back into the pot time and time again. It sees a lot of action, and represents everything that you bring to the table. Of course you’ve guessed it; I’m referring to the darling of the table, the poker chip. Poker chips get handled, tossed and raked by everyone at the table. It’s at this time when  tend to pick up not only body oils from the players hands and fingers, but also tiny bits of food and beverages always present at a poker game. After repeated exposure to these conditions, can begin to change in appearance. The buildup of oils and food particles which get deposited during play will turn any shiny poker chip turn into a grimy token no one wants to pick up. If your poker chips are beginning to offend your senses, then it’s most definitely time to clean them. Just how you clean them comes down to personal preference, but there are a few general guidelines you can follow to keep your  in pristine fashion, without damaging the chips. Please note that the following suggestions do not cover the cleaning of vintage. You are advised to seek out a qualified professional to clean vintage poker chips.

Removes Grime Buildup. The cleanser should be able to remove the aforementioned body oils and food particles adequately. Leaves Ink Intact. The last thing you want is to remove the ink from your poker chips while cleaning. Be sure the cleanser isn’t harsh enough to dissolve ink. Leaves  Hydrated. It may sound a little strange, but  do need a certain level of moisture left in them, or they will become brittle. Avoid using agents such as rubbing alcohol, as it can remove ink and dry out your poker chips. Some of the cleansers that veteran poker players use to clean their  are mild hand dishwashing detergent, Sterling Magic and Armor All Multi-Purpose Cleaner. When using the Armor All, be sure you get the multi purpose cleaner and not the Armor All tire cleaner or other Armor All products as they will damage your poker chips. Another popular cleanser to use is called Quick'n'Brite. When used properly, all the above mentioned cleansers will clean your  without any harmful side effects.

When cleaning poker chips, it’s best to use a very soft-bristled baby toothbrush, or a very soft cotton towel. Pay special attention to protecting the center design. Try keeping your thumb over the center of the poker chip while using the toothbrush around the outer edge. Rinse the poker chips in a bowl of water and wipe them dry with a soft towel or terry cloth. After a good gentle cleaning, you can add extra shine by giving them a dip in baby oil to restore luster. As always, due diligence is required by testing your cleaning method on one poker chip to see if you get the desired results. There are many variations of poker chips in terms of style, weight and size on the market, but generally the ones that you see and use in the casinos are all made out of clay. Clay gives the  certain feel and structure that adds a real presence, class and durability to the game of poker. 9 gram and 13.5 gram clay  represent the high quality of poker chips that are available on the market today. Examine these clay  a little further in this article.

The clay poker chips that are used in casinos have certain requirements such as size, weight and quality. Manufacturers that sell chips to the general public make these chips of a very similar quality and upon the same guidelines as the authentic chips that are played on actual casino tables. This enables amateur and social players to have quality chips made by the best manufacturers, right in their own homes. The normal clay chip size is 39 millimeters in diameter and weighs 11.5 grams. These are exact specifications so that each chip will be identical (unless of different color). The majority of Casinos, including those based in Vegas, tend to use chips between 9 gram and 13.5 grams according to their own needs. This keeps the chips uniform and easier to control and when different colors are used it helps players to differentiate their chips form their opponents.

There are many reasons that 13.5 gram clay is the substance preferred when it comes to . First of all, it gives the chips a solid and evenly spread weight. These chips feel smooth but heavy, and usually help players to remember the value of each chip. Clay can be imprinted to give a certain design or signature of owner which is usually what happens in Casinos – Casino branding is popular. 9g clay poker chips are professional grade that are perfectly and specifically designed to be exactly the same in style, texture, size and weight. Casinos pay a lot of money for the highest quality . These chips are custom made to have the design and look of that given casino.

Clay poker chips are special because they are all uniform and they look terrific. This means that they are exactly the same size and weight and the design and decorations are perfect. Abnormal chips are usually a sign of counterfeiting and fake chips from Casinos; therefore the manufacturers must be precise in their manufacturing processes. There is a lot of money riding on the quality of the chips and the level of difficulty that is applied to eradicating counterfeit practices. Along with the size and weight, the outer coating of the poker chips is also quite important because this will prevent the decal from coming off if it is fiddled or deliberately tampered with. With high quality manufactured chips when the decal is removed, the chip should be ruined beyond repair. Therefore all clay poker chips are either played with when they are in their original state or they are removed from play altogether. It is neither easy nor cheap to produce such high quality chips but they really are a necessity for Casinos. Casinos must be confident with the quality and preservation of their chips which means that they are willing to put a lot into them.

But do not despair. Just because you are not a Casino does not mean that you cannot have casino quality 9 gram, 11 gram or 13.5 gram clay poker chips too. These chips are usually cheaper to the public because they do not have to pass through such stringent security guidelines. They will generally be made out of the same materials and taken through the same production process. And of course if you really want to, you can customize them to your liking, even with your own brand. Women are being increasingly attracted to the excitement of online poker. Many professional women now shop extensively online and it’s natural that they should explore other ways of having fun and spending their money online.

I have been playing poker since my college days. I went to a small school in western Massachusetts. The funny thing is back in those days we would use anything as poker chips. It was not uncommon for us to scrape our pennies together or even break open a bag of potatoes chips that we heisted from the dorm room across the hall to use as our poker chips. Well since then I have matured and in this article I will talk about 13.5g . I highly recommend using 13.5g .13.5g  are the heaviest chips available on the poker market today and are typically of the highest quality grade. These poker chips feel like casino quality chips because they usually are casino quality and are a ton of fun to play with. In fact, these chips are usually better then casino quality poker chips. Think about it a little. The companies that produce these chips have stiff competition and casinos would not pay that much money for the quality of the chips we get on the market! A typical casino uses the 11.5 gram chips that are 39mm in diameter.

The 13.5 gram chips are a little heavier and usually a stronger chip. Again I recommend these. For example, when you have your buddies over playing a tourney and they are dropping the chips on the floor and spilling beer on them. Figuring out what kind of poker chip to splurge on, especially if you play often is important too. Those of you who host poker games should make sure your chips can withstand the consistent handling. (see above about dropping on floor) 13.5g chips are perfect for regular players because the wear and tear that human hands place on chips can be a force. Poker chips are often handled aggressively, (everyone likes to shuffle them etc..) and the cheap ones just may fall victim to the trash can after a dozen games. Your 13.5g  will compliment your poker set nicely. Good poker supplies make a huge difference in the world. Don't ever even think about short changing your game if it is something you really like. Spend a few extra bucks to get something nice that will last you a lifetime.

You can find 13.5g poker chips pretty much anywhere now. I have seen them at casinos, novelty stores, gaming stores but more importantly online gaming stores. Online gaming stores are turning up all over cyberspace and will often provide you with far cheaper price options for your high quality . If you don't feel like hopping in your car and heading to a local store, then do yourself a favor and take a peek and see what you can find on the web. However, be careful, do some homework, and don't settle on a store that is not highly suggested by other poker . In conclusion, take your time when choosing your poker chips Do some quick research and find a reliable source for your poker chips and accessories. Make sure you find the cheapest price for the amount of chips your willing to purchase. So at your next poker tournament that you host you will look like a king and not a peasant!