Cards review (5 Viewers)

[JMC9389]

Alright, I'm going to give this a shot. I got two decks of the NTP Long Life Blackjack Cards pictured in the link below:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-x-Packs-...081155?hash=item33f3e322c3:g:eRwAAOSwVYNdvYw0

Manufacturer: NTP (Dal Negro)

Price: $35 shipped from Amazon for two poker size, jumbo index decks.

Feel: Unlike the bridge sized NTP's I got off of Amazon which have the textured, almost gritty sensation that I like with shuffling, these cards actually remind me of Fourniers in terms of their smoothness. Card stock is a bit thicker than average, and have a very nice snap with shuffling without feeling flimsy. If I were to blind shuffle a deck of Fournier 2800 and one of these decks, I don't think I could honestly tell the difference. The stock thickness and texture is almost identical.

Looks: Nice, simple design with a white border. The red cards appear to have the darker security ink, but in well lit areas, I can tell the difference between the black and red cards well even from a distance. The cream colored inner design on the number cards adds a bit of class to the stock. I'm biased towards jumbo index cards, but I like the look of these. The pips I would say are a bit larger than normal for a jumbo index card, which surprises me because when I saw these advertised as "blackjack" cards, I figured that the index would be in between a standard and a jumbo, but alas. I noticed that the pips are also a couple of millimeters away from the edge of the card towards the center than what would traditionally be found.

Durability: I'll get back to everyone on this when they're put into play, but they seem like nice, sturdy cards that will hold up well to hours of rigorous play and shuffling.

Case/Portability: Standard cardboard, laminated tuck box.

Overall: I like these cards. If you're looking for a card that has a smooth texture with stock that shuffles well similar to a Fournier 2800, look no further. A bit pricey all being said, as these were shipped from the UK and don't appear to be available anywhere else.

Scores (out of 10):

Price: 5
Feel: 8
Looks: 7.5
Durability: TBD, 7 for now
Case: 5

Overall: 65/100

My scale for reference (out of 100):

85-100: My dream, ideal card that I would use every game if I wanted to
74-84: An excellent card that I would buy a couple of extra set ups of when the first set starts to get worn down
64-73: A good card that I would be happy to use with my home game
50-63: A passable card that I would use for a home game if I had no other better options available to me
30-49: A not so great card that I would carry with me in my travel bag that I wouldn't care if it got damaged or lost
0-29: Wouldn't use in any game. Fodder for my 1 year old son to play with and destroy.

 

[JMC9389]

I have all of these cards:

Dal Negro Poker Monkey
NTP Long Life Bridge Size Jumbo Index
Fournier 2800
WPT by Fournier
Bicycle Prestige by Fournier
Bicycle Prestige Duraflex
Bicycle Prestige Bridge Size Jumbo Index (USPCC)
Fournier 2818 for Congress Bridge Size Jumbo Index
desjgn Grand Victorian
Guild Poker Jumbo Index
ModiaNO Acetate Jumbo Index
Kem (post USPCC) Arrow Jumbo Index
Copag Unique Jumbo Index
Copag WSOP 2017-2019
Copag EPT
Copag Texas Hold 'em
Gemaco Superflex Jumbo Index
Bullets Jumbo Index
Slowplay Jumbo Index
Faded Spade v 1.0 and 2.0
Key West Resort and Casino by Liberty Playing Card Co. (plastic coated casino linen stock paper cards)

I also have some Angel MAG 502 cards and Dal Negro Statue of Liberty cards on the way to me.

Does anyone want any reviews of any of the above? I'm going to go downstairs later on today and go through my card shelf and add to the list. I'm sure a forgot a few.

 

[CdnBeerLover]

Does anyone want any reviews of any of the above?

Sure. Many of them on the list are already in the thread, but I'd love to see the following
Dal Negro Poker Monkey
NTP Long Life Bridge Size Jumbo Index
Guild Poker Jumbo Index
Kem (post USPCC) Arrow Jumbo Index
Copag Unique Jumbo Index
Copag WSOP 2017-2019
Copag EPT
Bullets Jumbo Index
Slowplay Jumbo Index
Faded Spade v 1.0 and 2.0

I thought I posted my thoughts on the Dal Negro Freedom Star aka Statue of Liberty cards (tl;dr: players loved them), but apparently I didn't. I'll write something up fior those tomorrow.

 

[JMC9389]

Sure. Many of them on the list are already in the thread, but I'd love to see the following
Dal Negro Poker Monkey
NTP Long Life Bridge Size Jumbo Index
Guild Poker Jumbo Index
Kem (post USPCC) Arrow Jumbo Index
Copag Unique Jumbo Index
Copag WSOP 2017-2019
Copag EPT
Bullets Jumbo Index
Slowplay Jumbo Index
Faded Spade v 1.0 and 2.0

I thought I posted my thoughts on the Dal Negro Freedom Star aka Statue of Liberty cards (tl;dr: players loved them), but apparently I didn't. I'll write something up fior those tomorrow.

