Cards for a unique group of guys! (1 Viewer)

MartinP30

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So I play a cash game at my buddies house about once a month. We run a game with usually 8-10 players. Out of these players only me and one other guy actually have more than 5 hrs of actual Casino cash game experience. So were talking about players who only play poker with high school buddies or play drunk at the Casino and lose a quick 1-$200 to more experienced players. (your welcome!)

My problem is that, I want to buy some good quality plastic cards because we run through way too many decks due to aggressive players who are constantly bending cards out of frustration. When i say "we should get plastic cards" only 2 people agree with me. They all say that plastic is too slippery or plastic is weird. So my question is this....

What brand of plastic playing cards would be best to introduce to this group? Are there any that mimic the feel of paper cards?
 
This is the exact problem I have. I have two guys who are crazy aggressive bending the cards and we play at least once per week. I had asked this exact question before and people just recommended their favorite cards to me because they thought they were the best quality, but they didn’t have the same problem I did. While I love Design cards, I have tried about everything under the sun (Including Desjgn) and by far and away the best cards that I have tried that are least likely to get marked from bending are KEM. They have almost a cloth like feel and are incredibly floppy so they just don’t get kinked. KEM Arrow cards are the most common and easily available on Amazon etc. They seem expensive, but trust me you will save in the end.
 
Least expensive plastic cards for reasonable quality and easily available, I believe, are Bicycle Prestige.

For more premium cards, many here like to support our forum vendor, @desjgn .
Those give me blisters on my thumbs from shuffling - too thick or stiff, I guess. I've never had this problem with any other cards.
YMMV
 
Second vote for Kem, you get what you pay for. Players will likely love them. I like @desjgn cards but they may seem slippery for inexperienced players, Kem will not IMO.
 
Actually Copag and Del Negro we’re among the easiest to get marked and kinked because they are very stiff and somewhat thick. I liked Copags in general but was going through a new set almost every month. Desgn were better but Kem were the best for my bend happy crew.
 
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Cheapest plastics you can get are probably a setup of DaVincis on Amazon. Think you can find some setups for 14, 15 bucks there. Def cheaper than Bike Prestige which I always see for about $9/per. Roll out the plastics one session and they'll change their minds.

Just tell 'em "okay I got the expensive cards so if you eff em up I gotta rake $10 out your pot." Plastics won't crease from peeling back cards or anything but they will if someone smashes them into the table or rolls a chair over them or something.
 
For the scenario you describe, x3 for KEM, they're one of the most flexible cards you can get. I would advise against Copags, they are prone to corners chipping, especially with the type of use you're describing.
 
Walmart. I think in my local store they are $6.99.
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This is the exact problem I have. I have two guys who are crazy aggressive bending the cards and we play at least once per week. I had asked this exact question before and people just recommended their favorite cards to me because they thought they were the best quality, but they didn’t have the same problem I did. While I love Design cards, I have tried about everything under the sun (Including Desjgn) and by far and away the best cards that I have tried that are least likely to get marked from bending are KEM. They have almost a cloth like feel and are incredibly floppy so they just don’t get kinked. KEM Arrow cards are the most common and easily available on Amazon etc. They seem expensive, but trust me you will save in the end.

This exactly ^^^ there is a reason why majority of casinos across North America use KEM cards as their standard, same reason why majority use Paulsons, one word, quality. I had the same problems at my games, and KEM saved the day, originally started out with Copag's but those were no good either. I can't use any other cards but KEM cards now.
 
The WSOP Copag decks on amazon are $12 a set. Best deal so far.

Not sure if the whole site hates Copag, though I don't know why the distaste. Half of the home game photos I see here have Copags in use.
 
I can't speak about those, as I don't own them.

I opened one of the Ace decks I bought yesterday. They are more slippery than others on the list (Prestige, Desjgn, Kem, Modiano)...on par with Copag. If that's a concern, get another brand.

To be honest, I'd recommend the Desjgn Classic Victorians, as I haven't tried other Desjgn cards. But they have a texture to the back...they are not slippery at all.
 
I can't speak about those, as I don't own them.

I opened one of the Ace decks I bought yesterday. They are more slippery than others on the list (Prestige, Desjgn, Kem, Modiano)...on par with Copag. If that's a concern, get another brand.

To be honest, I'd recommend the Desjgn Classic Victorians, as I haven't tried other Desjgn cards. But they have a texture to the back...they are not slippery at all.
I like Cartamundi cards and the way you describe them sound similar to the CCP I have. I imagine these Classic are similar as well. If only they were bridge size.
 
Second opinion:. Get control of your game. Either they are replacing the cards or they are penalized. People need to respect the equipment. Yell kick scream take it outside. But don't slam the table, throw cards , etc.

As a game host don't have to be a buzz kill, but lines need to be drawn clearly. This is one of them for me
 
Grab a deck of bicycle prestige at Walmart for $7, if they don’t mind the feel then upgrade those to a
More expensive deck of plastics. But I do love the prestige still even after using much more expensive cards . They shuffle so well.
 
I use Kem cards mainly. Just ordered Fournier, going to get them in play for my next game.
 
Someone gifted me a dozen decks of new cards when the Rockingham Park Poker room closed a couple years ago. I finally broke open a deck a LOVED the textured feel. They have some sort of crosshatch on them and have a good feel. I have the same problem with players telling me Kems and Cartamundis are too slippery....They are made by https://shuffledink.com/ and they specialize in customs.

Anyone have comments on their stuff?

Haven't had a game to let my friends try them yet but am hopeful
 
This is the exact problem I have. I have two guys who are crazy aggressive bending the cards and we play at least once per week. I had asked this exact question before and people just recommended their favorite cards to me because they thought they were the best quality, but they didn’t have the same problem I did. While I love Design cards, I have tried about everything under the sun (Including Desjgn) and by far and away the best cards that I have tried that are least likely to get marked from bending are KEM. They have almost a cloth like feel and are incredibly floppy so they just don’t get kinked. KEM Arrow cards are the most common and easily available on Amazon etc. They seem expensive, but trust me you will save in the end.

If those guys keep doing it to the cards then just get a boatload of crappy paper decks and charge the benders for the cost of replacing the decks.

Sorry but those kind of guys really cheese me off.
 
Yeah, we had reached that point a while ago. I buy the cards so that I can get my preference but they reimburse me. I don’t ask for anything when hosting, but the negligent care of the cards really frustrated me because it isn’t a necessity. These guys are just incapable of correcting that behavior.
 
Yeah, we had reached that point a while ago. I buy the cards so that I can get my preference but they reimburse me. I don’t ask for anything when hosting, but the negligent care of the cards really frustrated me because it isn’t a necessity. These guys are just incapable of correcting that behavior.
100% aboard. I used to put KEMs on the table, but after some accidents caused by "guest" players who really abused them I switched to Cartamundi that I aquirede buttload off for cheap price. Now I just throw them away or donate if they not completely ruined. Other factor was that some visitors had a habit of questioning decks we played with, insinuating that they could be marked. I just unfoiled another deck with no remorse. Like I need a marked deck to bit them. We made them pay heavy toll for their hubris.
I still play KEMs in private. I have deck of Arrow's that is still in play after 8 years.
 
They will all be somewhat slippery compared to paper, but your group will quickly prefer plastics.

I'd start with either Copag 1546 poker size, jumbo index or Da Vinci Persiano poker size, jumbo index.

Copags are on the less rigid and easy to shuffle side of plastics, with the Da Vinci's a bit more toward the middle. Both are about $15 for one setup (two decks). Both setups come with hard plastic cases. Copags have multiple color choices.

Copag & Da Vinci.jpg
 
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