4 Color Decks - Yay or Nay? (1 Viewer)

[abby99]

Online, I love 'em. Live, I've only played with them once, more than seven years ago. They were probably Copags. The lighting was, well, let's say incompatible with the blue and green inks such that I was unable to read either of them accurately.

TLDR: Two thumbs down.

The only online images that I liked were similar to these:

 

[BGinGA]

Fuck it, who needs colors for suits when they already have different shapes. Make 'em ALL black and be done with it. Solves the color-blind issue.

Print the suit name on 'em too, for those who can't follow along with different shapes. Most players can read.

Having just two colors -- Black and Red -- is actually pretty stupid when there are four suits. Should either be four colors, or just one. I vote one ftw.

 

[slisk250]

Hate.

 

[bigdonkey]

I don't hear anyone clamoring for 2-color Lucky Charms. We just need to change two of the suits to purple horseshoes and blue moons.

 

[TheRealTeddyKGB]

So of the people who "hate" 4 color decks I wonder if they're still playing with paper cards too...

+1 for indifferent. Really don't understand the hate...

 

[Astra]

Nay

 

[kaysirtap]

The four colors certainly take some getting used to. I like the idea, I just don't know if I like the execution. I feel like relying on the color in less than optimal lighting conditions can actually cause more mistakes than prevent them.

 

[andrebttx]

I just think boards look so nice with 4 color cards!

 

[Eriks]

BTW colors are *easier* to see on a computer screen. Don’t know where those comments are coming from.

Multitabling and time pressure

 

[Mongoose]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “NO THANK YOU!”

 

[LowerBama1714]

Other than the color blindness arguments I’m not seeing much reasoning behind the “No’s”…

I’ve found newer players prefer the 4-color decks and the more experienced players do not…but they can’t give me a reason (other than resistance to change).

I don’t really care…

As a host, the only gripe I have is toward the people bitching about the 4-color decks (there is always one).

I’d be happy to play at someone else’s game regardless of the color of their decks…but I don’t like other peoples chips.

 

[binoclard]

It is really interesting, I have the "Argh no" knee jerk reaction. But in fact, I have to admit the usability argument makes complete sense, and can not be beaten by subjective or tradition arguments.

(I feel it is the same sterile debate between automatic vs manual cars. I have argued for hours that it makes absolutely no sense to have a manual car and be forced to use two feet and one hand, when you can drive the same way using only one foot, and occasionally one hand.)

In the end it is easier to use, point. I'll have to order a 4 colours deck and give it a serious try.

One could go further, and question the use of suits. It clearly stems from tradition, older card game, etc. But if the end goal is only to have 4 distincts symbols, perhaps the traditional shapes could be improved and replaced by something even more immediately identifiable? With 4 super distincts colours that even colourblind people could differentiate?

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

It is really interesting, I have the "Argh no" knee jerk reaction. But in fact, I have to admit the usability argument makes complete sense, and can not be beaten by subjective or tradition arguments.

(I feel it is the same sterile debate between automatic vs manual cars. I have argued for hours that it makes absolutely no sense to have a manual car and be forced to use two feet and one hand, when you can drive the same way using only one foot, and occasionally one hand.)

In the end it is easier to use, point. I'll have to order a 4 colours deck and give it a serious try.

One could go further, and question the use of suits. It clearly stems from tradition, older card game, etc. But if the end goal is only to have 4 distincts symbols, perhaps the traditional shapes could be improved and replaced by something even more immediately identifiable? With 4 super distincts colours that even colourblind people could differentiate?

Oh, so the felt cant have any color or distinction and now you want the suits to be "Squares Pigs Tophats and Candles"? Good. Great.

 

[Poker Zombie]

I'm still holding out for a 4 color deck that uses the blue and the green as outlines around or hues behind the traditional color. This might assuage the haters because they wouldn't be overwhelmingly different, and would assist those that want/need the extra bit of help differentiating.

I have a partially designed concept, but quit the project when I found out MPC cards are basically junk. I've reached out to Faded Spade, but the deck minimum was more than I think a group buy could muster for a unique take on cards.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Oh, so the felt cant have any color or distinction and now you want the suits to be "Squares Pigs Tophats and Candles"? Good. Great.

Suits should be easily ranked to avoid confusion during stud/bring-in games.

Sm Crowns > Top Hat > Circle/Square > Dice

 

[wickedwonka121]

 

[binoclard]

Oh, so the felt cant have any color or distinction and now you want the suits to be "Squares Pigs Tophats and Candles"? Good. Great.

