Maybe you have never given thought to this but it can be a pretty important part of your poker strategy. Playing 3 chip vs 4chip.

3 chip games are:

• $3-$6 Limit (played with $1 chip)
• $6-$12 Limit (played with $2 chip)
• $9-$18 Limit (played with $3 chip)
• $15-$30 Limit (played with $5 chip)
• $30-$60 Limit (played with $10 chip)

4 chip games are:

• $4-$8 Limit (played with $1 chip)
• $8-$16 Limit (played with $2 chip)
• $20-$40 Limit (played with $5 chip)
• $40-$80 Limit (played with $10 chip)

Most casinos prefer to spread 4 chip games. Why? Because 4 chip games create action. There are more chips in the pot, thus the pots appear to be bigger. Notice I said appear because you are using four chips for one bet vs three chips for one bet. However, mathmatically speaking, there is the same number of bets in the pot whether it is a 3 chip game or a 4 chip game.

Since the pots appear to have more bets in them, more people start to chase (which in effect does create bigger pots on average in 4 chip games).

So now you have to analyze your playing style and pick the type of game that is right for your style.

For example, I’m a tight player and I like to wait for the better Hold ‘Em hands. I don’t like to play any two suited cards or A-6 or other garbage folks like to chase with. I like to bluff and win pots even when I have nothing, or the dealer is giving me nothing. Finally I love to steal blinds and I like to win when I have AA. I know the cards I play have a better chance of winning against 2-3 players at the most. Therefore, I play 3 chip games almost exclusively.

If you are the type of player who loves action, will play any two cards suited, play any Ace no matter what card it is with, love to play your blinds, love big pots, will play any suited connectors.. then you are the type of player who loves playing the long shots. When you play those type of hands you need lots of other players in the pot or you will go broke fast. A 4 chip game is best for your playing style.