So which Copags are the best to purchase and where? (1 Viewer)

[SonRK]

Historically, I've always dislike Copags because they fade and they didn't feel that high quality. They were a good bargain for the price but I started liking Gemaco/Fourniers a lot more.

I just played yesterday where they used a 4 color Copag set and they felt different than what I was used to. Seemingly higher quality, honestly. I guess since Cartamundi got involved, they changed the composition?

Are these the "Export" style ones that has been discussed here? Export only exists in Poker width on the website and I am a bridge width kind of guy. I do like full bleed backs over the Copag standard back, and would like to get a few decks of those if possible.

 

[Taghkanic]

I use the four-color Copags (poker sized) for my game and am quite happy with them. I haven’t needed to buy more setups in a while but iirc I got them from both Amazon and some other U.S. poker supply site and the quality seemed consistent.

 

[potatolei]

I agree Amazon is the best source for Copags, and free shipping.

 

[ctestb]

Just got a few decks of copags after using paper cards for decades. They feel amazing and the players that normally have issues shuffling don't seem to have them with copags. Happy purchase and another thing learned here!

 

[surfik]

"Export" line is full bleed jumbo index, most often in poker size but bridge also being produced...

 

[Persepolis]

Mate, if you like full bleed cards try and get your hands on some Trefl Texas Hold'em Poker 100% plastic cards. They are fantastic! They blow the Copag's away IMHO. @surfik may even be able to source a few decks for you. Unfortunately they are Poker size and you want bridge size. I used other contacts in Poland to get some. You will not regret it.

 

[surfik]

Mate, if you like full bleed cards try and get your hands on some Trefl Texas Hold'em Poker 100% plastic cards. They are fantastic! They blow the Copag's away IMHO. @surfik may even be able to source a few decks for you. Unfortunately they are Poker size and you want bridge size. I used other contacts in Poland to get some. You will not regret it.

View attachment 1330576​

Yeah, both full bleed but stock is very different...
Trefls are stiffer, background is whiter, font is different and red paint brighter.
But much, much more durable cards overall.

If anyone want them they should hurry, producers stockpile is gone and nobody knows what the next iteration would be and when...

 

[surfik]

Personaly never was Copag fan but best thing about them was that you could get them everywhere and they always were same quality. You just knew what to expect. Well, not anymore...

 

[PossomOfCards]

Historically, I've always dislike Copags because they fade and they didn't feel that high quality. They were a good bargain for the price but I started liking Gemaco/Fourniers a lot more.

I just played yesterday where they used a 4 color Copag set and they felt different than what I was used to. Seemingly higher quality, honestly. I guess since Cartamundi got involved, they changed the composition?

Are these the "Export" style ones that has been discussed here? Export only exists in Poker width on the website and I am a bridge width kind of guy. I do like full bleed backs over the Copag standard back, and would like to get a few decks of those if possible.

Late but export might just be a fancy name for dull bleed, i haven't heard anyone make a point to say these are an odd one out from copags normal run. Though weird they only make export in poker jumbo, and bridge standard.

I posted a thread not long ago asking about made in Brazil vs Belgium copags, it's hard to tell because seems the older posts about copags tend to be overall positive but negative on fading/quality. But also newer ones dipped in quality? Looking at a wide size 1546 brown/orange set up soon,

Trefl look really cool and people love them. I'd like to get my hands on some but idk how much it'd be getting them to the US now, the Internet doesn't give you jack results when searching the brand

 

[Phyffe]

IMHO the Belgium ones are the best Copags

https://www.amazon.com/Copag-Poker-...1756606950&sprefix=copag,aps,315&sr=8-10&th=1

Second best are the Copag Elites -

https://www.amazon.com/Copag-Elite-...-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

If you're talking historically I really liked the feel of the old Copag EPOCs. but they are not for regular table play

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310545088528

 

[Snarespectre]

