Poker night. There may be no greater American mainstay of repose than getting your buddies together for a little friendly rivalry, often times with a small financial component. You know, to make the game 'more interesting.' You've bought the frothy refreshments and even got a new tablecloth for the kitchen table, but what kind of cards are you using? You know, those little flat things that are actually used to play the game? The deck is all too often overlooked when it comes to planning an evening of cards. But you're probably thinking to yourself, playing cards are all the same, it doesn't matter much... and you'd be dead wrong in that assessment.

Trick-Taking Games Trick taking games are one of the most common types of card games, and classics like Hearts and Spades are good examples. It is a game where players all have a hand of cards, and game-play revolves around a series of 'tricks', in which each trick involves everyone playing one card from their hand, with the trick typically going to the person who played the highest card. Jul 17, 2020 A while back I wrote a post detailing which playing cards were best to use for magic tricks. However, I felt it could do with a little revising, and so I’ve created a new and updated guide for the best playing cards for magic tricks. The best playing card brand is KEM playing cards. They are really good to play any card games in general. But, it is really good to play poker in specific. They have the right thickness and the texture to play poker. Also the right dimensions make KEM a really good choice of brand to play poker. A good set of playing cards can last years, so be mindful of the cards’ material when choosing, as well as price, professionalism, and design. To learn more about important qualities in playing cards and learn the 12 playing cards that best embody these qualities, keep reading. Best Playing Cards Copag Poker Size Regular Index Playing Cards Featuring a wide range of pip and back designs from the traditional to the post-modern to the downright ugly in some cases, Copag has a long line of playing card decks to suit every taste in both poker and bridge varieties.

Most cards come in two basic types, paper card-stock coated in plastic or vinyl and cards made entirely of plastic stock. You'll also want to consider index size and pip placement, because nothing makes it tougher to keep the other guys from seeing your hand than a large font broadcasting that you indeed have a royal flush. So when you're ready to buy in on some decks for poker night one of the five following picks is likely to be a sure bet, each one chosen along criteria such as durability of material, most cards are made of heavy plastics and cardstocks now so they remain resilient as the oils from fingertips can break down the material of a playing card over long periods of time.

These cards also all have top notch feel to them and a smoothness which makes them easy to play with, whether it's in a game or pulling off a magic trick. The visual aesthetics of these cards are also quite unique and suitable for game play, preventing anyone from cheating on that all important last hand; most important, of course, is the ability to see the pip and value of the card you're playing because it's crucial to know when to hold and fold. Lastly, each of these sets offers eye-catching color and unique design.

A while back I wrote a post detailing which playing cards were best to use for magic tricks. However, I felt it could do with a little revising, and so I’ve created a new and updated guide for the best playing cards for magic tricks.

Lots of people who watch magic tricks probably don’t pay a whole lot of attention to what cards are being used, but as a magician, there are so many different options that it can be intimidating to decide which deck you should start off with.

A deck of cards is a funny thing, because on the one hand it is the most important piece of equipment a magician owns (90% of the tricks you learn will involve a deck of 52 cards), while on the other hand your choice of deck is not that important at all (most cards will work fine for magic, you don’t need to buy anything expensive!).

The bottom line is:

You can’t go wrong with some classic Bicycle playing cards.

There’s a reason all the professionals use Bicycle cards: they’re the best. They’re also affordable, easy to find and order, and very recognizable.

I could end this post right here actually, because that is more or less all you need to know when picking which playing cards to use for magic!

The quality is guaranteed and the design is timeless. Most laymen will recognize the Bicycle style cards even if they don’t know much about magic, which instantly gives you more credibility in their eyes. Think about it. They’ve seen David Blaine, Penn and Teller and all the greats use the very same cards; that means you are at least as good as them in your choice of playing cards. This is a great way to make a good first impression with your audiences; even if it is only a small thing.
What’s more, the Bicycle cards give great value for money. They can last for months on end and can be picked up from Amazon for around £5 for two packs (red and blue). If you use them for six months that works out to the same as around 40p a month per pack- and considering how much you will be using these cards, that is an exceptional deal.

