Since there are quite a few newer collectors, I thought it might be a good idea to explain some of these chip trading games.

I had recently made some reply posts to a new collector using these terms, but not explaining them.

Both of these blind trading methods start with a person who organizes it making a post on the chipboard or group emailing. I'll explain how they both work:

The organizer puts together a group of chips. They can be mixed, or specific denominations or areas, whatever the organizer wants. For instance, if they collect mainly $1.00 chips, they can start a $1.00 current chip only round robin. It can also be specific to an area such as $5.00 Limited Editions, or house chips. Again, whatever the organizer is in the mood for.

They then put together usually 30 (or more) chips in a plastic chip page and then list them all on a piece of paper. The paper will have blank spots so that the person taking it can put down that they have removed the chips. There will also be a blank spot for the person to list what they put in to replace that chip.The paper tracking system can may be done in a variety of ways and styles.

There are some round robins that are called "Junk Robins" where as you can take anything, and put in anything. These "junk" round robins are designed for everyone to get rid of chips they dont care for much. Remember the old saying "One man's junk is another man's treaure" That's the idea here. The organizer has no clue what they will get back.

Then people sign up to be included. The organizer makes a list of the people names and address. The organizer will be the last on the list. At that point the organizer sends the package of chips to the number 1 person. They look through the chips and take what they want or need and replace it with an equal value chip that meets the rules (in this case current $1.00 chip).When they are done, they send the package to the number 2 person. Usually there is a limit of 10 or so people on the round robin. That way, it doesnt take forever to come back to the organizer.

It's not uncommon to find that people have thrown in a chip here and there as a bonus for the organizer.

Fro shipping of round robins, the organizers will usually require that the package be sent insured. Each person is responsible for posting on the chipboard when they get the round robin, as well as when they have sent it off to the next person.

A shotgun swap: (usually a two barrel, or three barrel)

Thats where each participant sends two or three chips to every other participant. The "barrel" refers to the number of chips. A double barrel shotgun swap is for two chips. So if you do a 8 person $1.00 no Nevada-no Atlantic City double barrel shotgun swap, you need to send all of the other 7 people two different non Nevada, non Atlantic City $1.00 chips. You only send to seven people because there's no need to send yourself chips.

As the organizer, you can specify any group or rules on the types of chips. i.e., no atlantic city, or nevada only, or riverboats only, etc. You can of course send the same two chips to everyone on the list. So if you have 7 $1.00 chips from only two casinos it works.

Other then Junk Robins, the rules of trading are pretty standard. The participants should only put in chips that are worthy in condition. They can not remove a chip from the round robin and replace it with the same chip in a poorer condition. This activity is called "trading up" and is considered a very very bad thing and ethically wrong. Chips put into the round robins should be in respectable condition. One should use the idea that you should never put a chip into a round robin that you would feel bad offering to the person face to face.

Hope this is helpful. Happy trading !