IMHO the Belgium ones are the best Copags

https://www.amazon.com/Copag-Poker-Holdem-Playing-Single/dp/B0029N2IS8/ref=sr_1_10?crid=PCL2GUWMZOFD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dmLkugqOO_vHwy3qsZF_m7NHc0ea4OUif5Vgi_IplWUR63ifNNgJxwUD4xBAvIR9Cd9EUdburHtPx5tS0uaTmVoXyhffyergPc3q1I-ufrzj67y8iUx8YBtdoMGUqI84X31m7Wagx7IKgzTQRlr7JBUTb-a8_keiizw6witIrUPabtnDBEhyNsiBlF6oRVsZFAIq0RMprrrB61dRA5A7axrCyZmmLu20AE2gKCuwzMVMTP5rGukmAMVZME3Y6g_bxLPCVgBJOzul5uxpdZCwx6ubxuu3k2p55YN84XUDjxA.BC7D4bt3_is3cnEGbX3OWVEYZ_CpLCrBtxj_yJAEgjc&dib_tag=se&keywords=copag+playing+cards&qid=1756606950&sprefix=copag,aps,315&sr=8-10&th=1

Second best are the Copag Elites -

https://www.amazon.com/Copag-Elite-Plastic-Playing-Single/dp/B09RY677P2/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=E825JKZ2WXKF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.CGxevveWDoYftsAs0zS1XCTV07a19IE6sEN2VyD0s0SXVLbrbCAZyc2E4-1JKV1MLlsEcUSC-XjrwwLHM6590ICu3N35DWIuqMI12yN5xM--YUWym8AJb-WsNOCqP8B05SoZDDZ4bx5P6TaBjIh4BnMtnqEk5AojQMsUq3ng-CLabtnDBEhyNsiBlF6oRVsZmX2sLVql-H6RfDLNxcBpVid0P9q9XMQT6FOPtFluJQVMTP5rGukmAMVZME3Y6g_bxLPCVgBJOzul5uxpdZCwx0s_ff70WpUtSbusb9tnfGs.C-17442nnocrZ9N2AwW9qRmZ3S8wFa2Vo4Lj1NDOsxk&dib_tag=se&keywords=copag+elite+playing+cards&qid=1756607025&sprefix=copag+elite,aps,343&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

If you're talking historically I really liked the feel of the old Copag EPOCs. but they are not for regular table play

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310545088528

What do you prefer about the Belgium Copags over the others?

 

[Phyffe]

What do you prefer about the Belgium Copags over the others?

Primarily its the feel.

The card stock of the Belgian ones is clearly superior to that of the basic 1546 in terms of thickness and texture. Not that shuffling the 1546s is at all unpleasant but the Belgians have a more paper-like feel and does not slip and slide like the 1546s.

When you consider that the cost per deck is now the same price as a 1546 its a no=brainer. I just cant buy it because it only makes sense for me to buy from Amazon when they ship to my country for free.

The Elites on the other hand kinda feel like a product-impoved version of the now-defunct Unique series, and are fast becoming my recommended value-for-money deck.

 

[Snarespectre]

Primarily its the feel.

The card stock of the Belgian ones is clearly superior to that of the basic 1546 in terms of thickness and texture. Not that shuffling the 1546s is at all unpleasant but the Belgians have a more paper-like feel and does not slip and slide like the 1546s.

When you consider that the cost per deck is now the same price as a 1546 its a no=brainer. I just cant buy it because it only makes sense for me to buy from Amazon when they ship to my country for free.

The Elites on the other hand kinda feel like a product-impoved version of the now-defunct Unique series, and are fast becoming my recommended value-for-money deck.

There’s definitely a difference between the Copag Elites and the Pokerstars Copags, and I prefer the Pokerstars because they’re less slippery. I’m curious how they compare to the Belgium ones. I may have to pick up a deck from Amazon just to see.

I have a set of 1546 but at this point they’re 20 years old and so worn that any A-B comparisons are probably pointless.