You got it! I'll get to them eventually. I don't have any of the Copag Unique's or EPT's open, but all of the others I can probably take them out and shuffle again soon!

 

[surfik]

The line-up:

• Kem Pantheon
• Modiano Platinum
• Copag texas hold'em SE Silver
• Zero Tabriz (Rizzello e Romagnoli)
• Piatnik optic blue
• J-design/Desjgn Classic Paisley
• Hooooo-Laaaay Club Casino
• Gemaco PCA Plastic
• Cartamundi Acetate Casino

1. Kem Pantheon (poker size/jumbo index/red & blue)

Manufacturer: KEM
The company was founded in 1867 as Russell, Morgan & Co., a printing company. They began printing playing cards, with the "Congress No. 606" line being the first, in 1881. They began printing Bicycle cards, which would become their most popular line, in 1885. The playing card business was successful enough that it was spun off a separate business in 1894, as The United States Playing Card Company.

USPC (United States Playing Card Company) has owned Spanish playing card manufacturer Heraclio Fournier since 1986. In 2004 they acquired Kem Playing Cards, makers of plastic playing cards. (Wikipedia)

Price
$18-$25 (USA) / 25-30 € (EU) for 2 decks, depending on the vendor. They are among the most expensive cards available.

Feel
The first thing you will notice about the cards is how thin and fragile they are, also a bit slippery (not like Copag). But I like the feel of these KEM's, they are easy to handle & shuffle. They do tend to bend easily; shape retention is not the best I’ve seen.

Looks
The decks come in red and blue and have the specific pantheon design. The faces are nice, nothing special but a lot of detail and nice colors.
They are available in bridge & poker size, regular & jumbo index. All KEM playing cards are made of acetate.

Durability
KEM's are considered fragile (chipping, warping), but for now I have had not issues with my set.

Packaging
Black plastic case with a lit that opens to easily

Reviewers Comments
KEM's are a bit on a downfall, considering you can find a lot of negative post on poker/card/chip forums regarding post-USPC decks. The reputation KEM had, been built on the pre-USPC card... but I’m in no position to evaluate if there is a significant difference between pre- & post-USPC production.

For me, the KEM Pantheon’s are great, but at a price... so I will always consider alternatives that give more 'bang for the buck'.

Pictures:

2. Mondiano Platinum (poker size/regular index/red & blue)

Manufacturer: MODIANO
Modiano has been making smooth, durable playing cards since 1868 (+ 135 years of experience). 100% made in Italy, only KEM, Dal Negro & Mondiano (Platinum) use acetate for producing playing cards (and not PVC).

Price
$25-$30 (USA) / 25-30 € (EU) for 2 decks, depending on the vendor. They are among the most expensive cards available.

Feel
Modiano Cards are thicker and heavier than any other 100% plastic playing cards in the market today. A very substantial feel to them, absolutely no flimsy light weight cards !

Handling & shuffling the cards is a bit harder to get used to, but I do like the texture & grainy feel of the Platinum's. They are hard to bend and shape retention is excellent. These cards are loved or hated…not much in between.

Looks
The decks come in red and blue and have the specific acetate design. The faces are nice, again nothing special less detail (vs. KEM) but I like the colors (safety ink).
They are available in poker size, regular & jumbo index

Durability
These modiano platinum are build like a tank !
Reviews of Dal Negro acetates are horrible (breaking & chipping) but the Modiano platinum don't seem to have these issues. No troubles with my set...

Packaging
Black plastic case with a lit that seals well, with a nice golden logo

Reviewers Comments

This is a difficult one, I like the grainy feeling & texture of the cards, but the stiffness of the cards put me off a bit... Excellent cards, durability is awsome but this would not be my first or only choice @ a decent table.

Pictures:

3. Copag texas hold'em SE Silver (poker size/jumbo+peek index/black)

Manufacturer: COPAG
Copag is a company based in Brazil. The company has produced plastic playing cards for poker and bridge since 1908.
In 2005 Copag became part of the (Belgian) Cartamundi group

Price
$10-$12 (USA) / 7-10 € (EU) for 1 deck, depending on the vendor. They are in the average price range for plastic playing cards, especially compared to the previous KEM & Mondiano sets.

Feel
Smooth, light weight cards but in a more slick and slippery way then the KEM’s. Handling & shuffling the cards can be difficult, floating of the cards on top of a deck is very normal. Non textured feel and easy to bend, shape retention is excellent.

