Barber Pole Review

What is Barber Pole ?

In the casino, players do not need cash when they are at the gaming tables. Instead, they need to exchange their cash with a ceramic counter or disc-shaped clay which is widely known as chips. These chips are created in a variety of colors and each color as has its corresponding monetary value. For example, red chips may correspond to $2 while the yellow chips may be worth $5.

Betting at a particular game can be made by using a single chip or multiple chips. If a bet consists of multiple chips, the player has to place them on the table in a stack. Then, if the chips are of different colors or different values, they are now referred to as a ‘Barber Pole’. In other words, when players make a bet in Poker with a stack of various colors, it is called a Barber Pole.

Barber Pole Explained

People who are new to the casino world should be aware that a chip of the smallest value must be placed on the top of the stack although there are no consistent rules when it comes to stacking. However, some casinos have their own rules.

To easily calculate the value of the bet, chips are typically grouped by denomination. For example, a player can put all the $2 or $5 chips together. Then, arrange the chips in the stack so that the largest denomination would be at the bottom and the denomination will be added on in order. Meaning, the chip that is worth the least will be at the top, and the one worth the most will be at the bottom.

The Barber Pole refers to the old-fashioned red and white striped poles that used to hang outside barbershops. In the casino, when chips are stacked in a similar stripy manner, it’s called Barber Pole, though some chips are not only red and white. The red and white pole started when the barbers used to perform basic surgical and medical procedures, and they used a red pole to symbolize blood while the white stripes represent bandages.
In the gaming world, there is no shortage of terms similar to Barber Pole. Casino players must learn these terms so that they will be able to adapt to the gaming culture and making it easier for them to communicate. Some of the terms commonly used in a casino dated back to medieval times, so it is not surprising to know that even those who have little knowledge about casinos have an idea about something like a Barber Pole.