Host often or large? What do you do with decks? (1 Viewer)

[DZPoker]

I’ve been wondering what those of you who run through decks quickly do with those decks once no longer good enough for your games. Straight to the trash? Into a box that sits in the back of the closet forever? Something else?

Just seems like there should be something worthwhile to do with them (for example, I’d love a bunch of cheap ‘non usable’ sets of various types to sample) but not sure if that’s a ‘thing’ or not?

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[RichMahogany]

Umm, use plastic cards. Shouldn’t be burning through decks that way.

 

[DZPoker]

Umm, use plastic cards. Shouldn’t be burning through decks that way.

Maybe my term ‘quickly’ is mis-interpreted. Whether that’s a day, a week, a month, 6 months, or a year for you...I’ve read several posts that talk about guests frequently ruining cards, tournaments run where cards are beaten up, not buying brand x because they’re too expensive based on how often said host replace decks, etc.

I’d be willing to bet that in any given month, dozens of decks become ‘unplayable’ in PCF Member’s games. Just wondering what happens to them at that point. That’s all.

 

[RichMahogany]

I’d keep the extras as back ups/replacement cards for other set ups if I have multiples, which I do.

 

[DZPoker]

Many thanks to @RocAFella1 for tagging me in the Card sample chain thread based on what I said above! (For anyone who stumbles upon this thread!)

 

[Coyote]

One extra advantage of plastic cards (i.e. beyond being flexible and not permanently bent) is that you can clean them one by one with a damp soft cloth.
The only set-up of cards I really HAD to throw away was a beautiful KEM Seville set-up from the mid 1970s.
Not overused; my parents would only play poker twice a year (at Christmas and on New Year's eve), but still, it was 35 years before they (the cards) started falling apart (litterally)

 

[DZPoker]

I’d keep the extras as back ups/replacement cards for other set ups if I have multiples, which I do.

Just to be clear, I do not currently host frequently or large, and have no issue with extra decks! My games right now typically run with my wife and two kids who are both under 11. The question was more curiosity of what those who are unlike me do! Math just says it should be a lot of decks...which lead to some curiosity!

Thanks for input on what you do though!

 

[Goldfish]

Back in the day I hosted 2-4 week and used a new modiano platinum set up each game. At one point I threw away 2 full trash bags worth of cards.

 

[DZPoker]

Back in the day I hosted 2-4 week and used a new modiano platinum set up each game. At one point I threw away 2 full trash bags worth of cards.

Thanks for chiming in! That’s an example of what I meant. Seems like such a waste but I’m not saying I have a great solution! I know every one of those decks would probably have been good enough for my games though (and most likely others?!). Like I said, just seems like such a waste?

 

[Goldfish]

At the stake level we were playing the players have a right to, and wanted to, see the decks opened and all cards accounted for. While the cost of a new set up was nominal compared to the game, when u see all the decks stacked up in the storage room after a year u certainly cringe a bit.

 

[Coyote]

Look, if it's not really a game among honestly and mutually trusted friends, there is absolutely no reason using expensive, washable and long-term viable fully plastic decks.

When suspicion reigns, among strangers (NOT trusting each other) and relatively high stakes, the decks should be brand-new out of the box each time, and of a single-time use.
In that setting, much cheaper plastic-coated cards become meaningful.

 

[DZPoker]

Look, if it's not really a game among honestly and mutually trusted friends, there is absolutely no reason using expensive, washable and long-term viable fully plastic decks.

When suspicion reigns, among strangers (NOT trusting each other) and relatively high stakes, the decks should be brand-new out of the box each time, and of a single-time use.
In that setting, much cheaper plastic-coated cards become meaningful.

Thanks for your views @Coyote but the point here isn’t to debate when to use what...my question is about what happens to the decks after.

I play games with a somewhat interested wife and two young kids. They’d love the feeling of nice cards and wouldn’t ever consider why a deck was ‘tossed’ by a PCF’er. I played games pre-COVID with a group of firefighters who would be the same. I also have other friends who would be oblivious.

I was just curious what people did with decks that weren’t good enough for their games but would probably be good enough for many others. I certainly would be willing to pay something (slightly) more than the trash truck pays. I’d expect others would too. I was just curious if anyone buys/sells these or does something else with them or if all just hit the landfill!

 

[Coyote]

In my case, being a conservative, still poverty-stricken philanthropist, I donate well-used decks to senior citizens' support centres (where elderly people go to have coffee for 50 cents and/or free medical exams and play backgammon or nano-stakes poker).
I guess the latter (the municipal support centers for the elderly) are unimaginable in the US, so, despite my profoundly conservative beginnings, I 'd still rank as dirty communist dog in the US

 

[Mac128k]

Donate them.

 

[moose]

At the stake level we were playing the players have a right to, and wanted to, see the decks opened and all cards accounted for. While the cost of a new set up was nominal compared to the game, when u see all the decks stacked up in the storage room after a year u certainly cringe a bit.

After every game my decks are sorted and put back in order. The deck is spread out for all players to inspect before the game begins, casino style.

My older decks get held for replacements for damaged cards.

Older decks also get put into play when I have tournaments with unknown players in it that I don't trust to unintentionally mark the cards. Nothing burns me more than seeing a new deck ruined by neanderthals putting thumbnail marks into brand new decks.

