'You want the faces of the cards to be readable,' reminds Kalush. Fortunately for this reason, lots of sets come with two decks. This is enough for solitaire and some multiplayer games, but many card games call for two decks. He mentions, however, that this can greatly increase for collectors who are willing to spend more money to add to their stash.Ī standard deck of playing cards includes 52 cards, sometimes with the addition of one or two jokers. Kalush recommends spending between $5-10 for a quality deck of cards. As the decks become higher quality, the price will increase. 'Plastic cards tend to be at least twice as expensive as plastic-coated cards,' notes Mike Kilbert owner of The Compleat Strategist in New York City. Plastic decks are typically washable and long-lasting, though they don't always shuffle as easily as paper. Nowadays, you'll also find lots of plastic playing cards, which might be noted as PVC (polyvinyl chloride), thermoplastic, or cellulose acetate in the product description. Paper is prone to moisture damage, but some options are coated with a water-resistant plastic film. Traditionally, cards have been made of cardstock or another type of flexible yet sturdy paper. What to Look For in a Deck of Playing Cards Material However, if you're on a budget, you really can't go wrong with a double-deck of Bicycle Standard Playing Cards ( view at Amazon). We appreciate that the set comes with two standard-size decks and that each card is made of durable, flexible, and washable cellulose acetate. The best playing cards overall are KEM Poker Arrow Red and Blue Playing Cards ( view at Amazon). Without further ado, here are the best playing cards you can buy today. Poker players or magicians may need a higher quality deck than recreational players of Go Fish. The intended use of your deck of cards is key, according to William Kalush, executive director of Expert Playing Cards. And in many cases, a set of two decks is ideal.

For others, design is of the essence, whether it's the artwork, text, or dimensions. For some, it's about the material-water resistance, thickness, ease of shuffling, or overall feel. Playing cards take up hardly any space, they're easy to take on the road, and there are nearly endless things you can do with them.Įven if you're not big on games or card tricks, it's nice to have a deck on hand in case the occasion arises. Whether you're a serious poker player, host regular game nights, like to play solitaire once in a while, participate in the occasional drinking game, or are trying to fine-tune a few magic tricks, you should have at least one quality deck of cards in your arsenal.

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