Plastic Playing Card Surfaces: Smooth or Textured? (1 Viewer)

[TheOffalo]

At least for me, it's hard to decide in a vacuum if I prefer cards with smooth or textured surfaces, or a difference on each side. Maybe you're the same way? So instead, think about your most favorite playing cards in the world, and vote based on what they're like. And then comment below with how you voted and which cards you based your vote on. Bonus points for commenting with more than one of your favorite cards and what their various surfaces are like.

 

[upNdown]

I’ve noticed (specifically with Angel Aristo, but with other brands too) that decks that are smooth on one side and textured on the other can be very slippery to shuffle, if you’re not doing a proper poker shuffle. So I vote textured on both sides.

Kem is the gold standard here (in terms of feel, not durability.). But every brand I’ve ever enjoyed has had a nice texture on both sides - Modiano, bicycle prestige/fournier, those Kings from Australia to name a few.

 

[RocAFella1]

One of my favorites - Angel Acetates are slightly more textured on the faces while the slightly more smooth on the backs.

On the other hand my other favorites - Dal Negros have a fine sandpaper texture feel to them.

 

[KHarp1]

I'm in the process of becoming a full blown card nerd, buying and using as many different decks as possible, and, it's hard for me to pin down an answer. I often sit at my 6ft Barrington that doubles as a side table/desk and shuffled and desk Big O hands for a couple of hours at a time, and, I can change decks and pick up a completely smooth deck like a KEM, Gemaco or Carta Mundi (USA) and be amazed at how good they feel and play.

There's probably more to this then just texture, I'm guessing the materials used play a big part as well. KEM's feel great, but, their materials used render their cards to almost unplayable on many instances. I notice the Gemaco 5 Star suffers from cupping issues as well, but, they also feel and play really well.

 

[JMC9389]

Give me a matte, but not glossy face.

Lightly textured linen finish back.

Perfection

 

[extreme517]

I like some subtle texture...enough so that the top card doesn't want to slide around like Copags.

 

[Phyffe]

One of my favorites - Angel Acetates are slightly more textured on the faces while the slightly more smooth on the backs.

On the other hand my other favorites - Dal Negros have a fine sandpaper texture feel to them.

Angel's texture really shows up when shown in the light and in photos. I think they may make the card more resistant to wear. Certainly we know for sure that the double smooth sides of a Copag give a fine shuffle but just setting the deck down makes the top card slide. Plus in my experience Copag card faces bleed and streak way too early. Especially the reds.