Looks
This special edition (silver) comes in red and black and have the classic Copag Export design. The faces are nice, nice details and the colors are ok.
They are available in poker size, jumbo index

Durability
The Copag’s are known to be very durable but slippery cards. Looking at the feedback on the forums, a LOT of people play with Copag. Only known issue is chipping of the ink. This deck is new, but my 1.5 year old one is still in pristine condition. No ink chipping with my decks for now...

Packaging
Silver cardboard box.

Reviewers Comments
Copag was my first love, but I’ve been cheating a lot lately… Copag’s are an excellent choice if you want affordable, durable cards that are easily available. My advice is to own at least one deck, but also try other brands…

Pictures:

4. Rizzello e Romagnoli Zero Tabriz (poker size/jumbo index/red)

Manufacturer: RIZZELLO E ROMAGNOLI
Rizzello e Romagnoli is an Italian manufacturer and distributor of professional and home gaming equipment. Based in Milan, the company hosts a wide assortment of products ranging from casino games, to backgammon, chess and various other merchandise for gaming aficionados and enthusiasts.

All of the playing cards produced by Rizzello e Romagnoli can be found in their online catalog. In both paper and plastic, they offer a variety of unique back designs (outlined border and full bleed) in just about all of the contemporary indice styles, although not all indices are available for both poker and bridge card sizes.

Price
$10-$12 (USA) / 8-10 € (EU) for 1 deck, depending on the vendor. They are in the average price range for plastic playing cards, especially compared to the previous KEM & Mondiano sets.

Feel
They feel smooth but stiff, a bit like modiano stiffness meeting KEM’s smoothness. There has been a lot of interest in these cards after the posting of a video that shows the ‘magnetic top card trick’… That looks cool but IRL you can’t feel or notice any difference when playing or shuffling with the cards.

Looks
The Tabriz cards come in red, green, yellow and blue and have a classic design. The faces are nice, nice details and the colors are great.
They are available in poker size, jumbo index, only a few retailers that are all situated in Europe.

Durability
Very durable, rigid cards... no known issues.

Packaging
Black cardboard box.

Reviewers Comments
Besides the hype of the ‘sucktion effect,’ I don’t think that these cards are special enough to become widely known, used and preferred…. especially with the lack of retailers in the USA. Nice cards tho, but I prefer a more flexible playing card.

Pictures:

Part 2 will follow soon...

5. Piatnik bridge size, jumbo index, optic blue back

6. J-design/desjgn poker size, jumbo index & purple paisley back

7. Hooooo-Laaaay Club Casino poker size, regular index, blue back

8 Gemaco PCA Plastic, bridge size, regular index, green & brown back

9 Cartamundi Casino Acetate, bridge size, regular index, green & brown back

I like the idea but KEM history part is more about USPC than KEM

 

[JMC9389]

Right then, so I'll review the Dal Negro Texas Hold 'em Monkey Back cards as pictured in this link:

https://www.amazon.com/Dal-Negro-Texas-Playing-Italian/dp/B01IVW8T4W

I took a deck of these out to shuffle last night, so I figured I'd jot down my notes and observations while it was fresh in my mind.

Manufacturer: Dal Negro

Price: $18 shipped per deck, so it would be $36 shipped for a two deck set up. Available in red, black, and blue back for time being. Orange and Green backs appear to have previously been offered but can't find them in stock anywhere.

Feel: My first thought upon picking up the deck without even shuffling them: they're heavy. They feel more substantial than a standard deck of 100% plastic cards. These are made of 100% PVC plastic as most other Dal Negro cards are. They're a touch thicker than the NTP Long Life Blackjack cards I shuffled and reviewed yesterday. Initially, there was some resistance with the first few shuffles, but the cards loosened up nicely but did not lose their substantial feeling to them. The stock has a smooth finish and does not feel at all gritty with shuffling.

Look: I really like the back design. Modern meets classic with the monkey design. The card back red color is a little muted, more of a pink-red than cherry red. The card faces are really vibrant and bright, as the red heart and diamond cards do not have the red security ink that is standard across casino issued cards. Card stock is a quite bright white that is lighter in color than average. The pips are jumbo index and are not very close to the edge of the card (as is the case with the Fournier 2800) but are closer to the edge of the card than the NTP Long Life Blackjack cards were. Pip placement is just right here, in my opinion. Pip size is just right for a jumbo index card. The pips on the NTP Long Life Blackjack cards were just a tad too large.

Durability: Again, to be determined, but these cards feel thick and substantial enough that I'm not worried about their long term durability.

Case: A standard, matted tuck box.

