As a player, I'd feel more comfortable with a new deck every game for game security. Not the host, so not my position to say. Used old cards, had an extra card in the deck. Somehow, number of sets didn't increase.
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Do you use a new deck of cards each home game? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter SixSeven
- Start date
merkong
Full House
Decks are accounted for prior to each session; suited and washed, with other players at the table. Backs inspected after each session for creases and other marks.
As far as wear and tear is concerned, with a dozen Copag setups, 4 NTP, a handful of Kem, and a setup of Faded Spade, it hard to even get them to break in let alone wear out.
All setups brought into the game by regulars. Support of our games is critical.
As far as wear and tear is concerned, with a dozen Copag setups, 4 NTP, a handful of Kem, and a setup of Faded Spade, it hard to even get them to break in let alone wear out.
All setups brought into the game by regulars. Support of our games is critical.
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It also matters at what level you play. If the host gets nothing but the winnings, he pays for the cards himself. Here in Finland, a pack of cards costs €13, Copag or Fournier €9. When we play €15 tournaments, if I always put in new ones, I will lose. Of course, maybe if everyone participates in buying the cards. But I understand, there is no right or wrong answer to this.
HiveKueen
Two Pair
I use my decks until I notice a problem that can’t be fixed. When I take a deck out of service I make it very public to the group exactly why ( that is, I show them the problem child(ren)) and the new deck doesn’t get opened until all players have arrived. I do this to let players know we are keeping a very close eye on this. Marking and bending cards are two ways cheaters cheat!
I check the decks after every game for damage. I do a glare test to expose dents and gunk. I also look at the decks to ensure that no card is bent.
I’ve attached a pic of a dented card and of the deck showing a bent card. Notice the bend is on the short end of the deck where it will show when the deck is being dealt. Bends on the long side aren’t usually how cheaters bend cards because the deck gets compressed while being dealt.
I check the decks after every game for damage. I do a glare test to expose dents and gunk. I also look at the decks to ensure that no card is bent.
I’ve attached a pic of a dented card and of the deck showing a bent card. Notice the bend is on the short end of the deck where it will show when the deck is being dealt. Bends on the long side aren’t usually how cheaters bend cards because the deck gets compressed while being dealt.
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Bronson
3 of a Kind
Brick of Bicycle cards on Amazon going for £25. 12 decks for 25 is a not bad thing, cards getting bend or creased- grab a new deck, cards are mucky or grubby- grab a new deck, new tournament- grab a deck. I know, most people prefer plastic cards but for what they are and how much they going for you can’t beat pasteboard cards.
DrFeelgood
Sitting Out
I only play a home game once a month. Unlikely for the copags we use to wear out before someone bends them or spills a drink! Only use a new deck when the inevitable happens.
Munchies11
Pair
Nothing like opening up that plastic seal and smelling a fresh deck !
I use mostly Copags but have a couple of Da Vinci's also. They stay in use until they die.
I DO check each card individually after any session. My game from earlier this month suffered a casualty given a fairly prominent dog ear appeared on a card from one table. That deck is now in the landfill.
I DO check each card individually after any session. My game from earlier this month suffered a casualty given a fairly prominent dog ear appeared on a card from one table. That deck is now in the landfill.
ef28
Two Pair
How do you wash the cards? Damp cloth? I honestly have never thought of washing the cards.
Colquhoun
Straight Flush
KEM used to put washing instructions inside their setups.
However, I’ve heard a casino that would just use plain water and a cloth, wipe each side a bit and leave separated to dry. This is how I do it.
AlbinoDragon
Flush
I usually fill a sink with cool water and add about two drops of non-oxy dish soap. Swish that around to mix, then add the deck of cards one at a time so they get water/soap on both sides.
I swish the whole lot around in the sink, then pull cards one at a time rubbing my fingers over the faces a few times to "wipe off" anything that might be on the surface. Once wiped, I toss them in the other sink that just has plain water for rinsing.
