Recommendation for Kem alternative (1 Viewer)

Hornet

Hornet

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The host for one of my regular games has been using Kems because “they are the best,” but they’ve gotten ridiculously expensive lately. The players all like the Kems so this is purely a cost issue.

Are there any other premium brands I should recommend to him to try out?
 
Aren’t the Angel cards really hard to find?
 
Piatnik and BE cartamundi stock but impossible to still find them (except poker size Piatnik).

Angel is great (but Matsui used to sell them too (as white label), in bulk..not sure if they still do)
 
Hornet said:
The host for one of my regular games has been using Kems because “they are the best,” but they’ve gotten ridiculously expensive lately. The players all like the Kems so this is purely a cost issue.

Are there any other premium brands I should recommend to him to try out?
Click to expand...
I pretty much HATE Kems, so keep that in mind.

I bought a crap ton of WSOP Copags from Spinnetis and my peeps love them (I love them too). I got a combination of 2016, lightly used, and 2022 or 2023, brand new. Both ROCK!!

The lightly used 2016s were cheap as hell, so from a cost perspective, definitely the way to go.
 
Hornet said:
The host for one of my regular games has been using Kems because “they are the best,” but they’ve gotten ridiculously expensive lately. The players all like the Kems so this is purely a cost issue.

Are there any other premium brands I should recommend to him to try out?
Click to expand...

Prices of other brands have gone up significantly as well, David. Not arguing for sticking with KEMs as I got bitten by the brand too many times and will never buy them cards again myself... Just pointing to the fact the price gap between KEM and others increased but not as much as one might think.

Also, for some reason, US is a horrible market for buying playing cards. Just weird. Not many premium options available here. In other words, because of lack of local availabillity, all the great suggestions above and below will cost you a pretty penny as well and they will be hard to find.

I tried some cheap cards recommended in the forum and they lasted literally two hands in my game. Could not stand them. @WedgeRock saw that a couple of times.

For a decent price, you can find Modianos, Da Vince and Guild (all Modianos btw) but they don't feel like KEMs at all imo.

I've been felting those WSOP Copags (2023 bridge jumbos) that @Spinettis Gaming sells and have been pretty happy with them. Tough to beat value-wise.

I also tried some cards from vendors here on PCF and they weren't for me, although I know many here like them. It could be just me. I should be receiving the new BA and have a high expectation they will be better.

Long post for not a lot of help, LOL!!!
 
ChaosRock said:
Prices of other brands have gone up significantly as well, David. Not arguing for sticking with KEMs as I got bitten by the brand too many times and will never buy them cards again myself... Just pointing to the fact the price gap between KEM and others increased but not as much as one might think.

Also, for some reason, US is a horrible market for buying playing cards. Just weird. Not many premium options available here. In other words, because of lack of local availabillity, all the great suggestions above and below will cost you a pretty penny as well and they will be hard to find.

I tried some cheap cards recommended in the forum and they lasted literally two hands in my game. Could not stand them. @WedgeRock saw that a couple of times.

For a decent price, you can find Modianos, Da Vince and Guild (all Modianos btw) but they don't feel like KEMs at all imo.

I've been felting those WSOP Copags (2023 bridge jumbos) that @Spinettis Gaming sells and have been pretty happy with them. Tough to beat value-wise.

I also tried some cards from vendors here on PCF and they weren't for me, although I know many here like them. It could be just me. I should be receiving the new BA and have a high expectation they will be better.

Long post for not a lot of help, LOL!!!
Click to expand...
Actually, Paulo, this is extremely helpful, so thank you! I think I’m just going to tell him to stick with the KEMs because the players like them and there aren’t many good, easy-to-find, alternatives.
 
As many chips as I have, I got more playing cards. Out of the many different brands, Kems are still my favorites, but at their current price point I cannot be an advocate for them.
IMHO, the closest thing I’ve found to them is Angel. Getting them from Amazon JP is an affordable option, if you get several setups;

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/dp/B06XRBRWZR?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

They really only have those backs with regular index (hard to find Angel jumbo index).
If you decide to stick with Kems, I believe Kem.com is the cheapest option, and they run specials sometimes.
 
pokerplayingpisces said:
As many chips as I have, I got more playing cards. Out of the many different brands, Kems are still my favorites, but at their current price point I cannot be an advocate for them.
IMHO, the closest thing I’ve found to them is Angel. Getting them from Amazon JP is an affordable option, if you get several setups;

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/dp/B06XRBRWZR?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

They really only have those backs with regular index (hard to find Angel jumbo index).
If you decide to stick with Kems, I believe Kem.com is the cheapest option, and they run specials sometimes.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Are those poker size?
 
Seeking Alpha Social Club said:
I pretty much HATE Kems, so keep that in mind.

I bought a crap ton of WSOP Copags from Spinnetis and my peeps love them (I love them too). I got a combination of 2016, lightly used, and 2022 or 2023, brand new. Both ROCK!!

The lightly used 2016s were cheap as hell, so from a cost perspective, definitely the way to go.
Click to expand...
I love KEMs. I bought some of the 2023 Bridge Jumbo Copag WSOP cards last year and have really liked them as well. I would happily buy more.
 
ChaosRock said:
Do you remember which Angel, Eric?
Click to expand...

Hornet said:
Aren’t the Angel cards really hard to find?
Click to expand...
The specific Angel setup is the green casing that says “Angel Playing Cards CO., LTD.”

They are kinda hard to find. They pop up on here every now and then. But i’m pretty sure you can go on Amazon Japan and get them delivered to your US address, although i’ve never tried it.
 
jayfiggy said:
The specific Angel setup is the green casing that says “Angel Playing Cards CO., LTD.”

They are kinda hard to find. They pop up on here every now and then. But i’m pretty sure you can go on Amazon Japan and get them delivered to your US address, although i’ve never tried it.
Click to expand...
These?

1742136902747.png
 
Can someone add a link for new Copag WSOP cards (2023 or 2024)? I’m thinking of ordering some myself. Thanks.
 
Hornet said:
The host for one of my regular games has been using Kems because “they are the best,” but they’ve gotten ridiculously expensive lately. The players all like the Kems so this is purely a cost issue.

Are there any other premium brands I should recommend to him to try out?
Click to expand...
Desjgn
 
Hornet said:
Can someone add a link for new Copag WSOP cards (2023 or 2024)? I’m thinking of ordering some myself. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Seeking Alpha Social Club said:
The lightly used 2016s were cheap as hell, so from a cost perspective, definitely the way to go.
Click to expand...

The used WSOP cards from Spinettis are definitely another option to consider.

@Okku informed me they usually only see an hour or two of play before they’re pulled off the tables and replaced with fresh setups.
 
justsomedude said:
The used WSOP cards from Spinettis are definitely another option to consider.

@Okku informed me they usually only see an hour or two of play before they’re pulled off the tables and replaced with fresh setups.
Click to expand...
And they're dirt cheap too. I'm planning to grab a bunch when I'm in Vegas in a few weeks.
 

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