Overall: As is the case with the NTP Long Life Blackjack cards, I like them. I tend to like a thicker stock card when compared to a more elastic, flimsier stock. I get the feeling that these can be a workhorse card that lasts for many long 4-5 hour cash game sessions and not have to buy any more for a long while. The finish of the stock is even more matted and shinier than the NTP Blackjack cards, which had a more muted finish. That said, the card back texture is very smooth and not at all gritty or sandy feeling.

Scores (out of 10)

Price: 5
Feel: 7.5
Look: 8
Durability: 8
Case: 5

Overall Score: 67/100

Cost is prohibitive for me to buy any more than I already have, but I'd be happy to put these into a game. They feel like they'll last a long time and withstand the rigors and abuse of multiple, multi-hour sessions. These beat out the NTP Long Life Blackjack cards by a hair. The vibrant red colored cards, better pip placement and size are what ultimately gives these cards the edge. That said, I like both decks of cards, but I'm unlikely to buy any more at the current price point.

Scale for reference:

85-100: My dream, ideal card that I would use every game if I wanted to
74-84: An excellent card that I would buy a couple of extra set ups of when the first set starts to get worn down
64-73: A good card that I would be happy to use with my home game
50-63: A passable card that I would use for a home game if I had no other better options available to me
30-49: A not so great card that I would carry with me in my travel bag that I wouldn't care if it got damaged or lost
0-29: Wouldn't use in any game. Fodder for my 1 year old son to play with and destroy.

 

[CdnBeerLover]

Dal Negro Freedom Star (Poker size, jumbo, red/blue)

Manufacturer
Dal Negro

Price
$16 CDN / two deck setup. I got them as an in-store special at StraightPokerSupplies when I last dropped in there. My wife just rolled her eyes when I bought more cards along with speedcloth.

Each deck in the set is comprised of 55 cards (52-card deck, two jokers, and an advertising card).

Feel
They feel thicker than Kems and thinner than Fournier. That is a bit deceiving as they are actually one card thicker than my Fournier EPT cards. They have less texture than the Fourniers as well. Best way to describe them is as a flexible Fournier. They return to flat very quickly.

Looks
Currently available in red/blue. Graphics are quite nice. Pip size is between Desjgn Classic Victorian and Founier, which is a nice size...good visibility from the end of an oval, but not huge. Style is the same as Modiano cards, so the spades have a "fat" look.

Durability
I've only used them in one game so far, but they held up well on the speedcloth.

Case
They ship in standard single-deck packs. Nothing to write home about.

Overall
Very nice cards. Our players really liked them...easy to shuffle and bend to peek at the pips and still pitch well.

Pictures

Face comparison: Desjgn Classic Victorian v3, Dal Negro Freedom Star, Fournier EPT, Bicycle Prestige

Pip size comparison, same order

Edit: updated picture without flash.

 

[CdnBeerLover]

Alright, I'm going to give this a shot. I got two decks of the NTP Long Life Blackjack Cards pictured in the link below:
...
Overall: I like these cards. If you're looking for a card that has a smooth texture with stock that shuffles well similar to a Fournier 2800, look no further. A bit pricey all being said, as these were shipped from the UK and don't appear to be available anywhere else.

They are also available in Canada.
https://www.straightpokersupplies.c...-plastic-playing-cards-poker-jumbo-index.html

Don't know if that's better or worse than the UK price, but it's an option.

 

[JMC9389]

They are also available in Canada.
https://www.straightpokersupplies.c...-plastic-playing-cards-poker-jumbo-index.html

Don't know if that's better or worse than the UK price, but it's an option.

It's cheaper by maybe a dollar what I paid off Amazon. StraightPokerSupplies also would ship them in a cardboard box rather than a tuckbox for each deck. Think I would have preferred to do it that way. Oh well, maybe next time!

 

[Phyffe]

I have all of these cards:

Dal Negro Poker Monkey
NTP Long Life Bridge Size Jumbo Index
Fournier 2800
WPT by Fournier
Bicycle Prestige by Fournier
Bicycle Prestige Duraflex
Bicycle Prestige Bridge Size Jumbo Index (USPCC)
Fournier 2818 for Congress Bridge Size Jumbo Index
desjgn Grand Victorian
Guild Poker Jumbo Index
ModiaNO Acetate Jumbo Index
Kem (post USPCC) Arrow Jumbo Index
Copag Unique Jumbo Index
Copag WSOP 2017-2019
Copag EPT
Copag Texas Hold 'em
Gemaco Superflex Jumbo Index
Bullets Jumbo Index
Slowplay Jumbo Index
Faded Spade v 1.0 and 2.0
Key West Resort and Casino by Liberty Playing Card Co. (plastic coated casino linen stock paper cards)

I also have some Angel MAG 502 cards and Dal Negro Statue of Liberty cards on the way to me.