I'll swish the rinse pile around once full, drain it while the faucet it running and make sure to run each card under the water to get any last soapy bits off.
From the sink, I lay the cards out on a big beach towel, put a second towel on top and press gently on the towel to dab up any leftover drops of water. I'll pull the top towel and let them air dry for 30 minutes or so, flip them over and let air dry for another 30 minutes then do a final inspection and re-spade the deck.
merkong
Full House
No, no... We don't actually wash the cards. I have washed them in the past or when they soiled maybe a card or two... Washed as in "smeared" around on the table after they've been suited and inspected.
Any host should be checking both new and old decks before putting them in play. Both can have flaws.
Before every game, I do the following with the setup I’m going to use:
1. Deal out the cards face up by rank. Make sure there are four of each rank, with four suits of each.
2. Deal the cards face down in piles of five, looking for any flaws on the backs. At the end there should be two left over.
So mow I’ve double-counted the cards, made sure that each suit is complete, and checked the backs.
The newness of the decks is irrelevant to me. The cards’ condition and completeness have to be checked.
Good dealers will also occasionally just count the cards in-game, especially if a deck seems light or heavy. This doesn’t really take long.
AlbinoDragon
Flush
On occasion I will even have a (trusted) player in my game double check that *I* haven't f*#$'ed up when I introduce a previously used setup into the game.
Completely off topic, sorry, maintenance will move if necessary. The Finnish casino has had a situation since spring where they have a batch of cards with a printing error on the back. There has been a discussion about it in the local poker community, but I understand that cards are still in use there.
AlbinoDragon
Flush
If I see that image correctly, the larger "poker size" cards are clearly mis-printed. The white border is offset on one side of the card, effectively making this a marked deck.
(If a dealer or player rotates a card 180 degrees to the rest of deck, one can tell from the backs what that one card is, assuming the rest of the deck stays the same. It's "edge-sorting".)
(If a dealer or player rotates a card 180 degrees to the rest of deck, one can tell from the backs what that one card is, assuming the rest of the deck stays the same. It's "edge-sorting".)
surfik
4 of a Kind
Nails are Fourniers kryptonite, but KEMs are immune
Apparently, the casino's answer has been that all cards would be the same, so according to the casino there is no problem. However, players have noticed that there have been decks in the game where some have this error and some don't. It is clear that these are marked cards.
surfik
4 of a Kind
I had the same problem with few of Cartamundi Tobagos
wayneomac
Pair
Big le a gues over here lol
Okay, I thought I was willing to throw money around but there is no way in hell I am breaking out a new setup of Copags every game. We play every week with three tables and I generally buy 8 setups each year and like others, just throw out decks if cards get damaged and that has always been more than enough. And maybe I just play with a group of trusting souls, but our tournaments are $100 buyins and the cash game is a $5/$5 dealers choice game with is predominantly PLO and variations thereon with a couple thousand dollars on the table so I don't think you have to be playing nickel dime poker to still use cards for a reasonable amount of time.
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If you're going to throw out cards after every game then just use paper.
I don't use new decks, but I'll keep a setup of "spares" (just started doing this). So, if I run 4 tables, I'll buy 5 setups and keep the extra to replace docked cards and such. If it's the same card, then I have issues.
Mark
Mark
OP
OP
I started this thread but had forgotten most of it by this past Monday.
I went to a home game where I'm not a regular, but have played maybe 6 times over 2 or 3 years. While there, waiting to get into the cash game, I offered to the host a setup I had in the car, a used setup I had put into play in one of my home games, and a setup I had not since inspected. (This was a big mistake.) It was also a card brand of setup he had played with before, and had expressed interest in using again from another place we had both played.