What about casino style playing cards?

These cards are generally either used for gambling or gambling demonstrations. Gambling demonstrations involve a highly skilled sleight of hand artist ‘demonstrating’ how they cheat at cards; a great example of this is Richard Turner, who I will be writing an article on soon.

Either way, you will be looking for a borderless style deck, and the best place to pick these kind of cards up is from the Bee card line. Made by the same company that produces bicycle cards, the quality of Bee cards is a guarantee, and they are also very affordable. Like Bicycle, they are also recognizable and add to your credibility as a magician.

Unusual Decks Of Playing Cards

Now, onto a slightly different topic: Trick Decks.

Firstly, it is important to mention that you don’t need trick decks to perform good tricks!

Having said that, there are some definite benefits to having the odd trick deck or two in your repertoire, so here are 5 of the best trick decks to consider investing in.

No.5: Stripper Decks

This was my very first trick deck, and so it holds a special place in my heart. I think this is a devious idea that can produce spectacular results if used right! Essentially, a stripper deck has a special function that allows you to locate any card at any moment, no matter how shuffled or randomized the deck is. It looks and feels completely ordinary.

The great thing about stripper decks is that they can be used as a failsafe or plan B for your regular card tricks; imagine you are trying to control a card to the top as part of your Ambitious Card Routine, but you lose track of it. With the stripper deck you can instantly locate it and keep on going like nothing has happened.

No.4: One-Way Force Deck

Well, there isn’t too much to say about this one. The deck is completely full of the same cards; for example, 52 King of Diamonds. This deck can be a great tool if used properly, but try not to make it look too suspicious, as the last thing you want is for people asking to see the deck.

Take this one with a pinch of salt and just give it a go. It can work really nicely in the right situations.

Something I like to do is to find a way to switch out the deck with another before the trick is over, an easy way is putting it in your pocket and pulling out another deck in its place (an easy slight that doesn’t require much explanation)
Another cool application of this trick is forcing a card on the spectator and then switching out the deck to show that every single card was the one that they chose!

No.3: Cardtoon

I’ve mentioned cardtoon a few times on this site already, but that’s for a reason. This trick is incredibly easy, and completely blows minds. Essentially, the spectator picks a card in their head, and a stickman drawn onto your deck of cards reads their mind. No seriously, you read that right.

I mean who doesn’t want to be able to read minds, with no practice or set up? There are hundreds of people who will try to sell you the latest ‘miracle’ of mentalism, but in reality, how many of these tricks are actually workable in real life? Cardtoon is a trick that is a worker, a guaranteed reaction machine, and most of all, really fun!

The magician asks the spectator to pick a single card in their head, without letting anyone know.

After they do this, he pulls a deck of cards from his pocket, and shows that he has drawn a stickman on the back of each card, so that when he riffles through them, they start moving. Before he is about to reveal the full animation, he asks the spectator to name their card for the first time. Let’s say it’s the Jack of Hearts.

The magician riffles the cards, and the stickman is seen to slowly pull of his hat, reach in, and pull out (you guessed it), the Jack of Hearts.

No.2: Little Door

Again, I have already made an extensive review of this product so I will keep it short. This trick is a beautifully visual one that literally drops jaws. The main part of the trick involves you opening a drawn on door on the back of your boxed up deck of cards, and opening it right before their eyes, before closing it and wiping it off like it was never there in the first place.

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No.1: The Invisible Deck

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I know what you’re thinking. Here he goes again!

I know, I seem to mention the Invisible Deck on approximately 50% of my posts, but how could I not? This trick is just too good not to mention. With an ordinary looking deck of cards you can convince people that you have genuinely read their mind. This isn’t just a case of ‘oh wow, maybe you do have some kind of powers’, but more a case of ‘the ONLY WAY that you could have done what you just did was by reading my mind!’.

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And there we have it. A quick rundown of the best playing cards for magic tricks, and a brief foray into some of the better trick decks on the market! I hope some of this was helpful, and as always, if you have any feedback, comments or questions feel free to leave them below!