Card Size for NLHE Bridge (standard) or Poker (wide) (1 Viewer)

[Mental Nomad]

Bringing up this issue again isn't putting it to bed, it's waking it up.

And my answer is poker jumbo all the way.

 

[bsdunbar1]

Poker Regular

 

[Mikiethebull]

Ok - NOW it's time to put this issue to bed once and for all. There is no need for a poll. I've done my research, and it's not pretty for all of those on the "but 90% of casinos use bridge size cards in poker rooms" bandwagon. The proof:

(1) "Poker" Designated Cards from 1877 - First Cards w/ Indexes: NYCCC Squeezers No. 35; 2.5 x 3.5 (poker size)

(2) Second Quality Squeezers No. 35- c. 1885/1890; produced by NYCCC to keep up w demand of poker players on Mississippi river steamboats; 2.5 x 3.5 (poker size)

(3) First cards introduced by Bicycle - the venerable 808 in 1885; 2.5 x 3.5 (poker size) - gee, I wonder what kind of card games they played with these?

(4) The original "casino" playing cards - Bee No. 92; 2.5 x 3.5 (poker size)

(5) Cards used in "Cool Hand Luke" poker scene - Bee No. 92, back no. 67; 2.5 x 3.5 (poker size)

(6) Cards use in "The Sting" - preferred poker playing card of Paul Newman's nemesis - Tally Ho; 2.5 x 3.5 (poker size & cards I grew up with)

(7) Even 12 handed Pinochle cards are. . . 2.5 x 3.5 (poker size) - a game I grew up playing.

(8) Finally, as if the foregoing isn't enough to finally put this issue to rest, check out this ad for Congress "Bridge" Cards from back in the day:

Casinos started using them to cut costs, and perhaps continued using them for that reason, as well as for the comfort of dealers, especially with increased female dealers. But were Bridge size cards historically meant to be used playing poker???? Hell no. Could a clue be that they are actually called "poker" size??? That appears to be the case. I'm not sure where the arguments about the intended use of "poker" cards being for blackjack and not poker came from, but considering that Bridge cards are used for Bridge, Pinochle cards used for Pinochle, Canasta cards used for Canasta, it seems to make sense that "Poker" cards, not dainty "Bridge" cards, were meant to be used for poker.

I now have way too much useless in my head about the history of playing cards, and I feel there is no need for a poll base on the above. I am confident in my decision, but to each his own. I don't judge.

 

[ejot]

I don't judge.

Oh thank goodness.

Bridge/jumbo please. Good thing it's not 1877.

 

[Trihonda]

Waiting for the poll to start

Was thinking the same thing.

As for my thoughts, NLHE poker size is fine. Mixed (4-card) games bridge size probably works better. I still prefer the poker size, but my table has lotsa room.

 

[Mikiethebull]

Personally, I like the Poker size because (1) that’s what I grew up w as a kid playing pinochle and poker; and (2) I have big hands, and covering the two larger cards is more comfortable for me.

I was interested in the history and what “poker” size cards were meant for, and that indeed appears to be “poker”. It’s not clear to me when casinos started using bridge size cards for Poker, but it does appear they “bridge” size cards were meant for playing bridge, not Poker.

One interesting tidbit I found was that NYC’s most reputed underground card room (for Poker) the Mayfair Club, started out as a bridge club. That club was a training for the great Daniel Harrington, among others. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bridge cards started to be used used for Poker there, and perhaps other cardrooms, that started out as Bridge clubs because Bridge cards were what they were already accostomed to, but that is purely speculation. As to what kind of influence, if any, this had on casino card rooms’ preference for Bridge cards, I don’t know.

However, the standard reason I’ve seen given is as a cost savings measure by the casinos, as well as dealer comfort. But who knows? The Bridge cards first produced by the USPC, the Congress, were their most elaborate and expensive.

 

[pltrgyst]

Waiting for the poll to start

What poll? I looked at the OP, and didn't see a poll...

But if there were a poll, it'd be poker jumbo for us blind old men.

 

[Mikiethebull]

Alright - Poll Started.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Here's my take so far...

1. Mikiethebull is unaware of what a poll is.
2. Mikiethebull is unaware of what the search bar is for.
   
3. Mikiethebull has big hands, so he uses big cards. It is for his comfort. He clearly cares less about his player's comfort.
   
4. Mikiethebull has no female players.

No offence to Mikiethebull meant, but most people prefer Jumbo index for readability, and bridge size for comfort or multi-card games.

 

[Trihonda]

Ugh... the poll was supposed to me IN this thread. Lol.

 

[Mikiethebull]

I’m not the most savvy w technology. I’ll try to move the poll. Hold on.

 

[Jambine]

I’m not the most savvy w technology. I’ll try to move the poll. Hold on.