 

[allforcharity]

What do you prefer about the Belgium Copags over the others?

Well, we know how the Pythons feel.

 

[SwissChip]

All new Copags in EU are produced by Cartamundi Belgium.
This is why i turned away from Copag.
They are more slippery, got cutting edges, are stiffer, fade the same and got a bad smell.
All this for $10/deck.

There are plenty better cards for 10 bucks available imo.

 

[Snarespectre]

All new Copags in EU are produced by Cartamundi Belgium.
This is why i turned away from Copag.
They are more slippery, got cutting edges, are stiffer, fade the same and got a bad smell.
All this for $10/deck.

There are plenty better cards for 10 bucks available imo.

The other person in this thread is claiming they are LESS slippery.

 

[SwissChip]

The other person in this thread is claiming they are LESS slippery.

Not only that - most ppl prefer Belgium to Brazil Copags.
Tastes are very different.

 

[Snarespectre]

Not only that - most ppl prefer Belgium to Brazil Copags.
Tastes are very different.

Taste is different, no doubt. But one of them has to be objectively more slippery than the other.

 

[SwissChip]

Yes some Copags are slippery, some are very slippery ; )

 

[Phyffe]

Yes some Copags are slippery, some are very slippery ; )

I think we can all agree that the standard 1546s are the most slippery though? Or are you saying you find the Belgian ones are even more slippery?

 

[SwissChip]

I think we can all agree that the standard 1546s are the most slippery though? Or are you saying you find the Belgian ones are even more slippery?

I used the brazil ones in the white/blue tuck box for many years.
Then they switched to the Belgium producer only (same white/blue box).
And i found them very disappointing so i quit Copag and use Fournier, Dal Negro, Modiano and Trefl now.

 

[Phyffe]

I used the brazil ones in the white/blue tuck box for many years.
Then they switched to the Belgium producer only (same white/blue box).
And i found them very disappointing so i quit Copag and use Fournier, Dal Negro, Modiano and Trefl now.

Well, I can't blame you for going with those brands over Copag, but I was intrigued by your post about the Belgian Copags and how slippery they were so I broke out my deck and compared it to some of the more premium cards.

I did the old shake em on the palm of your hand test and yes, the Belgian Copags were slippery, but not much more than my Dal Negro Freedom Xs. One deck that was practically immune to sliding were my NTP Blackjacks though.

In the final analysis we want to have some degree of slide to our cards or else they will be hard to deal, right?

But the OP was asking for which Copags to get. IMHO, the Elites are fast becoming my recommended value for money buy (when bought in bulk packs). My decks have gone through 24 hours of play and have stood up very well, they feel good and they look good (at least the card backs)

 

[SwissChip]

I think elites are made in brazil, or at least i had a setup like elites, made in brazil.
If you really want Copag i would go for brazil elites.
The worst imo are the black/gold Texas Hold‘em
by Cartamundi Belgium, no matter if UK or EU version.

 

[Snarespectre]

I have no idea where they are made, but I actually prefer the PokerStars Copag cards to the Copag Elites, and the PokerStars cards are quite a bit cheaper. Nobody seems to talk about them much, but you can see them here:

Ebay

I purchased mine directly through a Chinese chip manufacturer (Kaile Games) and after shipping they were around $5/deck.

They have a lot of (subjective) advantages over the Elites for me:

- The decks are thicker (by about 4 cards)
- They're not as slippery but still shuffle and glide across the table just fine
- The manufacturing cut is more precise. The 4 decks of Elites I have all do not have great cuts, which means the cards are very slightly different sizes and it causes a "chunky" shuffle sometimes instead of a smooth shuffle
- The smell only 10-20% as strong as the Elites (not an issue for me but apparently a dealbreaker for a lot of people on this site)
- Much cheaper

I still like the Elites just fine and wouldn't hesitate to use them in a game, but I honestly don't really see any advantages over the PokerStars, except that I like the back art better, and the blue outline color on the fronts better on the Elites, as well.