Hosting a poker game means you need to have everything perfect and in order. Our buying guide will ensure that you know the ins and outs of game night so that you can be the perfect host.
What Things Should I Look for in a Good-Quality Playing Card?
Quantity
Professional sets always come in a pair because there is always a chance of losing or damaging the cards. Players recommend that you have at least 3 complete decks available on the spot so that tournaments can be played easily. Additionally, if your guests are ‘way too much into poker’, they will ask for changes in deck and setup. Therefore, it is an excellent option to have more rather than less.
Material
Typically, playing cards are made of either plastic coated material or 100% plastic. The material you pick depends on the setting and type of game you are playing. Plastic coated cards are available almost everywhere, and they are a top choice for people wanting to play in any home-based setting. On the other hand, plastic cards are a bit expensive and typically used in professional setups.
Size
2.5 to 3.5 inches per card is the standard size you are looking for. However, there are many different sizes available in the market that you can purchase depending on the usage intention and game settings.
Face Design
The face design of poker cards has remained pretty much standard over the years. You can see the standard suit, denomination, and court cards available in the market. However, with changes in trends, there has been a change in the graphics and positions of pips. You can find cards with the standard white background or ones with customized colors and various patterns. This diversity in variety allows you to choose one that matches your personality and choice.
Card Back Design
Despite being a component with no influence on the quality of the game, enthusiastic players are significantly touchy about how the back of their playing cards looks. The backside design comes in various pre-printed simple patterns to customized graphics and even photographs to depict who the deck belongs to. If you are playing a game featuring multiple decks, it is mandatory to pick different designs so that there is no bluff in the game quality and no confusion when making changes in decks. Additionally, the back design also prevents you from mixing the cards up with someone else's.
What is the Difference in Card Material?
Playing cards available in the market are either made from paper coated in plastic or pure plastic. Although both serve the same purpose, there is a difference in their properties.
Paper Coated Plastic Playing Cards
Available almost in every other shop, paper-coated plastic cards are a simple product that can be found in every home and every kid’s toy room. Less expensive than paper cards, they also come in vinyl coating and are perfect for home games. Since they are available in different designs, you can mark them and manage your decks easily. Besides all this, plastic-coated cards are less durable and tend to bend and tear without added force. Their quality quickly deteriorates as they are not able to withstand frequent use.
100% Plastic Playing Cards
A more professional option, usually picked by real players in big games, these cards are used in casinos but can be a perfect addition to your poker night collection at home. Since they are 100% plastic, it is simple to clean and leave them looking brand new for the next game. Plastic cards are much more durable and last for a long time even if you use them roughly. However, these cards are more expensive than your standard vinyl or plastic coated variants and usually skip novice to infrequent players. You can find 100% plastic cards in different colors and shapes along with customized designs as well.
What are the Designs of Playing Cards?
Playing cards have 5 designs that you will see in the market: standard, jumbo, magnum, and peek. The design you pick depends on personal choice and requirements.
Standard Playing Card Design
This is the most common size you can find printed on your regular cards. Ideal for a variety of players, you can find them anywhere without much effort. They can be a top choice during home-based settings because it’s much simpler to hide the label.
Jumbo Playing Card Design
If you are struggling with vision, jumbo-sized playing cards are the right pick for you. The card is generally of a standard size, but the fonts and design are much larger, so you can see what’s written effortlessly.
Magnum Index Playing Card Design
This is a huge print that covers the majority of the card's face. While this size is ideal for quickly taking a glimpse of board cards, it is more difficult to use them in a professional environment where the players are trying to hide the value of their cards.
Peek Playing Card Designs
Peek cards have a regular print and size on the front, but they come with additional pips on every corner of your card. These are suitable for people who want to maintain utmost privacy when drawing cards from the table so that no one can see what you just chose. They can be used in a professional setup, given that the body is made of all-plastic for a convenient auto-shuffle.
Some Buyers Also Ask
Playing cards are a top choice for weekend entertainment among many houses and professional setups. You need to go through size, quality, material, and design options before buying the best playing cards in 2021. Here are a few questions that may pop up in your mind when you are deciding which one to pick.
Q: What does a deck of playing cards represent?
The deck of a playing card consists of spades that represent the military, hearts that represent the church, clubs that represent agriculture, and diamonds that represent the business class.
Q: What are the suits in each deck of playing cards?
There are 4 suits of playing cards in each deck: spades, clubs, hearts, and diamonds.
Q: How many playing cards does a deck contain?
There are 4 suits of each playing deck, and these suits contain 13 cards, including 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, Joker, Queen, King, and Ace.