51 Things I Think I Know about Decks of Playing Cards
71I love playing cards – I mean, I love to play cards, and I actually love the decks of cards themselves. That is why I think I know a thing or two – or 51! – about decks of playing cards.
Card games have been with us for centuries -- and are alluring to play. The mixture of math and randomness makes card playing an ever-changing, fun endeavour. Sure, there are lots of types of games people play, but card games are at least tied for best in my book. Why? Cards provide a rich diversion -- they are certainly not boring.
To play cards, you have to both live in the moment and think ahead -- and much less dwell on the past. That is what makes card playing captivating, to me.
I am also captivated that cards are diverse and beautiful, and that is why I wrote 51 things about decks of playing cards.
As there are all kinds of card games, there are all kinds of playing card decks.
Obviously, you need the right deck of cards for the card game you are playing.
In other words, do not go playing gin rummy with a bridge deck.
And of course, there are branded, specialized decks, as well.
The top name brand deck of playing cards made for a specific card game is quite well known in America – that game is Uno.
In many ways, Uno is like the game played with regular cards called Crazy 8s, but as its creators made up their own game with its own cards, they get to include cards like Draw Two, Reverse, Skip, and Wild + Draw Four.
Other name brand playing card decks include Flinch, Skipbo, Mille Bornes, and Trumpet (which actually is a marriage of a card game and a board game).
While Uno made itself part of the American lexicon in the early-1980s, you could hardly call that a long time ago.
On the other hand, there is a market for vintage playing cards.
True antique playing cards are sold by some antique dealers.
You may also find antique cards at your local second-hand store – especially a for-profit, independently owned one.
It has been my personal experience that the best sorts of second-hand stores – those that sell all kinds of “junk” – are located in the large college towns.
If you buy an antique deck, you probably will not want to actually use it – think of old playing cards as a collectible, rather than something you would use.
Alternatively, you can get the look of “vintage playing cards” which are offered from time-to-time by the makers of Bicycle and other brands.
One place to buy vintage design playing cards (cards that are actually not vintage) is Kardwell.com.
In fact, the owners of that website – Kardwell International – sell all kinds of playing cards – from Kem to Copag and brands in between, as they say.
They even sell marriage-themed playing cards as wedding favors.
One of the great products Kardwell sells (as do many places that market playing cards) is giant-sized cards.
When I was a kid, I had a deck of these large playing cards – I think I called them my “jumbo” cards – and I just thought they were neat and different.
In truth, large cards help people who might have some trouble playing with a standard card deck.
People helped by larger playing cards include children, people with fine motor difficulties, and the visually challenged.
Another card product that helps people with eyesight issues is the large-print playing card.
With large-face markings on the inside of the cards, this type of playing card is standard size in all other aspects, but easier to read and get the player involved.
Other unique ideas for playing cards include that of personalization.
One type of personalized card is that which you make yourself.
You may not have previously considered yourself someone who would make your own playing cards.
There are blank decks you can buy and put designs on them yourself.
The thing about doing that is – unless you are artistically inclined, making your own playing cards may not produce cards you are truly proud of.
Alternative to going totally in-house, there are websites where you can make your own (sort of, since they print them for you).
Choosing a website to customize playing cards means your cards will have a polished look, and you can easily enjoy playing with them, if you so choose.
This is also another good way to get wedding playing cards – and have them be totally personalized to your marriage.
One prominent maker of personalized playing cards is YourPlayingCards.com.
That company does paper and plastic cards, and they can ship to you in bulk within a couple days.
You can submit to them up to 54 photos for one deck of cards, and it is not expensive. (And that is the only thing you will see here that comes close to writing about “cheap playing cards”, because I think playing with cheap cards is a complete waste of time!)
As one-of-a-kind as owning a deck of personalized photo playing cards would be, there are other unique cards you can play.
Among them are clear plastic cards – these have been around few years.
While I like the look, and the fact they are washable and last a long time, all the decks of clear plastic playing cards I have played with were difficult to shuffle, so be warned.
If you like to play outdoors – say on the beach – you might enjoy a deck of magnetic playing cards.
Magnetic cards do not blow about in the wind, but do remember you need a metal surface on which to play.
All that said, I have yet to mention what I think to be the best playing cards – in a word, I look for quality.
Quality playing cards are those you can shuffle – the right, random way! – easily read, and play with for dozens of hours.
Of course, I am speaking about professional playing cards.
But just because I call them professional, it does not mean I want to break the bank to buy them.
That said, you need not do that – just remember that quality cards do cost more.
To me, the best quality comes from durable plastic cards.
I know I spoke before of clear plastic cards and difficult shuffling – in fact, high-quality opaque plastic cards are wonderful, and playable for a long time.
The best makers of this sort of playing card include Kem and Copag.
My playing preference is Copag, for what it is worth.
Like all other playing cards, you can find Kem and Copag at the online store I mentioned before – Kardwell.com.
Indeed, Kardwell sells more decks of new playing cards than you can imagine.
I think I could write 51 more things about decks of playing cards, and I hope what I have written here is of help to you.
