blonde poker forum

anyone got any unusual or interesting playing cards or any views or opinions on playing cards? Any cardrooms or casinos use unusually crap or good cards?

I will list all the packs i have and post later (i know i am an anorak) but will start by saying the latest KEMs I have purchased have nt been as good as the earlier ones  /:-|

Since KEM moved their whole factory from one side of the USA to the other, their cards have deteriorated. 

They say that there is absolutely no difference in them now from the old ones.  Apparently they are using a slightly thinner paper/card than before (franctions of a millimeter thinner - but it's extremely noticable).

Since KEM moved I have changed to COPAG cards, purely because The Sheriff brought me a set back from the USA to try out.

I liked them so much that I brought 4 more decks back with me when I was in Vegas.

In all I have approx 16 decks of KEMs, 6 decks of COPAGs and an assortment of other "plastic coated" cards that I have brought just to try out (these are all pretty poor IMO)

Ali

like A-Plus but cant get them anymore. Can anyone help?

Ali - are the COPAG as good as the old KEMs?

A-Plus playing cards (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-Deck-A-PLUS-Plastic-Poker-Playing-Cards-Reg-Index_W0QQitemZ6216006010QQcategoryZ10908QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)





COPAG playing cards. (http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&fstype=1&catref=C6&from=R10&satitle=copag+cards&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&bs=Search&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D3&sadis=200&fpos=Postcode&ga10244=10425&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1&fsoo=1)



I hope this helps.

How can I make the links shorter on this forum? without using TinyUrl.

I prefer them to KEMs now.  I don't see any difference between KEMs and COPAGs and I like them because they are more readily available than KEMs.  Just google them if you want to buy a set, alot of sites sell them now.

I was sent a deck of A-Plus about 3 years ago and didn't like 'em.  I can't remember why, all I remember is that at the time they were far more inferior than the KEMs I was using at that time.

For a second, third and fourth opinion, you could ask Sheriff, TightEnd and redsimon as they all attend my home game and use the COPAGs

Ali

Thanks Nemesis & Ali

I will try the COPAG and get a few more A-Plus which I think are great cards.

Nobody mentioned if they have any cards depicting nudes, james bond or harry potter - does surprise me  ;D

I'd say I prefer the COPAGs. KEM cards seem to get warped quickly and from experience at Notts etc they get marked/torn quickly. Though that might be the players fault ;)

Oldkingcole (email dranglia@fast24.co.uk) collects playing cards and has some nice sets if you want to persue it further.

A friend of mine is heavily into fishing and has cards depicitng "Fish of the British Isles" I haven't let on to him the idea of fish in poker is not a bad thing  ;D

KEM since moving have put all their cards on retail therefore not suitable for casinos as anyone can buy them, also as mentioned earlier since moving/selling up or whatever the quality has definately been a lot poorer. We did change to COPAG for a short time but found every deck was slightly faulty, i.e. the grain of the card ran deeper in some spots and sometimes it was clear to spot which card was which. The cards I opted for in the end are Fournier, they are IMO the closest cards to the old KEMs and I am extremely pleased with them. Cards to avoid at any costs are BEE and especially Tribeca they are completely CRAP.

Thanks dik9

Any idea where to get Fournier?

I order mine through TCS their warehouse is in Stoke, I have been invited to go for a mooch there soon as I have complained about the standards of all cards deteriorating in the last 3 years. I personally feel their is a niche in the market for anybody that could produce cards to the "OLD" KEM standards. The casino's at least would snap them up!!

KEM deteriorated after they changed the process due to the inks and other things they were using. Apparently it was quite a toxic place to work??

I haven't found any cards to equal the old KEM.

Aplus. Thick as a board but lasted a while.

Copag. Nice thin and easy to shuffle and deal but takes a nail mark too easily.

Bee/Bike. Lasted a week into the trial and were looking ok until someone spilt coke coffe and other drinks all over em, and me in a paddy threw them out.

Yogi

Got a pack of Bike in front of me now and a couple of bricks in the store room and really not convinced by them. Feel like beer mats after a hundred shuffles. Have 20 packs of old KEM theses are brilliant.

If anyone is interested I might buy a pack of everything I can get my mitts on and right reviews on each pack ----- how sad is that  >:?

You really want an answer??

from the king of the saddos, you bet  ~: :)up

you just dying to help with the reviews - oh ok you can help but no touching until you are told  ;D

woooohooooo

Its not just the quality of the cards it is also the quality of the print and design. I find the uniformity of some patterns make it a lot easier to notice tiny marks or printing errors. The busier the back of the card, the better for me. The best cards were the arrow backs from KEM the worst cards for printing were COPAG, Diamond and KEMs (bridge dot pattern). Oh and BEEs!!

I use the Copag ones in the tournies I run and have no complaints. Very easy to shuffle and they are also the Jumbo Index which the players seem to prefer.