Does anyone want any reviews of any of the above? I'm going to go downstairs later on today and go through my card shelf and add to the list. I'm sure a forgot a few.

Would love your take on the long term durability of the Copag Texas Holdems and design Grand Victorians as well as a review on the Guild Jumbos.

TIA

 

[JMC9389]

I'll make the next review easy. I'll review the desjgn Grand Victorian Poker size cards below per @Phyffe 's request.

Spoiler

These are going to be the highest rated cards in my collection thus far

Manufacturer: Dal Negro (like 99% sure about this)

Price: Approximately $24 shipped per two deck set up

Feel: To sum it up, it's my favorite card in terms of feel out there. The stock is textured and has that wonderful, sandy, gritty feeling with shuffling. The stock is a bit thicker than previous versions, from what I'm told, which was a major improvement to many. The stock thickness is just right. Not thin and flimsy but not impossibly stiff. The cards have a really nice snap with shuffling and glide seamlessly among each other. They are my go to cards to practice my shuffling,, but whenever I shuffle and feel other cards, I always find myself going back to these. These are the bench mark that I use to compare other cards, and that's the highest compliment I can offer to a card.

Looks: I initially was wary of the unique pips and well, desjgn of the card faces. Every time I take the cards out, I like the cards more and more. The reds are really bright and vibrant, and the black pips bold and defined. The beige card middles on the number cards makes the cards look really nice and defined. The back design is also a huge winner. I'm personally not a fan of a yellow back card, but the red, blue, and blacked cards are absolute winners.

Case: Cardboard box with a paper divider splitting the decks. I haven't had an issue with the top of the box sliding off yet, but if traveling, I'd recommend placing a tight rubber band over the top of the box to assure that you're not playing 104 pick up.

Durability: Again, too early to comment, but it seems like they'll hold up really well to the rigors of multiple 4-5 hour cash game sessions.

Overall: My favorite card out there, bar none. Only the Fournier 2800 and NTP Poker Bridge size (also made by Dal Negro) come close. It doesn't hurt that @desjgn is a vendor here and does great business with even better service. If you read this Jason, if you make the same exact cards next year in different colors (orange and green!), they'd be a snap buy for me.

Scores (out of 10):

Price: 8.5
Feel: 10
Looks: 9
Case: 7
Durability: 8.5

Overall score: 86/100


Scale for reference:

85-100: My dream, ideal card that I would use every game if I wanted to
74-84: An excellent card that I would buy a couple of extra set ups of when the first set starts to get worn down
64-73: A good card that I would be happy to use with my home game
50-63: A passable card that I would use for a home game if I had no other better options available to me
30-49: A not so great card that I would carry with me in my travel bag that I wouldn't care if it got damaged or lost
0-29: Wouldn't use in any game. Fodder for my 1 year old son to play with and destroy.

 

[CdnBeerLover]

I'll make the next review easy. I'll review the desjgn Grand Victorian Poker size cards below per @Phyffe 's request.

Spoiler

These are going to be the highest rated cards in my collection thus far

Manufacturer: Dal Negro (like 99% sure about this)

Price: Approximately $24 shipped per two deck set up

Feel: To sum it up, it's my favorite card in terms of feel out there. The stock is textured and has that wonderful, sandy, gritty feeling with shuffling. The stock is a bit thicker than previous versions, from what I'm told, which was a major improvement to many. The stock thickness is just right. Not thin and flimsy but not impossibly stiff. The cards have a really nice snap with shuffling and glide seamlessly among each other. They are my go to cards to practice my shuffling,, but whenever I shuffle and feel other cards, I always find myself going back to these. These are the bench mark that I use to compare other cards, and that's the highest compliment I can offer to a card.

Looks: I initially was wary of the unique pips and well, desjgn of the card faces. Every time I take the cards out, I like the cards more and more. The reds are really bright and vibrant, and the black pips bold and defined. The beige card middles on the number cards makes the cards look really nice and defined. The back design is also a huge winner. I'm personally not a fan of a yellow back card, but the red, blue, and blacked cards are absolute winners.

Case: Cardboard box with a paper divider splitting the decks. I haven't had an issue with the top of the box sliding off yet, but if traveling, I'd recommend placing a tight rubber band over the top of the box to assure that you're not playing 104 pick up.

Durability: Again, too early to comment, but it seems like they'll hold up really well to the rigors of multiple 4-5 hour cash game sessions.

