I don’t know if this is useful - it sounds like maybe you’re looking for a new rabbit hole - if so, so be it.
But after owning all of the following brands (off the top of my head; there are probably others) I have come to two conclusions:
1) cards are consumable and thus a stupid thing to waste money on, if you’re actually playing them, and
2) they’re almost all sufficiently playable, and the factors separating one from another are mostly subjective and somewhat subtle.
I’m now using cheapo setups from
Amazon branded Lot Fancy which I actually prefer over many of the pricier brands.
Long story short, premium plastic cards are a big waste of money.
Kem
Modiano
Fournier
Piatbik
Bicycle prestige (bicycle)
Bicycle prestige (Spain)
Copag
Cartumundi
King
Desjgn (at least 3 different stocks)
Dal negro
Trefl
Broken arrow
Davinci
Angel aristo
Gemaco
Thanks for this comment - and I'm not doubting that one bit, and I largely agree, but "inquiring minds JUST want to know". You had the personal experience to learn what you like. Everyone is going to have a different experience and set of preferences. I just want to find a playing card I like that won't break the bank when I need to repurchase.
So lots to unpack since I received my cards...
Right now, I have a set of KEMs (wanted to know what 'allegedly' the best feeling card is as a benchmark), Copag 1546, a pack of Copag Elite (both Copags are PVC - they feel about the same to one another), and a pack of the Purple Modiano Texas Poker (acetate).
I have handled these a LOT over the past few days, one right after another, and there isn't anything subtle about the these three brands. They're all distinctly different in flex and feel.
The Modiano Texas Poker are the stiffest, but have this soft pleasing velvety touch/feel when handling. For a thicker card, they have a luxurious feel. They shuffle effortlessly - my favorite of the three decks. These will work really well with both poker and blackjack - our family loves blackjack. The Modianos don't stink.
Copags (both the 1546 and Elite) shuffle really well, but a bit more loosey-goosey. Man, sometimes these things just want to spray.
They have a bit more flex than the Modianos, but have a thin plasticky feel. They really float, and the top cards loves to slide off the deck. The moment I take the either the 1546 or Elite out, and set the deck on the table, the top 2 - 3 cards just slide off. ....AND!!!! The Copags still stink.
The KEMs (going by the Black set, note of the Gold set below) have the most flex (they're like butter), but with a softer feel than the Copags - more similar to the luxurious feel of the Modiano - though, I prefer the slightly thicker feel of the Modianos over the much thinner KEMs (wow, didn't think I'd say that). The KEMS had an initial sharp acetone-ink stink, but that's largely worn off.
Every one of the card brands, including the stiffer Modianos, are significantly softer/more flexible than my Gemaco Casino cancelled cards, as well as the el-cheapo cards we typically use for Euchre tournies during my wife's holiday family gatherings. So pretty much anything is going to be a BIG improvement. Probably your $10 LotFancy setup would be a big improvement as well.
I don't plan on buying a boatload of cards - I really don't need to. A few packs for the family gatherings, and a few more packs for Poker and Blackjack with friends and family. The kids can play with Gemaco Cancelled cards, or cheap-o cards from the Dollar Store.
Regarding the Copag 1546 - the Queen of Hearts has a nice ink streak down the face of the card - the backs are all spotless and fine. Debating if I even want to return the set - maybe this is a set for the older (teen) kids to fart around with during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
******** A note about my KEM Gold Set *********
The Gold set already has a slight bow down the length of the pack. That makes them feel a helluva lot stiffer when trying to weave shuffle - they don't feel anything like the Black Set, (thanks Hobbyphilic, for getting me hooked on this shuffling method
), and it makes them float off the top of the deck way too easily. I do not have this issue with the Black set, which is the set I used for flex and feel.
I have already submitted a "return authorization" order for a refund from
Amazon - they'll be dropped off at the post office today. None of the Copags nor the Modiano have this warpage issue - both sit perfectly flat - and I've handled both significantly more than the KEMs. I really wanted to like the KEMs for some reason (maybe I was searching for rabbit hole), but at $55+ for a setup of cards that seems to have the same noted flaw from numerous users is absurd.