 

[Josh Kifer]

Just to be clear, I do not currently host frequently or large, and have no issue with extra decks! My games right now typically run with my wife and two kids who are both under 11. The question was more curiosity of what those who are unlike me do! Math just says it should be a lot of decks...which lead to some curiosity!

Thanks for input on what you do though!

So I play a game once a week. Add 6 extra games a year, I'd say I rotate out my decks every 25 games. Normally, some jackhole scratched off a lotto ticket and smeared a card, or I can start noticing visible wear on the cards. I will note, I'm using plastic... But suuuuuper cheap plastic. Those 2 dollar setups from years back....

I normally toss them back into boxes... I might do a Cleanout every year or so. Give nicer decks to friends who just could use nicer decks for gin and stuff. I taught myself a ton of easy magic tricks. Meet a kiddo, show trick, give deck of fancy cards... Busy for hours..

We do long distance rifle poker sometimes....

 

[TexRex]

When I retired numerous decks for our group and replaced them, I let those who had attended the most games choose a set up (2 decks) to take home. I retired them while they were still playable. I did it by attendance because those who came the most helped pay for the cards.

The decks that were in my opinion no longer suitable for poker I gave away to others whose use wouldn't be for poker. I didn't make those available to poker players unless they told me that there purpose would not be for poker. I took their word on that because I think none of them would want to have any marked cards in a game for money.

 

[Rhodeman77]

If it is a setup I have one of and the decks are usable for other games I give them away.

If it is a set up I have multiples of I will trash the damaged/marked cards and put the rest in plastic tub as replacements to use if another set up gets a damaged/marked card.

 

[ekricket]

In my case, being a conservative, still poverty-stricken philanthropist, I donate well-used decks to senior citizens' support centres (where elderly people go to have coffee for 50 cents and/or free medical exams and play backgammon or nano-stakes poker).
I guess the latter (the municipal support centers for the elderly) are unimaginable in the US, so, despite my profoundly conservative beginnings, I 'd still rank as dirty communist dog in the US

Do your homework before you talk trash. Reread the last part of your last sentence too, so I don’t have to retype it.
And the coffees free, as are the meals at my moms retirement center. Legal advice is included with medical there as well. That’s where I donate my cards.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retirement_community

https://www.mcknights.com/news/how-many-assisted-living-facilities-exist/

 

[upNdown]

The trick here is to own way more setups than you need. That way you rarely wear one out.
But if a card gets broken, the deck goes into the trash.

 

[StatTracker]

Take the cards that are salvageable and put them into a small box. Use them as replacement cards until you can make a full new deck.

 

[redeagle]

donate them, give them to family for normal games, keep a few in a small box for singles/spares to replace a damaged card. i read a lot so they are also the easiest to find bookmark i have. just toss them into a shoebox and decide what to do once it is full of about 20+ decks. with plastic decks that might be a very long time. when we played with paper decks, it was just throw them away. with plastic they last quite a while unless one gets damaged.

 

[Venturalvn]

Buying the same decks allows you to turn any spent decks into replacements. You shouldn't have to church through decks as often if you have a few setups converted into replacements.

 

[bsdunbar1]

If it is a setup I have one of and the decks are usable for other games I give them away.

If it is a set up I have multiples of I will trash the damaged/marked cards and put the rest in plastic tub as replacements to use if another set up gets a damaged/marked card.

^This
I don't discard as many full decks as I do individual cards.

I run 2-3 tables, use different brands on each table and any time I decide to throw out new decks I keep the old ones for individual replacements.

Every few years I'll throw away the piles of extras or donate individual full decks. My son is a grade school teacher and has taken a lot of them, so if you know anyone who is a teacher or a friend of a friend who is a teacher they can use a lot of them.

 

[Josh Kifer]

Go to family events with a few used desks. Do some card tricks then give them to the kids.

 

[redeagle]

Go to family events with a few used desks. Do some card tricks then give them to the kids.

You mean now I need to get *another* hobby just to get rid of my old decks?

 

[Frogzilla]

I just trash them

 

[upNdown]

When I retired numerous decks for our group and replaced them, I let those who had attended the most games choose a set up (2 decks) to take home. I retired them while they were still playable. I did it by attendance because those who came the most helped pay for the cards.

The decks that were in my opinion no longer suitable for poker I gave away to others whose use wouldn't be for poker. I didn't make those available to poker players unless they told me that there purpose would not be for poker. I took their word on that because I think none of them would want to have any marked cards in a game for money.

This is my attitude. If a deck is no longer good for my game, it’s no longer good for poker. I take it a step further. If they’re unfit for poker, they should be destroyed.
Because I promise you, if some day in the hopefully distant future, I find myself playing in an old folks nanostakes game with donated decks, I’ll be exploiting those decks and looking for marked up decks, looking for any edge I can find.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m pretty cheap, and I’ve washed entire plastic decks at least twice. If that will restore them to playable condition, I’d 100% rather waste an hour doing that, than throw them away.
But when they’re done, they’re done.

 

[Dix]

The premium decks from my cash games that are still usable, but just a bit too worn for my taste, are given away as bubble prizes at the Legion tourney I run.

The tourney decks that I've rejected while setting up, if still usable, go in a box marked "free for the taking" at the sign-in desk.

 

[ekricket]

This dress is on display at Indigo Sky casino in Oklahoma