Help picking out my first set of plastic cards... (1 Viewer)

codeman00

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Hey everyone... My focus is off my chips for the time being and now onto cards. I don't really plan on buying numerous sets to try them out so I wanted to ask some help from you on what I should try based on what I know.

My work game uses paper cards only because I never knew about plastic cards. We bought the huge Bicycle carton of cards and are trying to get through them all. I have another game that I play at that uses Copag cards. They definitely have a different feel and look with brighter/bolder print. I like them much better than paper cards, but in my opinion, the Copags are way too slick. Every time I set the cards on the table, the top card always wants to slide off the pile. It's annoying because they are so slick.

My wants in my next set of cards:
  • Less slick than Copag
  • I need 4 decks all with different color backs. (2) different 2-deck sets.
  • Traditional font is preferred.
  • Neat looking but classic card backs
  • Jumbo Wide size (poker)
  • Keep the price reasonable please
Hopefully this narrows my search down a bit...what should my first set of plastic cards be?
 
In my opinion, the only reasonably priced plastic playing cards worth using are the bicycle prestige, and I think they'll fulfill all your other criteria too (not 100% sure you'll find 4 different colored backs.)
There are other brands that I love, that are better, but they're expensive.
 
There are other brands that I love, that are better, but they're expensive.

I guess we need to next quantify expensive....can you throw out some price ranges per deck or per set of 2 decks of what is expensive and cheap? I was thinking $15-$25 for a 2 deck set being "cheap".
 
Nobody has any opinions around here, just get whatever.

On a serious note there is probably at least 10 threads on this topic if you search.
 
My wants in my next set of cards:
  • Less slick than Copag
  • I need 4 decks all with different color backs. (2) different 2-deck sets.
  • Traditional font is preferred.
  • Neat looking but classic card backs
  • Jumbo Wide size (poker)
  • Keep the price reasonable please
Hopefully this narrows my search down a bit...what should my first set of plastic cards be?

My suggestions would be the Modiano Texas Holdem cards (not the Platinum Acetates, as they are red/blue only), or the Desjgn Classic Victorians. Neither of them have a "traditional" font, but meet the rest of the criteria. The Desjgn's are probably closer in feel to the Copags than the Modianos, which will be thicker/stiffer.
 
In my opinion, the only reasonably priced plastic playing cards worth using are the bicycle prestige, and I think they'll fulfill all your other criteria too (not 100% sure you'll find 4 different colored backs.)
There are other brands that I love, that are better, but they're expensive.
^^ This sums it up perfectly, per your criteria in the OP. Only caveat is I'd recommend is that you at least give bridge-size cards a fair shot.

You can find Bicycle Prestige cards (bridge or poker size) for between $5 and $8 per deck, and they are similar in feel to paper cards. Try your local Walgreen store or Amazon.

Lots of other good choices for a lot more money - some slicker, some less slick - but the Prestige is probably your best choice for now, given your situation.
 
I guess we need to next quantify expensive....can you throw out some price ranges per deck or per set of 2 decks of what is expensive and cheap? I was thinking $15-$25 for a 2 deck set being "cheap".
In that case, I'd suggest you also look into Fournier and desJgn. A lot of the amazon Fournier's have fancy backs you may not love, but they make them with traditional backs too. But you should probably try the bicycle prestige first. Other people will have other opinions (but I'm pretty sure I'm right.)
 
@codeman00 .
I agree that the bike prestige is a good starting point. I don't know why you would want Poker size cards though.
If that is all you've ever played with, I would encourage you to try bridge size (I think you will end up there anyway)
 
^^ This sums it up perfectly, per your criteria in the OP. Only caveat is I'd recommend is that you at least give bridge-size cards a fair shot.

You can find Bicycle Prestige cards (bridge or poker size) for between $5 and $8 per deck, and they are similar in feel to paper cards. Try your local Walgreen store or Amazon.

Lots of other good choices for a lot more money - some slicker, some less slick - but the Prestige is probably your best choice for now, given your situation.

I agree with this as well, but the multi-coloured backs is an issue unless you are willing to go the eBay route to get the red/blue backs in jumbo, as they are not sold in North America, or ask someone in Europe to get them for you. They are also more expensive as well.

2 decks (1 red/one blue) on eBay: link

12 decks (6 red / 6 blue) on eBay: link

Edit: I have 4 decks of these. My thoughts on them are here. Since the review, I've used them in a game, and they were fine. And I only use poker (wide) cards, so I can't comment on bridge size.
 
