Cards under 30 bucks (2 Viewers)

Check this out

https://www.thepokerstore.com/colle...s-100-plastic-playing-cards-6-copag-5-classic

I'm not saying these cards are great (they aren't bad either, kinda middle of the road) but value for dollar is huge here. I'll order this for a big tournament at the union hall and when someone leaving mentions liking them I give them a deck. At this price you can't lose.
This is a great deal for all these cards. I picked up a set of Classic Ten recently and out of the 20+ brands/models I've tried, they're among my favorites (which I was not expecting).
 
This is a great deal for all these cards. I picked up a set of Classic Ten recently and out of the 20+ brands/models I've tried, they're among my favorites (which I was not expecting).
what does the classic ten feel like most
 
if you were to compare to other cards
Hmm it's kind of tough to pick a specific other card that it feels like, so I'll just describe them the best I can.

They're thicker than most other cards, but not as thick as something like Faded Spade. I've actually been taking notes on several of these to eventually create a YouTube channel or something, so I've got the measurements. I've measured 23 different decks, with the thickest being Faded Spade at 18.56mm and the thinnest being Lot Fancy at 15.24mm. FS are the thickest by far, but these are next behind the FS at 17.61mm.

The weight range I've measured is 120.66g on the low side (Lot Fancy again), to 143.9g on the high side (Faded Spade again). These come in at 138.19g. They feel weighty and substantial in your hands, which is something I prefer.

They're fairly stiff (which I like) and the cut of the cards is really good/even, so shuffling feels really smooth and snappy. I would say not as stiff as FS (what is?) but stiffer than Bullets. Definitely way stiffer than something like Copag. There's a very slight texture on the backs, so it's enough to keep the "floating top card" from being a problem. It's not too friction-y to be an issue when doing a "dealer shuffle," and the cards slide back together nicely.

They glide across the table really well, so pitch is great. What I call the "gather" is good, too. In other words, when you do a wash shuffle or gather the cards after a hand, the edges don't really bump into each other, which is a huge negative for me.

The back design looks almost identical to Faded Spade. The front is pretty run-of-the-mill, but I don't mind that. The pips are decent. My favorite part is that the card stock is fairly bright white (not dull and blue or overly yellow like a lot of brands), and the red is a bright red and not the dark red (that I can't stand, but is super prevalent).

I've shuffled with them a ton and love them, but I won't get a chance to put them into rotation until a tournament next weekend, so I can't speak to how they hold up with play. But I don't foresee having any problems in that regard.
 
Just so another person is pumping @justincarothers besides @justincarothers. ^^^^^^^GET THIS

This is the value / variety winner.
Having used 3 iterations and I have a pile of the current group buy on the way. If you want variety it’s an easy and inexpensive way to expand your collection.
I agree wholeheartedly except for the dark red ink. The purple/orange poker Jumbos are bright white and have great colors, but I really don't like the pips (for all the reasons everyone else already mentions) and the cards don't gather together as nicely as I'd like. The Pro Series Poker Jumbos are the exact opposite - the card stock is basically perfect for me and the pips are great, but the white is very dull and it's the dark red.

If somehow I could get the Pro Series Poker Jumbos, but with a bright white and bright red, I'd legitimately have my perfect card.
 
I agree wholeheartedly except for the dark red ink. The purple/orange poker Jumbos are bright white and have great colors, but I really don't like the pips (for all the reasons everyone else already mentions) and the cards don't gather together as nicely as I'd like. The Pro Series Poker Jumbos are the exact opposite - the card stock is basically perfect for me and the pips are great, but the white is very dull and it's the dark red.

If somehow I could get the Pro Series Poker Jumbos, but with a bright white and bright red, I'd legitimately have my perfect card.
Hmm it's kind of tough to pick a specific other card that it feels like, so I'll just describe them the best I can.

They're thicker than most other cards, but not as thick as something like Faded Spade. I've actually been taking notes on several of these to eventually create a YouTube channel or something, so I've got the measurements. I've measured 23 different decks, with the thickest being Faded Spade at 18.56mm and the thinnest being Lot Fancy at 15.24mm. FS are the thickest by far, but these are next behind the FS at 17.61mm.

The weight range I've measured is 120.66g on the low side (Lot Fancy again), to 143.9g on the high side (Faded Spade again). These come in at 138.19g. They feel weighty and substantial in your hands, which is something I prefer.

They're fairly stiff (which I like) and the cut of the cards is really good/even, so shuffling feels really smooth and snappy. I would say not as stiff as FS (what is?) but stiffer than Bullets. Definitely way stiffer than something like Copag. There's a very slight texture on the backs, so it's enough to keep the "floating top card" from being a problem. It's not too friction-y to be an issue when doing a "dealer shuffle," and the cards slide back together nicely.

They glide across the table really well, so pitch is great. What I call the "gather" is good, too. In other words, when you do a wash shuffle or gather the cards after a hand, the edges don't really bump into each other, which is a huge negative for me.

The back design looks almost identical to Faded Spade. The front is pretty run-of-the-mill, but I don't mind that. The pips are decent. My favorite part is that the card stock is fairly bright white (not dull and blue or overly yellow like a lot of brands), and the red is a bright red and not the dark red (that I can't stand, but is super prevalent).

