How the chips are split
Every player needs enough small chips to post the blinds and make change, without the stack being a pile of small chips nobody can count. So each chip gets enough to make change for two of the next chip up - eight 25s cover two 100s, ten 100s cover two 500s - and the rest of the stack goes out in the biggest chips that fit. A small chip never takes more than 40% of what is left, so a short stack isn't all small change.
Tell it how many of each chip your set has and it checks there are enough to go round. If a chip runs short, the calculator makes up the difference with the others where it can - and tells you if it can't.
Tips for a smooth game
- Match the smallest chip to the first small blind. A 25/50 start needs 25 chips; a 100 chip as your smallest means starting at 100/200.
- Colour up at a break. Once the small blind is several times your smallest chip, swap the small chips for bigger ones so the stacks stay easy to count.
- Keep a bank for rebuys. If you allow rebuys, set aside enough chips for a few extra stacks before you deal them out.
Next, the blind structure generator builds a schedule from your stack and smallest chip.