Mark: Welcome and thanks for a great question. When I first started collecting I picked up lots of chips from everywhere I went but wasn't clear what I would do with them. So I still have lots of duplicates of common chips--I've sold some on Feebay, mostly at less than face, and traded a few.

My current practice is to skip the everyday Nevada chips (unless you need one for your own collection). Non-Nevada chips are a little different, especially those from smaller clubs and casinos, but even those are only of interest if they are relatively new, a new club or a new issue. When I find some of those. as I did last fall on a fishing trip to Montana, I pick up five or so of each and put them on the board as traders.

I am also a poker player and would add two comments about that. First, you may find brand new $1 chips on the poker table even though they were first issued years ago. The popularity of poker has put a real demand on $1 chips and lots of places have had to order new ones. I cherry pick my stack at the table and set aside a few to take home. Brand new chips like this are often good traders for those collectors who are looking to upgrade their collections.

Another tip for poker players--pick up a few chips that say "Poker" or "Poker Room". The popularity of poker has resulted in some who specialize in those chips. And, keep your eye out for odd (especially $2, $3 and $4) denominations which may be used only in the poker room. Some of them, especially the $3 and $4, are used only for drop chips. Sometimes you can talk a dealer into letting you have a couple of those though many places are very strict and don't let their drop chips get out.

Good luck and may your aces never get cracked.