Beautiful Playing Cards (8 Viewers)

[Riceballs]

What are everyone's picks for the most beautifully designed plastic playing cards? I'm not talking about how they shuffle or how durable they are but just strictly the aesthetic while still looking practical for actual games. I know many love the Faded Spade playing cards but I just can't get behind the look of their face designs and how the Faded Spade text cuts through the Ace of Spades. I also don't like back designs that remind me of a picnic blanket. I'm interested in seeing what everyone else's favorite designs are.

 

[QuietMaple]

I haven't seen them in person, but I think the A Haines Crown Series look really sharp. The designer gathered a lot of feedback from PCF during the design process. I believe he's working on a "v2" that might have new artwork.

I also really like the look of Copags.

 

[SwissChip]

The actual Desjgn cards in bridge size are very well done too!

 

[QueensFool]

Came here to mention Design Tapestry, but it looks like @SwissChip beat me to it!

From a purely aesthetic standpoint, I think Aces 2.0 by Vanda are gorgeous. They use a four-color suit setup, which may or may not be your thing, but they strike a great balance between modern design and playability.

I know you mentioned that durability and handling weren't necessarily your top concerns, but these handle and pitch beautifully in my experience.

Full disclosure: they smell pretty awful right out of the box. The good news is that the odor fades over time.

 

[doublebooyah85]

The actual Desjgn cards in bridge size are very well done too!

View attachment 1692348

The 6/9 and Q look too similar and they also get beat up easily. But they are a beauty.

 

[QuietMaple]

I think Aces 2.0 by Vanda are gorgeous

oooh, these are nice. I didn't know about these cards. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Riceballs]

I haven't seen them in person, but I think the A Haines Crown Series look really sharp. The designer gathered a lot of feedback from PCF during the design process. I believe he's working on a "v2" that might have new artwork.

I also really like the look of Copags.

Oh wow, these definitely do look sharp. The back design is simple elegance and the faces capture the British theme well. Have any other PCFers had any feedback on how they feel/play?

oooh, these are nice. I didn't know about these cards. Thanks for sharing.

I’m a bit torn by these. I can definitely see a lot of detail went into these and that the face artwork is unique/gives a modern animated type of feel. I don’t think I like how the pips are formatted though. Maybe just not for me

 

[Riceballs]

The actual Desjgn cards in bridge size are very well done too!

View attachment 1692348

These remind me of Times New Roman font for some reason

 

[QueensFool]

Oh wow, these definitely do look sharp. The back design is simple elegance and the faces capture the British theme well. Have any other PCFers had any feedback on how they feel/play?

The Desjgns feel and play fantastic. They're printed on Fournier stock, which has always been one of my favorites.

I've only used them in one game so far, so I can't really speak to their durability yet. But they're already one of my favorite setups. I bought one set to try and ended up going back for four more, which probably says all it needs to.

 

[QueensFool]

I'd also point out that this is a highly subjective question.

Personally, I tend to prefer classic designs with traditional, understated backs. Plenty of people love Theory11 and some of Vanda's decks for their artistic flair, and I can certainly appreciate that. But since I primarily use my cards for poker, I usually look for a balance between good looks and practical playability.

For reference, my favorite cards to put into play are, in no particular order, the Fournier 2826's, KEM Arrows (bridge size), NTP Bridge, and the Desjgns. All of those are bridge-size decks, jumbo index, which is my playing preference. As for poker-size cards, my favorite setup is the NTP Blackjack Rose.

 

[FreeBop59]

Oh wow, these definitely do look sharp. The back design is simple elegance and the faces capture the British theme well. Have any other PCFers had any feedback on how they feel/play?

I’m a bit torn by these. I can definitely see a lot of detail went into these and that the face artwork is unique/gives a modern animated type of feel. I don’t think I like how the pips are formatted though. Maybe just not for me

Some feedback on the Crown Series on this thread:

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...e-index-marion-pro-stock-finish.131308/page-6

 

[Riceballs]

I'd also point out that this is a highly subjective question.

Personally, I tend to prefer classic designs with traditional, understated backs. Plenty of people love Theory11 and some of Vanda's decks for their artistic flair, and I can certainly appreciate that. But since I primarily use my cards for poker, I usually look for a balance between good looks and practical playability.

I definitely knew this would be subjective when I asked it haha. I like getting others perspectives on what they like and seeing if they match mine. I’m somewhat similar in my playing cards taste, but I’m more a fan of traditional/semi-traditional faces/pips with either elegant or super out there back designs. I’m just not a fan of too simple/boring back designs. There’s definitely a lot of beautiful artwork on paper/cardistry cards but they’d be hard to play in a poker setting and aren’t plastic.

 

[QueensFool]

I think we're pretty well aligned in our tastes. The Desjgns that @SwissChip recommended are a perfect example of what you're describing: traditional faces, a distinctive back design, and excellent playability.

The other decks I mentioned hit that same balance for me. Between 30+ setups from a dozen-plus brands, those are the ones that have risen to the top of my rotation and remain my personal favorites.