He accepted, and put it into play when the tourney had ended, and the cash game started, which is when I got in. I played for an hour, and left the setup behind as a gift, as it was getting late for a weeknight for me. I ended up in the negative. Apparently, one deck had an Ace of Diamonds that had an edge mark on it. Since then, the host has told me that deck can be cut right to the A of diamonds every time, with this mark. I have not seen the card/deck yet, but it is described as an indentation to the edge corner of the top of the card. I found out about this mark, second hand, the day later, from a friend at the game. The next day the host texted me about it.
The knowledge about the deck has now gone around to most of the players in the home group. No one is saying that I did anything wrong. Also, a good friend I shared this with, that who knows me well, said that know one would think of me as doing something malicious. But as someone who should know better, I am not happy this happened. I should have known not to give out previously opened decks, and I should have known about possible markings on decks that have been used. I let myself down.
As a result of this happing, I have learned (again) not to ever share an open deck (which like I said I should have known better already), and now I'm not sure I would ever offer something that can affect play in a home game where I'm not well established.
I'm sharing this for others to comment on and/or learn from my experience. I can admit ahead of time this may not make me look good, but it is shared in the intention of openess and for me to learn from it.
I went to a home game where I'm not a regular, but have played maybe 6 times over 2 or 3 years. While there, waiting to get into the cash game, I offered to the host a setup I had in the car, a used setup I had put into play in one of my home games, and a setup I had not since inspected. (This was a big mistake.) It was also a card brand of setup he had played with before, and had expressed interest in using again from another place we had both played.
He accepted, and put it into play when the tourney had ended, and the cash game started, which is when I got in. I played for an hour, and left the setup behind as a gift, as it was getting late for a weeknight for me. I ended up in the negative. Apparently, one deck had an Ace of Diamonds that had an edge mark on it. Since then, the host has told me that deck can be cut right to the A of diamonds every time, with this mark. I have not seen the card/deck yet, but it is described as an indentation to the edge corner of the top of the card. I found out about this mark, second hand, the day later, from a friend at the game. The next day the host texted me about it.
The knowledge about the deck has now gone around to most of the players in the home group. No one is saying that I did anything wrong. Also, a good friend I shared this with, that who knows me well, said that know one would think of me as doing something malicious. But as someone who should know better, I am not happy this happened. I should have known not to give out previously opened decks, and I should have known about possible markings on decks that have been used. I let myself down.
As a result of this happing, I have learned (again) not to ever share an open deck (which like I said I should have known better already), and now I'm not sure I would ever offer something that can affect play in a home game where I'm not well established.
I'm sharing this for others to comment on and/or learn from my experience. I can admit ahead of time this may not make me look good, but it is shared in the intention of openess and for me to learn from it.
SetToBean
Pair
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It's extremely sloppy for a casino to allow non-symmetrical cards in play for game security and professionalism reasons, but it may not be a (massively significant) problem in practice (in a vacuum - if one is paying high rake or gambling for entertainment at such a venue it just looks bad).
Including random turns in shuffling processes makes edge-sorting mostly impractical if not impossible, and newer casino-grade shuffling machines (particularly ASMs marketed at baccarat tables for obvious reasons) are starting to include turn capability too so perhaps there's some complacency on the way.
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I think this falls into the category is "no good deed goes unpunished." But it is probably very sage advice.
upNdown
Royal Flush
You don't sound like a very good cheater.
With the introduction of Justin’s Broken Arrow set ups at about $9/set up, there should be no issue with using a new set up for every game for any decent sized game (understanding that “decent sized” is all relative). If cost is an issue (for any set up), just collect $1-2 from each player at the beginning of the game to cover the set up. I would gladly pay $1-2 for the assurance of playing with a brand new deck every time.
Btw, @justincarothers Broken Arrow setups are awesome and a really great price. I tell everyone about them, and other hosts in my area have already bought them and are using them.
Btw, @justincarothers Broken Arrow setups are awesome and a really great price. I tell everyone about them, and other hosts in my area have already bought them and are using them.
Unless you have some players who think they are playing Baccarat, a plastic deck should last a year or more
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