I've shuffled with them a ton and love them, but I won't get a chance to put them into rotation until a tournament next weekend, so I can't speak to how they hold up with play. But I don't foresee having any problems in that regard.
i’ll pick up a set soon
 
This may sound like me shilling but that isn't the case:

https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...ml?spm=a2700.shop_plgr.41413.9.5a767121KRDCaY

I've been a poker dealer over 20 years and these are the nicest cards I have ever dealt with. Slightly textured so they pitch beautifully and just the right thickness and give, but they do pick up a bit of fluff on proper baize due to the texture (speedcloth not an issue). Only crispy fresh Copags feel better imho - and the price from that alibaba vendor is great - lots of underground games in London use these
 
This may sound like me shilling but that isn't the case:

https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...ml?spm=a2700.shop_plgr.41413.9.5a767121KRDCaY

I've been a poker dealer over 20 years and these are the nicest cards I have ever dealt with. Slightly textured so they pitch beautifully and just the right thickness and give, but they do pick up a bit of fluff on proper baize due to the texture (speedcloth not an issue). Only crispy fresh Copags feel better imho - and the price from that alibaba vendor is great - lots of underground games in London use these
They're the same packaging and materials, different names, as the DaVinci Chips and Games cards that were on sale for a buck a deck at Kardwell a while back.
 
They're the same packaging and materials, different names, as the DaVinci Chips and Games cards that were on sale for a buck a deck at Kardwell a while back.
I can’t speak to the Kardwell deal, but I do know they’re completely different from the current Chips & Games cards you can get from either Amazon or the Chips & Games website.

Totally different card stock, different pips, different back design. If the Kardwell ones were different, they’ve gone through a bunch of different materials for C&G-branded cards - no idea why.
 
They're the same packaging and materials, different names, as the DaVinci Chips and Games cards that were on sale for a buck a deck at Kardwell a while back.
Just seem 'em for $2 a deck there - very decent price considering you won't have to deal with shipping or customs duty. UK retail vendors sell the same decks for 5 GBP
 
I can’t speak to the Kardwell deal, but I do know they’re completely different from the current Chips & Games cards you can get from either Amazon or the Chips & Games website.

Totally different card stock, different pips, different back design. If the Kardwell ones were different, they’ve gone through a bunch of different materials for C&G-branded cards - no idea why.
Not 100% sure of materials now that you say it, the packaging (tuck boxes) just look exactly the same other than the name.
 
I have both from recent purchases. Different materials for sure. C & G are great and are basically Da Vincis. Texas Hold Em brand are great and are a tad thicker and a little textured. Yes the outer boxes look very similar, but that's it.
 
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Not 100% sure of materials now that you say it, the packaging (tuck boxes) just look exactly the same other than the name.
I agree, the tuck boxes are almost identical except for the name and the card back design:

image0(11).webp
image1(8).webp


I can't verify, but I'm assuming the ones from ThePokerStore.com are the stock on the right (not C&G), since on the site the back design matches the full-bleed design of the "generic" kind here, and not the C&G design that has white borders.
 
I agree, the tuck boxes are almost identical except for the name and the card back design:

View attachment 1600332View attachment 1600331

I can't verify, but I'm assuming the ones from ThePokerStore.com are the stock on the right (not C&G), since on the site the back design matches the full-bleed design of the "generic" kind here, and not the C&G design that has white borders.

Correct on all counts (I recently purchased both).
 
I have both from recent purchases. Different materials for sure. C & G are great and are basically Da Vincis. Texas Hold Em brand are great and are a tad thicker and a little textured. Yes the outer boxes look similar, but that's it.
Respectfully, Chips & Games cards feel nothing like Da Vincis and are a completely different card stock (unless they've changed it within the last few months to match Da Vincis).

Chips & Games does have inconsistent stock, though. I bought a setup from Amazon that I liked so much that I bought 12 more setups direct from the C&G website. All the card stocks matched. However, one of the setups came with 2 of the same color deck, so I had them send me an additional red deck, and for whatever reason, this one - while printed the same way - was on entirely different card stock that is a much brighter white, but also is very high-friction, so it's more difficult to push the cards together after shuffling and they don't glide at all on the table. Even the cut card was a much brighter red than all the ones I'd received prior.

So I suppose there's a possibility they've changed stock yet again, but I feel like that would be very strange!
 
Respectfully, Chips & Games cards feel nothing like Da Vincis and are a completely different card stock (unless they've changed it within the last few months to match Da Vincis).

Chips & Games does have inconsistent stock, though. I bought a setup from Amazon that I liked so much that I bought 12 more setups direct from the C&G website. All the card stocks matched. However, one of the setups came with 2 of the same color deck, so I had them send me an additional red deck, and for whatever reason, this one - while printed the same way - was on entirely different card stock that is a much brighter white, but also is very high-friction, so it's more difficult to push the cards together after shuffling and they don't glide at all on the table. Even the cut card was a much brighter red than all the ones I'd received prior.

So I suppose there's a possibility they've changed stock yet again, but I feel like that would be very strange!