Overall: My favorite card out there, bar none. Only the Fournier 2800 and NTP Poker Bridge size (also made by Dal Negro) come close. It doesn't hurt that @desjgn is a vendor here and does great business with even better service. If you read this Jason, if you make the same exact cards next year in different colors (orange and green!), they'd be a snap buy for me.

Scores (out of 10):

Price: 8.5
Feel: 10
Looks: 9
Case: 7
Durability: 8.5

Overall score: 86/100


Scale for reference:

85-100: My dream, ideal card that I would use every game if I wanted to
70-84: An excellent card that I would buy a couple of extra set ups of when the first set starts to get worn down
60-74: A good card that I would be happy to use with my home game
50-64: A passable card that I would use for a home game if I had no other better options available to me
30-49: A not so great card that I would carry with me in my travel bag that I wouldn't care if it got damaged or lost
0-29: Wouldn't use in any game. Fodder for my 1 year old son to play with and destroy.

Agree that Desjgn and Fournier are in the top two, although I prefer Fournier 2818 cards just a bit more with respect to feel. The Fourniers are harder to get, though. If you like poker size / jumbo index, the Desjgns are excellent cards for the money. I'm hoping the Dal Negro manufactured versions wear as well as the previous version, as the v2 cards are very durable.

 

[Phyffe]

I'll make the next review easy. I'll review the desjgn Grand Victorian Poker size cards below per @Phyffe 's request.

Spoiler

These are going to be the highest rated cards in my collection thus far

Manufacturer: Dal Negro (like 99% sure about this)

Price: Approximately $24 shipped per two deck set up

Feel: To sum it up, it's my favorite card in terms of feel out there. The stock is textured and has that wonderful, sandy, gritty feeling with shuffling. The stock is a bit thicker than previous versions, from what I'm told, which was a major improvement to many. The stock thickness is just right. Not thin and flimsy but not impossibly stiff. The cards have a really nice snap with shuffling and glide seamlessly among each other. They are my go to cards to practice my shuffling,, but whenever I shuffle and feel other cards, I always find myself going back to these. These are the bench mark that I use to compare other cards, and that's the highest compliment I can offer to a card.

Looks: I initially was wary of the unique pips and well, desjgn of the card faces. Every time I take the cards out, I like the cards more and more. The reds are really bright and vibrant, and the black pips bold and defined. The beige card middles on the number cards makes the cards look really nice and defined. The back design is also a huge winner. I'm personally not a fan of a yellow back card, but the red, blue, and blacked cards are absolute winners.

Case: Cardboard box with a paper divider splitting the decks. I haven't had an issue with the top of the box sliding off yet, but if traveling, I'd recommend placing a tight rubber band over the top of the box to assure that you're not playing 104 pick up.

Durability: Again, too early to comment, but it seems like they'll hold up really well to the rigors of multiple 4-5 hour cash game sessions.

Overall: My favorite card out there, bar none. Only the Fournier 2800 and NTP Poker Bridge size (also made by Dal Negro) come close. It doesn't hurt that @desjgn is a vendor here and does great business with even better service. If you read this Jason, if you make the same exact cards next year in different colors (orange and green!), they'd be a snap buy for me.

Scores (out of 10):

Price: 8.5
Feel: 10
Looks: 9
Case: 7
Durability: 8.5

Overall score: 86/100


Scale for reference:

85-100: My dream, ideal card that I would use every game if I wanted to
74-84: An excellent card that I would buy a couple of extra set ups of when the first set starts to get worn down
64-73: A good card that I would be happy to use with my home game
50-63: A passable card that I would use for a home game if I had no other better options available to me
30-49: A not so great card that I would carry with me in my travel bag that I wouldn't care if it got damaged or lost
0-29: Wouldn't use in any game. Fodder for my 1 year old son to play with and destroy.

JMC, thanks for the review.

Does it hold true for the other Desjgn card backs as well? Was looking at the Dragon/Krakens

 

[JMC9389]

JMC, thanks for the review.

Does it hold true for the other Desjgn card backs as well? Was looking at the Dragon/Krakens

The Gorgon/Sphinx set up I have is still in shrink wrap, so I can't really comment for those colors. For the Dragon/Kraken cards, I haven't noted any marking or fading of the card backs or faces as of yet.

 

[Old State]

I like the idea but KEM history part is more about USPC than KEM

Having bought and played with Kems before and after the USPC buy out I can say with absolute conviction there is no difference. No difference in feel or propensity to warp. I’ve had pre and post USPC Kem both warp and not warp. The worst warpage by a long shot was a set of poker sized arrows from 2002. (Pre USPC).

This is an internet myth that simply will not die.

The only difference in Kems I’ve noticed was in a 2011 set that had a rougher texture. This seems to remain through to today. The color of the red ink also has changed over time.