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Have you thought about regular vs. jumbo index? If you have a self-dealt game on an oval table, you'll probably want jumbo index cards.

My personal preference is bridge size with jumbo index.
 
Go here:

https://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Prestige-Playing-Cards-Pack/dp/B00BXX95UO?th=1&psc=1

$10.05 shipped for a two-deck setup of bridge size jumbo index (they call 'em narrow jumbo). Best ten bucks you'll spend this year. Tons better than Copag or paper cards.

813HKAxmgcL._SL1500_.jpg


For that price, they probably won't come with a case. I bought ten decks in March, spent about $2 each for Kem cases:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/400854737998

Here's a plastic case two-pack for bridge-size cards, less than five bucks shipped:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Two-Vintage-KEM-Black-Plastic-Card-Cases-Empty-Bridge-Width-/151573659218

s-l500.jpg
 
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Don't overthink it. Get the Fourniers and be done. You'll never look back. Give them a 2 games to break in. They have a wonderful texture/feel.
 
Go here:

https://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Prestige-Playing-Cards-Pack/dp/B00BXX95UO?th=1&psc=1

$10.05 shipped for a two-deck setup of bridge size jumbo index (they call 'em narrow jumbo). Best ten bucks you'll spend this year. Tons better than Copag or paper cards.

813HKAxmgcL._SL1500_.jpg

I think I'll buy a set of these just to get a feel of bridge size. The bad thing is they only seem to come in these two colors and I would like 4....but I can get by that Otherwise, I think the Modiano poker set might be in my future. We shall see.
 
They do make blue/red bridge/jumbo setups, but only for sale in Europe. You can find them on eBay, but not for $5/deck shipped.
 
I think I'll buy a set of these just to get a feel of bridge size. The bad thing is they only seem to come in these two colors and I would like 4....but I can get by that Otherwise, I think the Modiano poker set might be in my future. We shall see.
You should grab a deck of Modianos too, just to see how you like them. They're cheap enough, at under ten bucks a deck. I bought a bunch of them at first, and I liked them. Then after trying other brands, I decided they were too stiff and slippery for me.
 
I have decks from a couple of different manufacturers. My personal favorites in terms of feeling/material are Fournier (2800 LE) and KEM (Arrow), with none of them a clear winner.

The suggested Modianos are stiff as fuck which makes handling/shuffling a not very pleasant experience for me. And while they are relatively cheap, so is the material quality and QC. I have a double deck of Modiano Carillon 4C for example that have tons of material impurities and print defects - luckily only on the face side, but still, something like that should have never passed quality control. The cardboard boxes they all come in don't exactly look like premium quality either, and many of the face card graphics kind of look like a 5yo drew them. Only real upside is that you can get them in a big variety of back side colors. All in all Modianos are a bit below average but their low price makes them a reasonable pick if you don't want to spend more money on cards.

Fourniers are quite expensive but the material really is great. They are only slightly less stiff than Modianos but this little difference, along with their extreme slickness you wouldn't expect just from feeling the material's texture, makes them a dream to shuffle. The card faces look kind of crappy as well though, but not quite as bad as the Modianos. Print quality is top notch, haven't spotted a single defect in the decks I have. I feel these are, overall, well worth their price. I think the 28XX series is available in 4 different back colors, though the 2800 LE that I have (which come with a tuck box, unlike some other variants from Fournier that are merely shrink-wrapped) are only available in black and red.

KEMs are even more expensive (at least here in Europe) and are amazingly bendable and soft. However, they don't glideas well as the Fourniers even close, so despite the easy bendability, shuffling them is harder. They feel absolutely great in your hands though. Graphics have okay looks, printing and materials quality is somewhere inbetween Fournier and Modiano. I did have to send a bunch of decks in for replacement where material impurities would show on the backside of a bunch of cards which made them unusable for serious play, as they essentially were markings. Also, unlike any other Plastic decks I have gotten so far, the KEMs warp extremely fast when you leave them around outside the (compressing) double deck box in which they came in, even at totally normal room temperature. Warping that stems from this does revert back to normal after you put them back into the compressing deck box for a while, but it still sucks. All in all, I like the KEMs just as well as the Fourniers, but I really feel they are overpriced a bit. You can get the KEM arrows in 4 different back colors, and there's other back design lines available with even more color choices.

