If you asked twenty people why they play poker, they would all say, "To make money" - and they'd all be lying. "To make money" is the reason that people go to work every day; it's not the reason they play poker.

People play poker for the challenge. They play it for the camaraderie. They play for the experience. They play to have fun. Poker is a rich and complicated experience. It's a game that takes minutes to learn and a lifetime to master. It's a game that demands respect.

Anyone can run a home game with nothing but a deck of cards and a kitchen table and that's fine if you're only goal is to make money. But there's something empty about playing poker with dollar bills on a kitchen table. It's like drinking wine straight from the bottle. There's just something wrong about it.

Cheap poker chips aren't much better than dollar bills. The experience is a little better, but the chips sound hollow and they're clumsy to handle. You may not be drinking wine straight from the bottle anymore, buy you are drinking it from a water glass-not much better.

Now imagine a poker game that's set up on a beautiful new Texas Hold'em table with a new set of clay poker chips. The felt is soft and it makes sweeping the chips easy. The clay chips provide and added dimension to the game- the soft, musical clinking sound that occurs when you toss the chips in the pot. Now you're drinking wine from fine crystal stemware.

A good set of poker chips is still a necessity for those players who insist that they play poker only for money. Psychological studies show that people play looser when they use poker chips.

The reason for the looser play is because poker chips are symbolic representations of real money. It's easier to throw a $100 chip into the pot than it is to throw a $100 bill into the pot. Poker chips provide a mental degree of separation from "real money." That's good news for you because a loose home game is a profitable home game.

Looser games aren't the only benefit that poker chips provide. They provide a rich poker playing experience. They provide an authentic casino feel. Have you ever tried to rifle through a stack of dollar bills at a table? Not much fun. Not nearly as fun as shuffling chips or pulling off a chip twirl.

There's also something to be said about a nice set of poker chips as a status symbol. Cheap plastic chips say, "I play poker every once in a while." But a nice set of clay poker chips say, "I love this game; I'm a poker connoisseur- and I know what I'm doing." Those of you who've played with clay poker chips before know the difference they make in game play. Those of you who haven't, probably think I'm exaggerating.

If you haven't played with clay chips before, go out and get a set. It is truly a different poker playing experience and one not to be missed.

It is time to purchase your poker chips, but there is one problem, you do not know a thing about poker chips. When you go online, for more information, it just confuses you more. There seems to be a number of different varieties available and there are wide price ranges for a simple set of 300 chips. It just does not seem to make sense.

There are many different poker chip makers out there ranging from no-name Chinese firms that make your run-of-the-mill poker chips to the big boys like Paulson. Who should you buy from? What chip is right for you? How do you research this stuff anyway?

Initially you will need to look beyond just poker chips. This key phrase will simply bring up stores where you can buy chips, but will not give any serious information for researching them. To help you to do your research you would be wise to use keywords like; "poker chip reviews" and "poker chip articles." You can narrow the search still further and use brand names, for example "Paulson poker chips articles." Of course you will still get some stores but you will also get a great deal of useful information.

You will probably find that when you find shops under this category you will also find information about poker chips. These places are very valuable sources of knowledge and will assist you in your search for the right poker chip.

Peruse the articles in detail and make a note of any queries. This will help you to pinpoint different key phrases to find out more about certain types of chips, casino or brand name poker chips. The more you search the more informed you will be, until you know enough to become the expert and can chose the chip you need.

When you are successful in finding out the right chip you will need to return to the store where you found your information and buy your poker chip set. It is the right thing to do, to buy from the store that furnished you with the information. This is because they obviously have spent time to supply all the information that has helped you to make the right decision.

The Internet can be your best friend when you are researching your poker chips. You just have to understand how to use it in the right way. When you do this you will have the satisfaction of getting your perfect poker chips set.

The poker chip, now what exactly is it? Do you have a choice of type, or material? What factors will guide your decision when you buy a poker chips set?

Several choices await you when you decide to buy a poker chips set. Your selection will depend on your personal needs. However you should be aware of a few things when selecting your poker chips. You should think about weight, material and the pattern of your chips.

Probably the most significant feature of poker chips is the material. This feature will also have the most influence on a poker chip's price. If you're not a big poker player and you're just looking for something cheap that will take you through the one game you have set up for the once-a-year party you throw, then you'll probably go with plastic chips.

These cheap mediocre poker chips can be picked up anywhere, and will cost around $1.50 for 100 chips. They come in 3 colors blue red and white, which will limit your bets.

The next step up is composite poker chips. These are significantly more expensive than their plastic counter parts but they'll last a lifetime if cared for properly. These chips often have a metal weight embedded in them to make them feel more like "real poker chips".

The most elite poker chips are the clay ones. Of course you will be paying much more for these poker chips. With meticulous care they will only last 5-6 years. But for the true blue poker player there is no other way, clay chips are a must have. The subtle clink and smooth feel brings the casino right into your home. To the poker game lover the cost is absolutely worth it.

It is entirely up to you as to what sort of weight and pattern you will have for your elite clay poker chips. There is a wide variety of choices. Weight varies from 11.5 to 13 grams. You can choose to have a border, or have them embossed with an image. It is all up to you.

To an extent, poker chips can be a status symbol among poker players. They type of chip a person buys can say as much about them as the type of car they choose to drive. What are your poker chips saying about you?

There is no doubt about it, poker chips are part of the finer things in life. So try to get the best and keep up your reputation in the world of poker.