Try "Thread Tools" at the top

 

[Mikiethebull]

Ok - poll started. Vote.

 

[Mikiethebull]

Poker Zombie, you’re a moron. But no offense intended.

 

[moose]

most people in retirement homes prefer Jumbo index for readability, and bridge size for comfort or multi-card games.

Fyp

 

[TheBigTater]

You'll excuse me while I laugh at all you people that think large print (jumbo index) is some kind of pox, especially when the time comes & your eyesight turn bad.

 

[allforcharity]

I use poker size cards because...I deal blackjack.

 

[Poker Zombie]

You'll excuse me while I laugh at all you people that think large print (jumbo index) is some kind of pox, especially when the time comes & your eyesight turn bad.

@moose is Canadian. I think their healthcare allows them to get eyeball replacements for free.

#WishWeHadCanadianHealthCare

 

[Poker Zombie]

Poker Zombie, you’re a moron. But no offense intended.

I think you have to say no offence first. It's in the Geneva convention!

 

[Sunshine]

Those I absolutely DETEST!!!! Yes, I play at a guys's house sometimes and he uses those. Absolutely unplayable IMO.

Are they just gross as a matter of graphic design (agreed), or do you find something functional wrong with them? My eyesight's fine, but one of my players has pretty bad eyes and I always find myself sliding the board cards over closer to him. My dad's eyes are pretty shot, too. I keep entertaining the notion of getting some of these for practicality, but they're just so ... silly.

 

[Mikiethebull]

I think you have to say no offence first. It's in the Geneva convention!

Lol. U got it.

 

[allforcharity]

@moose is Canadian. I think their healthcare allows them to get eyeball replacements for free.

#WishWeHadCanadianHealthCare

If only we could do this for brains.

 

[ChaosRock]

Are they just gross as a matter of graphic design (agreed), or do you find something functional wrong with them? My eyesight's fine, but one of my players has pretty bad eyes and I always find myself sliding the board cards over closer to him. My dad's eyes are pretty shot, too. I keep entertaining the notion of getting some of these for practicality, but they're just so ... silly.

My comment was about the functionality of those cards, althought to me, they are not pleasing as well.

When either the 6 or the 9 appears on the board, it is really hard to immediately recognize which. K, Q and J cause the same problem but to a lesser extent. Other cards confuse players as well.

If it’s a matter of necessity, I understand using those cards and disregard it’s poor functionality. If it’s not, i would never chose them as an option.

 

[Mikiethebull]

You'll excuse me while I laugh at all you people that think large print (jumbo index) is some kind of pox, especially when the time comes & your eyesight turn bad.

In large 9 or 10 person player dealt games, the large index greatly facilitates the view of those on Rome end of the table when the players on the Peter end deal. For dealer dealt games when the cards are always in the middle of the table, the index makes no difference to me one way or the other.

 

[Old State]

Bridge sized regular index. I hate jumbo index because of how they look when you peek. I understand the bad vision issue though. I think Desjgn’s regular index is perfect as it’s a bit bigger but not jumbo and you still get the full artwork.

Bridge sized are used in casinos because they are easier to shuffle. I highly doubt it has anything to do with cost (Kem are probably the most common cards used in casinos after all) I don’t know when that started but I imagine a long time ago. I first played casino poker ~20 years ago and they were using them then in AC.

 

[Old State]

Looks like narrows cards have been used for Poker for a very long time...

 

[Mikiethebull]

Looks like narrows cards have been used for Poker for a very long time...

How can you tell and where did you find these cool pics?

 

[Mikiethebull]

Only 19 votes - that's hardly a significant sample size

 

[Old State]

How can you tell and where did you find these cool pics?

The cards on the table are narrow. I just googled old WSOP pics and looked for pics showing cards.

Even in Rounders, Freddy KGB uses bridge sized Kem Arrows...for whatever that is worth. They did do a lot of research for that movie to make the details accurate. That’s 1998.

The only time you see Poker sized cards and/or jumbo index at a casino is the TV table at Poker tourneys which started using them because they are easier for people whatching to see. At the WSOP and WPT only that table uses them. All the scenes at random tables show bridge sized standard index

Non TV final tables seem to stick to narrow bridge

 

[Poker Zombie]

Only 19 votes - that's hardly a significant sample size

Because, as has been discussed in previous threads, this topic has been discussed ad nauseum in yet other threads. I almost didn't vote because I already know the results. I suspect many others simply saw the thread and ignored it.

Most people prefer bridge. You, and others prefer poker size. It doesn't make you a freak, just an outlier compared to the majority. I own decks of both sizes and can deal either one without issue, but simply prefer bridge size. I let my players make the decision though, and they also selected bridge. They also selected Jumbo index, so all my regular index cards were sent to the back of the shelf. Do some prefer regular index, sure... but the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.