I also have Bicycle plastics - not Prestige ones, but actually "standard design" Rider back ones (apparently they are manufactured exclusively for an italian magic shop) - that cost me roughly as much as the Modianos. The material is very soft and bendable. However, it made a somewhat cheap/dangerous impression as they STANK HORRIBLY after unwrapping them, and they were extremely sticky all over. Washing them with water and leaving them outside their box to air them out did help, but it took like two weeks until the stickiness and most of the smell went away. They are around average in pretty much every regard for me. Available only in blue and red.
 
I would very highly recommend as the best deal, these DaVinci Bridge Jumbos , you will get 2 decks green/brown, 2 cut cards , & a hard shell case all for just 11.95 delivered :

https://smile.amazon.com/Da-Vinci-I...rd_wg=6prqB&psc=1&refRID=25EAEQXWZKWJ9RNVWBKT

You can also get a set of red/blue Da Vinci, with a slightly different back design, with case, for about 1 dollar more:

https://smile.amazon.com/Italian-Pl...qid=1497445153&sr=8-1&keywords=modiano+bridge

Both are Amazon Prime warehoused, so fast delivery & no hassle returns if needed. I'm not a fan of Copags either, & the above should be better.
 
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I would very highly recommend as the best deal, these DaVinci Bridge Jumbos , you will get 2 decks green/brown, 2 cut cards , & a hard shell case all for just 11.95 delivered :

https://smile.amazon.com/Da-Vinci-I...rd_wg=6prqB&psc=1&refRID=25EAEQXWZKWJ9RNVWBKT

You can also get a set of red/blue Da Vinci, with a slightly different back design, with case, for about 1 dollar more:

https://smile.amazon.com/Italian-Pl...qid=1497445153&sr=8-1&keywords=modiano+bridge

Both are Amazon Prime warehoused, so fast delivery & no hassle returns if needed. I'm not a fan of Copags either, & the above should be better.

I forgot about the davinci's, so I just grabbed a setup and gave them a few shuffles. They feel very similar to the modiano's in terms of being a little stiffer than I prefer. Nice texture though. So then I grabbed a deck of modiano's and they weren't as slippery as I remember. I think this deck was more broken in than the last deck I played with.
 
Codeman, there is no right or wrong answers on several issues, just personal preferences. That said, I like:
  1. Bridge over poker size because they are easier for most people to shuffle and handle. I think you should at least try bridge size and see what you like, and what the group likes. If you have dedicated dealers, I've found most of them prefer bridge. Tends to be that the more one shuffles in an evening of play, the more they like bridge size. There are exceptions of course. For those who think poker size is traditional, most casinos use bridge size for poker. Go figure.
  2. Jumbo index over regular because they are easier for people on the far ends of rectangular or oval tables to read. For hold 'em, two cards with jumbo index are easy to work with. If you are playing with a lot of cards per hand (like draw), jumbo might not be as good. As your players get older, jumbo index helps as well. Believe me, it gets tiring calling out every card multiple times in a hand.
  3. Fourniers are my favorite. I've tried several, but Fourniers are the most durable in my experience. Our group plays 13-14 times a year, 4 hour tournaments. I've found the life of Copags to be on average 15-20 hours or so before they start to show their wear. Founiers are much more durable. I posted something on this about my card survey after 3 years of use. Send me a PM with your email and I'll email the entire study.
  4. There are other cards that are excellent I've not tried, but I'm sure they are excellent. I've tried Kems (pre-USPC) and half of them didn't last. One setup showed fading on the back the very first use -- very expensive and frustrating. In fairness, I only tried 6 decks, and 3 of them have lasted and I still use sometimes. They are regular index though, so they rarely see play. I wasn't impressed with Cartamundis. I bought 2 setups, and retired both after 2 tournaments.
Those are the only cards I've had enough experience with to opine on.
 
I did play poker at the casino on Saturday and did notice that they were playing with Jumbo bridged size cards. They looked odd since all of my home games use jumbo poker sized. I can see how they would be much better for Omaha and Big O but I think poker sized are fine for holdem. I still haven't decided if I'm going to move to Bridge sized or not.

Jumbo vs regular is not in question for my purchase since I prefer to have jumbo so I can see the cards from the ends of the table. I curse Horseshoe Tunica for using only regular sized cards in their poker room. I have to wear glasses instead of contacts otherwise I can't see the cards well enough. That's just a poor decision on their part to use regular size with such large tables. I can't be the only one that struggles.

Fourniers are the ones I am going to buy... 4 decks, all different backs for $27 through Amazon...seems to fit the bill.
 

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