 

[surfik]

Having bought and played with Kems before and after the USPC buy out I can say with absolute conviction there is no difference. No difference in feel or propensity to warp. I’ve had pre and post USPC Kem both warp and not warp. The worst warpage by a long shot was a set of poker sized arrows from 2002. (Pre USPC).

This is an internet myth that simply will not die.

The only difference in Kems I’ve noticed was in a 2011 set that had a rougher texture. This seems to remain through to today.

I love KEM... pre and after USPCC and I do see difference in feel but not in endurance. But for sure they have different font of pips and colors of pre USPCC KEMs are more radiant....

 

[Old State]

I love KEM... pre and after USPCC and I do see difference in feel but not in endurance. But for sure they have different font of pips and colors of pre USPCC KEMs are more radiant....

Agree. But the change in feel didn’t start until about 5 years after the USPC merger. People started complaining about the “difference” immediately after the merger. I bought a deck to find out and realized it was nonsense. many Bought since then

as I’ve said dozens of times here, store them upside down with a cut cards and a dealer button on each deck. They will not bow that way.

 

[JMC9389]

Time to review something we don't see too often here; the Angel Mag-503 Poker Playing Cards!

Manufacturer: Angel Playing Cards (Japan)

Price: $19 shipped per deck from Amazon. Shipping took approximately two weeks from order to door.

Feel: I'll be honest with all of you, and it may come off as controversial, but here it goes. These cards feel like the really cheap laminated plastic cards that one can buy at the dollar store. The card stock is thicker than those dollar store cards, but the finish of the stock isn't matte like a typical plastic card. The plastic is almost shiny, but it's somehow not slippery. Maybe if I shuffle them more and play with them a bit, they'll feel a little different, but I'll be honest, the cards feel cheap. Still, the cards shuffled well and snapped back to shape very quickly, but the feel of the stock is just so odd and cheap feeling.

Looks: I like the design of the card backs and card faces. The cards are standard index but the pips appear slightly larger than the traditional standard index pip sizes. The card stock color is a brighter white than I've been accustomed to. The red pipped cards are somewhere in between the really bright red pips and the dark red security ink. Visibility across a table is very good across a smallish poker table. The card back design is simple but elegant.

Case: Hard single deck plastic case with a thinner plastic cover that is detachable from the main case.

Durability: It doesn't seem like they'll break and tear like the dollar store cards, but too soon to tell.

Overall: These are probably my least favorite cards in terms of feel that I've reviewed so far. I just can't shake the cheap, dollar store feel that they have. The design is classy and the card stock is bright enough and the pips pronounced enough to be read from across the table. The case is sturdy, but not exactly convenient. The design of the cards save them from being a bottom dweller.

Scores (out of 10):

Price: 3
Look: 7
Feel: 2
Case: 6
Durability: 6

Overall: 48/100

I actually edited the score to be lower, as I felt my initial score of 58/100 was too close to the Dal Negro Poker Monkey and NTP Blackjack cards that I reviewed at 67/100 and 65/100, respectively, so far. The difference between the Dal Negros and Angel cards is definitely not only 7 or 9 points. The gap is much, much wider than that.

Scale for reference:

85-100: My dream, ideal card that I would use every game if I wanted to
74-84: An excellent card that I would buy a couple of extra set ups of when the first set starts to get worn down
64-73: A good card that I would be happy to use with my home game
50-63: A passable card that I would use for a home game if I had no other better options available to me
30-49: A not so great card that I would carry with me in my travel bag that I wouldn't care if it got damaged or lost
0-29: Wouldn't use in any game. Fodder for my 1 year old son to play with and destroy.

 

[RocAFella1]

@JMC9389 will you be adding pictures to the reviews?

 

[JMC9389]

@JMC9389 will you be adding pictures to the reviews?

Eventually, but I'm upstairs and the cards are downstairs. I'm going to edit all of my reviews to include pictures, in due time!

 

[Phyffe]

Eventually, but I'm upstairs and the cards are downstairs. I'm going to edit all of my reviews to include pictures, in due time!

JMC,

Any chance I can get a mini-review of the Guilds? I'm about to finalize my order on Amazon and I only order cards a two or 3 times a year because of the shipping delay.

Thanks!

 

[JMC9389]

JMC,

Any chance I can get a mini-review of the Guilds? I'm about to finalize my order on Amazon and I only order cards a two or 3 times a year because of the shipping delay.

Thanks!

I didn't go a full review yet, but I took them out and shuffled them for a bit a couple of weeks ago.

I like them. The cards were a little slippery when first opened but started to break in a bit and became less slippery with some shuffling. Card stock is a bit on the thicker side but in a good way. My advice is to buy a set with your next shipment and get more in your next shipment if you really like them. Just a hair over $20 for a set up is a fair price for these cards.