My point of comparison is last year. I bought C&G cards and Da Vincis together. Felt and still feel very similar to me (Da Vincis are better but it's fairly close). I'm not talking about color of cardstock or anything like that. Just how it felt while handling as a player and dealer. And various cards definitely feel different to me. These two for whatever reason seem close. C&G is affiliated with Da Vinci as their American outlet and replacement card company or something. Would not surprise me if they get whatever secondary card stock Da Vinci has for their cards...

Anyway, that's just my opinion. To each their own.
 
My point of comparison is last year. I bought C&G cards and Da Vincis together. Felt and still feel very similar to me (Da Vincis are better but it's fairly close). I'm not talking about color of cardstock or anything like that. Just how it felt while handling as a player and dealer. And various cards definitely feel different to me. These two for whatever reason seem close. C&G is affiliated with Da Vinci as their American outlet and replacement card company or something. Would not surprise me if they get whatever secondary card stock Da Vinci has for their cards...

Anyway, that's just my opinion. To each their own.

Then maybe there really are a bunch of different card stocks that they release under the C&G name.

I'm also referring to handling feel more than the printing or color, but I'd assume that the same card stock from run to run would have the same hue (though I'm not privy to the details of manufacturing).

My timeline is May of this year. I purchased the C&G cards, as well as a set of Da Vinci Ruotes, from Amazon at the same time. In case anyone reading cares, here are the measurements and weights for each of these decks:


Thickness (mm)Weight (g)
Da Vinci Ruote16.92143.19
Chips & Games16.8128.18
Chips & Games 216.51138.52

The Da Vincis are thicker and considerably heavier than the two C&G card stocks that I own.

You are correct that Da Vinci and C&G are affiliated - but definitely more so than just C&G providing replacement cards. I'm assuming your C&G boxes (like mine) say that they're manufactured by Da Vinci in Georgia. It makes sense that there would be some crossover in card stock - I just know that the ones I own are completely different.

So maybe they just use leftover stock and throw the C&G name on it at discount prices? And that would account for why there's such a huge variability in what you're going to get when you order a setup.

I will say, I've used other Da Vinci setups at other players' games that they got at different times, and the card stock on all those is pretty much identical. So I have no clue why there would be so many different stocks used to make C&G-branded cards.
 
Haha legit measurements. I love it.

Theory: perhaps the C&G paper comes from the cardstock that Da Vinci *won't* use. E.g. say hypothetically that 2% of the cardstock Da Vinci purchases is flawed, mislabeled, or somehow isn't up to their standards/specs... that stock goes to C&G cards. That would explain the lack of uniformity.
 
Haha legit measurements. I love it.

Theory: perhaps the C&G paper comes from the cardstock that Da Vinci *won't* use. E.g. say hypothetically that 2% of the cardstock Da Vinci purchases is flawed, mislabeled, or somehow isn't up to their standards/specs... that stock goes to C&G cards. That would explain the lack of uniformity.
Re: the measurements: I've done the same with around 25 different brands/models of cards now. I really like the "Redneck Database" that's on here from a while back and eventually want to create an even more comprehensive list like that to share here (alongside YouTube reviews), but it's going to take some more time and I haven't gotten around to it all yet.

RE: the "flawed" card stock: I think it would absolutely explain the slight difference you see between your C&G cards and your Da Vincis. It definitely doesn't explain the difference between the two C&G card stocks I own and regular Da Vinci, though. I guarantee that if you tried either of these decks, you'd agree they're nothing like regular Da Vincis. There's no amount of slight variation that would explain this! :)

Ironically, though, the card stock used in the C&G cards I have a ton of is some of the easiest-shuffling stock I've ever used, and I legitimately like them as much as or more than many brands that cost quite a bit more.
 
We're so far down this rabbit hole, might as well continue. My theory I think could explain why various decks of CG have different specs. The card stock that Da Vinci rejects isn't uniformly flawed. Some might be barely too thin, some might be much too thin, some might be a little lightweight, some might be close in weight but still not up to par. Maybe one batch is off color. And of course, any rejected stock could have any or all of these flaws, or more. And all that gets shipped to CG. I imagine CG knows it has enough from cardstock 1 that's uniform unto itself to make X number of decks, so they do. Then once they have enough of cardstock 2 that's uniform unto itself, they make Y number of decks (which might be more or less than X from the previous run). Thus, various batches of CG could vary from every other, while some might be the same for a while.

And yes I also like CG cards a lot. I have many options but they're in the current rotation and used almost every time we have a game.
 
Here's an interesting fact about COPAG cards I bet you didn't know. (I got a couple of cases of COPAGs from COPAG USA earlier this year.)

So when you sign up to sell COPAGs, you sign a contract saying you'll honor their Minimum Advertised Price. That's $21.99 for 2-deck setups of any poker size decks, $20.99 for bridge size setups. You can't advertise the cards for any amount less than the MAP. So I could NEVER offer them here on PFC for less than the MAP.

One of the few exceptions to that is if the buyer calls on the phone. In those cases, I can offer them for less.

In theory, you COULD PM to get my phone number. You know... to talk about chips and cards and stuff. ;)
 
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