Do you use a new deck of cards each home game? (3 Viewers)

[Jaxen]

Thanks to a stop in Vegas to get some Copag Elites and WSOPs at Spinetti's, and then some Broken Arrows thanks to this place, I have over a dozen setups now. Easy enough just to rotate 3 in each tournament (1 setup per table, the Elites or BAs at the final table). I'll always do a quick inspect of the setups before players arrive, I've only had to take one deck (therefore the setup) out of play since the start of 2025.

 

[Rakrul]

I bought a 12-pack with 6 reds and 6 blues. If a card got damaged in the shuffler or some idiot manhandled the cards leaving huge nail-indents in the middle of the card, I replaced that single card. Every 2 year or something, when a deck was really washed out, I'd replace the deck and use the old deck as replacement deck (the back was fine, only the front was washed out). That setup lasted me over a decade so I guess on average I a setup of a red + blue lasts two years. We play once a month from 7 - 12 hours with shuffletech.

 

[Nymor]

or some idiot manhandled the cards leaving huge nail-indents in the middle of the card

You're probably already aware of this but just in case ...

Huge nail-like indents in the middle cards is often someone using a card protector and not removing it before peaking at/bending their cards - the near edge of their card protector, which will be around the middle of the top card, digs into it.

 

[Geremie]

If there are Cubans at the table, I use a new deck every hand. @Anthony Martino

 

[Anthony Martino]

If there are Cubans at the table, I use a new deck every hand. @Anthony Martino

 

[Rakrul]

You're probably already aware of this but just in case ...

Huge nail-like indents in the middle cards is often someone using a card protector and not removing it before peaking at/bending their cards - the near edge of their card protector, which will be around the middle of the top card, digs into it.

No, it was some players who had their cards horisontally and then dug their pointing finger (is that a word?) in the middle of the cards and only lift up half the width of the cards, leaving marks like this. Edit: As in, they lifted up half the width of the cards 90 degrees while the other half was pressed in to the table.

https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https://preview.redd.it/why-do-people-bend-hole-cards-on-the-long-side-to-peek-v0-nk9e6iv1573c1.jpg?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=bd9ec8121985d9f1ef6b8ad221bd1214eaddec62

I kept telling them not to do it repeatedly but it was obv. a habit for them. It stopped when I said that for every time this happens, they have to buy me a new deck.

 

[ThrowBack]

Plastic cards last a lot longer than one poker night. If a deck shows wear or a card gets damaged, the deck is retired. Otherwise, no reason in my situation to swap out a deck after only one game.

I have two matching copag decks. If a card gets damaged or worn or something, I replace the individual card

 

[Baxit]

When playing with plastic cards, we don't ditch them overnight. The exception is for higher-than-usual stakes when someone insists on fresh set (we have that guy). Then I rake for the cards (2 live sets + 1 spare, 3 different backs), and after the game we draw the live sets for free among the remaining players. If someone insists on a fresh set for low-cash game (either from start or for ending a bad streak), we throw in a sealed paper or coated-paper set (slowplay or bicycle, cheap set anyways) which is ditched after the session. All sets are UV-scanned before usage. From what I see, shufflers greatly reduce deck lifetime.

 

[ThrowBack]

I can’t imagine people are trashing decks of faded spades after a game?

I assume when you say switched decks every game, means most of you own a couple dozen decks and rotate through them in and out,

 

[horseshoez]

On par with what everyone else said—I’m all plastic cards on my end. That said, I have considered keeping a backup deck of paper cards for those nights when a few people are absolutely hammered and start trying to fold the color clean off the deck like it owes them money.

 

[upNdown]

When playing with plastic cards, we don't ditch them overnight. The exception is for higher-than-usual stakes

I kinda do. I’ve put many different brands in play and always end up with cards all marked up (most likely from chips being used as card protectors.) This is most likely due to one or two players. So I stopped buying expensive setups.
We only play .25/.50, but I don’t really have a problem ruining a setup every night, as long as it’s a $10 setup.