For what it's worth, I'm having major bowing issues with my previously opened Kem's and Faded Spade cards. Faded Spade is going further and further down my list by the day, and I was never a huge fan of Kem from the get go after getting some desjgn, Fournier, and Dal Negro cards.

 

[Anthony Ferguson]

My favorite card out there, bar none.

Are the "Grand Victorian poker" cards reviewed the same as the "Classic Victorian" cards available for purchase a Desgn's website?

 

[JMC9389]

Are the "Grand Victorian poker" cards reviewed the same as the "Classic Victorian" cards available for purchase a Desgn's website?

Yes, my apologies, one in the same. I reviewed the newer V.3 iteration of the cards made this year. @desjgn should be getting more in any day now.

 

[Phyffe]

I didn't go a full review yet, but I took them out and shuffled them for a bit a couple of weeks ago.

I like them. The cards were a little slippery when first opened but started to break in a bit and became less slippery with some shuffling. Card stock is a bit on the thicker side but in a good way. My advice is to buy a set with your next shipment and get more in your next shipment if you really like them. Just a hair over $20 for a set up is a fair price for these cards.

For what it's worth, I'm having major bowing issues with my previously opened Kem's and Faded Spade cards. Faded Spade is going further and further down my list by the day, and I was never a huge fan of Kem from the get go after getting some desjgn, Fournier, and Dal Negro cards.

Thanks, JMC.

I've been looking at these https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bicycle-Pr...rds-jumbo-index-NEW-No-Outer-Box/182006145559

and these https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bee-100-plastic-Playing-Cards-Jumbo-Index/171739406001

The Bees are clearly made in Spain so I'm thinking Fournier but I wasn't a big fan of the Bicycle Prestige Jumbo index Poker sized that I got, but then the asking price is fine...

 

[JMC9389]

Thanks, JMC.

I've been looking at these https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bicycle-Pr...rds-jumbo-index-NEW-No-Outer-Box/182006145559

and these https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bee-100-plastic-Playing-Cards-Jumbo-Index/171739406001

The Bees are clearly made in Spain so I'm thinking Fournier but I wasn't a big fan of the Bicycle Prestige Jumbo index Poker sized that I got, but then the asking price is fine...

Just be careful with ordering the Bee cards. They're plastic coated only and are not 100% plastic. I put my Fournier 2818 cards into play this weekend for my tournament and they were really well received. There's an eBay seller in Lithuania that will sell the Fournier 2818 cards in bulk. Shoot him a message and see if he'll ship to the Phiilipines. They'll take a couple of weeks to get to you but they're well worth it!

 

[Old State]

For what it's worth, I'm having major bowing issues with my previously opened Kem's and Faded Spade cards. Faded Spade is going further and further down my list by the day, and I was never a huge fan of Kem from the get go after getting some desjgn, Fournier, and Dal Negro cards.

Wow I hated Faded Spade before I ever heard this. As for Kems or any acetate card store upside down with a cut card and dealer button on top.

 

[JMC9389]

Wow I hated Faded Spade before I ever heard this. As for Kems or any acetate card store upside down with a cut card and dealer button on top.

That's in progress right now re: the Kems. How long does this need to be done to see results?

RE: Faded Spade. I haven't opened the V2 cards yet, but they are going to go on the "do not buy" list if there are bowing issues with those too.

 

[Phyffe]

Just be careful with ordering the Bee cards. They're plastic coated only and are not 100% plastic. I put my Fournier 2818 cards into play this weekend for my tournament and they were really well received. There's an eBay seller in Lithuania that will sell the Fournier 2818 cards in bulk. Shoot him a message and see if he'll ship to the Phiilipines. They'll take a couple of weeks to get to you but they're well worth it!

Funny, I just mentioned that guy in another thread.

Yes, I purchased from them but since customs frowns on anything gambling related I usually have em shipped to the US along with my other stuff and then ship em over here.

We Filipinos have a system where personal items get shipped over tax free, but it does take a while...

Thanks for the heads up on the Bees. I figured that would be the case.

You gonna do a review on the 2818s?

 

[Phyffe]

That's in progress right now re: the Kems. How long does this need to be done to see results?

RE: Faded Spade. I haven't opened the V2 cards yet, but they are going to go on the "do not buy" list if there are bowing issues with those too.

Interesting way of storing them. What I've done is get a couple of old Bicycle paper-card boxes and store them there before I put them back in their case.

I also store all brand new cards in what essentially is a big tupperware case with dessicant packs inside.

Note that I live in the tropics but I'm sure Floridians would understand.