Copag vs Kem vs Modiano Da Vinci (1 Viewer)

[Old State]

Same here bro. Only played with these two. Love copag and their 4 color decks. Don't see kem being worth twice copag. I will try the desjgn since everybody's raving about it.

Kem cards can easily be found in the $20-24 range and sometime way below on Amazon. When I posted the link above they were $13....less than Copags! There are reasons you might not chose Kem but price shouldn’t be one of them. This myth simply won’t die here...that and the myth that pre USPC Kems were different and better.

Just so you are aware, many of the cards recommended on this forum will cost you $18-30. You often see Gemaco Superflex recommend. IF you can find them they will be near $30 with shipping and they are very underwhelming IMO. I have sought out many and have been largely unimpressed and often disappointed. Most all feel the same or similar to cheaper cards. In the end Copags aren’t that bad in comparison to what else is out there.

After spend a lot of money trying to sample every card made I have come to the conclusion there are only two really unique cards...Kem and Desjgn. Kem for their incredible feel and Desjgn for their great feel and beautiful artwork. Cartamundi also has some more unique feeling cards and they look nice.

PS: There is one other very unique card for feel and looks...Faded Spade. They are horrible in both senses IMO and the only card I do not recommend.

 

[IaHawk]

I think I’m going to pick up a pack of the Desjgn and Kem to try out. I recall one of my copag sets had a marked up card.

Like I said...it’s been over 10 years since I have looked at cards...what are typical sizes? I know there is a wide and skinnier one.

Thanks!

 

[Old State]

...what are typical sizes? I know there is a wide and skinnier one.

Thanks!

That’s subjective. I HEAVILY favor bridge sized cards and mostly buy regular index. I have bought some jumbo index recently because I have some older guys playing with us now. That said, Desjgn’s regular index is bigger and bolder than most and very legible at a distance in comparison to others.

I hate wide/poker in comparison to bridge (which is what you find casinos use). Much easier to handle and shuffle.

 

[DMack]

After spend a lot of money trying to sample every card made I have come to the conclusion there are only two really unique cards...Kem and Desjgn. Kem for their incredible feel and Desjgn for their great feel and beautiful artwork. Cartamundi also has some more unique feeling cards and they look nice.

This, IMO, pretty much sums it up. Kem and Desjgn...and everything else a good distance behind.

 

[CantSpellPoker]

I think I’m going to pick up a pack of the Desjgn and Kem to try out. I recall one of my copag sets had a marked up card.

Like I said...it’s been over 10 years since I have looked at cards...what are typical sizes? I know there is a wide and skinnier one.

Thanks!

There's bridge and poker size, which is the width of the actual playing card. Many prefer one or the other, some don't care...

There's also standard and jumbo index, which is the size of the number/drawing/print on the card itself. Same deal here, some people prefer one over the other, others don't care.

So basically, you have four options - bridge/standard, bridge/jumbo, poker/standard, poker/jumbo. Not all companies make all 4 options for each deck they produce.

Personally, I prefer poker size with standard index, but at a full table, it's difficult to be able to see the cards if they're not jumbo.

Desjgn poker size + jumbo index are awesome. Gotta handle different ones yourself in order to decide.

 

[stafil]

Who is making the new Desjgn cards? Anybody knows?

 

[Old State]

Who is making the new Desjgn cards? Anybody knows?

I think only Desjgn knows that. I don’t know if he ever mentioned who he used for the reissues. That said, the stock was pretty stiff (but not Faded Spade level stiff). The card stock before was Modiano I believe but was different for several of his designs. All of them were nice though especially the Classic Culure. But the real selling point of his cards are how beautiful they are. Super classy plus very good card stock.

There is simply nothing in the league of Kem as far as feel goes...but that comes with the necessity of proper storage to avoid bowing. Not an issue to me and well worth it.

I am reminded of the famous firearms instructor Larry Vickers and what he said about 1911s vs Glocks. He said nothing beats the ergonomics, accuracy, trigger and overall shootability of the 1911. However they cost a lot, are fussy with ammo and magazines and generally need more maintenance and care. Glocks are opposite in every aspect. He makes a further analogy to illustrate that point saying “if you treat your pistols like you treat your lawnmower, buy a glock. If you treat your pistols like a Harley Davidson and appreciate a Harley.... and the extra maintenance is worth it to you, get a 1911”

 

[stafil]

There is simply nothing in the league of Kem as far as feel goes...but that comes with the necessity of proper storage to avoid bowing.

Thanks! Just asking out of curiosity. I ordered some already.


How do you store your KEM cards to avoid bowing? I was pretty bummed to see all the decks I left at my parent's place were bowed. We had them in a drawer in the living room.

 

[RocAFella1]

Thanks! Just asking out of curiosity. I ordered some already.


How do you store your KEM cards to avoid bowing? I was pretty bummed to see all the decks I left at my parent's place were bowed. We had them in a draw in the living room.

Out of the heat, with a dealer button on top of the decks, face up.

 

[DoubleEagle]

Someone should design a case with clamps that put a little downward pressure on each deck.

Also, a gasket on the lid to seal out moisture/humidity would be a plus.

Someone get busy with your 3D printer.