I use older chips (in airtites), and rotate them around. Although they don't seem to change my luck, they have lead to many "chip" conversations. From time to time I will also use the old $20 Sahara bacarrat plaque, its a real eye-catcher.

I once tried to use the Sahara $100 plaque, but was told not to as it could be used to hide cards. At the time I could care less about hiding cards, I just wanted to hide the tournament chips!

[For those unfamiliar with needing to "protect" your cards, these are unique to Hold 'em/Omaha type games where down cards are dealt to the players and up cards are community cards dealt to the center of the table. Whenever players fold they only have to push their down cards part way towards the center of the table and the dealer will whisk them away. To try and make sure that a dealer does not inadvertently whisk away in-play down cards some players will place active chips on top of their cards, or just use a marker like the one shown my Jim, or as I have described. Although not fool-proof, it often keeps the dealers from accidentally racking in your cards while sweeping in dis-cards and bets. Particularly vulnerable are the players on either side of the dealer.

Yes, I have seen active hands swept up in error! Thankfully, it has not happened to me.]

Jim Follis