The end design goal is the same: make the game easier by optimising the immediate ability to see what is important.

Clean felt > Cluttered and busy felt

4 Colours > 2 colours

Easy shapes > Complicated shapes

I am definitely not saying that my 5 second sketch makes a better job that traditional suits, I only find the subject interesting, and perhaps, traditional suits could be improved upon to obtain shapes and symbols that are in fact easier to quickly differentiate. Or not.

 

[Poker Zombie]

The end design goal is the same: make the game easier by optimising the immediate ability to see what is important.

Clean felt > Cluttered and busy felt

4 Colours > 2 colours

Easy shapes > Complicated shapes

I am definitely not saying that my 5 second sketch makes a better job that traditional suits, I only find the subject interesting, and perhaps, traditional suits could be improved upon to obtain shapes and symbols that are in fact easier to quickly differentiate. Or not.View attachment 1184616

Red Yellow Blue Green (or perhaps Red Yellow Blue Black) would be better, but I'm not opposed to some tradition. Otherwise, were heading straight for non-gender specific cards.

 

[BGinGA]

Adding a fifth suit -- stars or circles -- to existing decks would render solvers useless and somewhat negate the edge held by professionals. Just sayin'.

 

[Chawks45]

Any poker player who claims they have never mistaken a heart/diamond or club/spade for the other suit of the same color is lying.

Sometimes it happens at the worst time. Was at Harrah's at Seat 7 -- damn corner seats with declining eye sight -- and heads up in position after three-betting an early position player before the flop. Flopped four to the second nut diamond flush draw, opponent checks, I c-bet the draw, he calls. I swore up and down in my head that I drilled it on the turn when a red card hit the board. Player in front donk-bets into me and I jammed my stack. He had me covered and calls after tanking a bit. Dealer fans a blank on the river, leading to showdown time.

I table my hand and confidently declare: "Flush." He picks up his cards and shows a flopped two pair and is about to muck his hand, then abruptly stops and does a double take at the board. The dealer also gives me a funny look. A brief silence, then everyone at the table starts laughing, prompting me to look down at my hand and stand up to lean over the table to get a closer view of the board. The red card on the turn was a heart. Oops.

I still catch a lot of playful flak from my poker pals for that miscue, and the guy from the hand never lets me forget whenever I go to Harrah's. If I join him at a table, he joyfully announces to the rest of the players, "Here comes Mr. Flush Guy."

As to the original question on four-colored decks, I don't mind them. They're an acquired taste.

 

[binoclard]

I have just stumbled on the World of Playing Cards. Fascinating. Here goes my afternoon productivity…

 

[upNdown]

As to the original question on four-colored decks, I don't mind them. They're an acquired taste.

That’s a good way to put it - they are an acquired taste. So is smokey scotch. But I’m not going to force my guests to drink smokey scotch until they like it.

 

[LowerBama1714]

That’s a good way to put it - they are an acquired taste. So is smokey scotch. But I’m not going to force my guests to drink smokey scotch until they like it.

It’s like a campfire in your mouth…

 

[upNdown]

It’s like a campfire in your mouth…

Yes. But is that a good thing?

 

[Poker Zombie]

That’s a good way to put it - they are an acquired taste. So is smokey scotch. But I’m not going to force my guests to drink smokey scotch until they like it.

Force, no. But if it's what you have open...

 

[Terrys394]

Years ago Mike Caro led this push to use the four color deck and a few casinos tried them but quickly switched back. I didn't like them then and didn't care for them online. Recently I played in a casino that used these decks in their Big O game. I actually loved them in Big O. I don't see the need for them in Hold em but in mixed games I think they help a lot.

 

[Colquhoun]

I don’t like them, but I guess I’m more of a traditionalist.

I also don’t like yellow golf balls or Nardo gray car paint.

 

[LowerBama1714]

Yes. But is that a good thing?

If I’m drinking it, yes…

If my wife drinks it, and I have just brushed my teeth, then she tries to take advantage of me…no. It’s icky…

 

[Taghkanic]

I have just stumbled on the World of Playing Cards. Fascinating. Here goes my afternoon productivity…

If you like such stuff, Roger Tilley’s book is crazily detailed. It’s especially interesting when he discusses how innovations in printing kept changing cards over the centuries.

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/a-history-of-playing-cards_roger-tilley/1488223/item/2151812/

 

[binoclard]

Awesome, thank you!

By chance, do you happen to know similar books (or good online ressources) about the history of poker chips? Design, trends, etc? I have been meaning to open a thread to ask about this kind of stuff, but while you are here…