by For hundreds of years ago, people have played cards as a hobby. There is one thing that most people do not realize, however, which is that playing cards have evolved over the past century or so. When it comes to selecting their deck, players now have many options. When choosing a pack of cards, it is vital to do your research rather than just buying the first cheap one you see at the grocery store. Learn What to Look for When Choosing a Playing Card Set.
Paper has been used for playing cards since at least the earliest days of card games. The early versions consisted of heavy paper, sometimes rounded at the corners to prevent damage. Manufacturers began applying plastic coatings around the turn of the 20th century to lengthen the life of their cards. Moreover, plastic provides a slick surface, making it easier to shuffle and deal with. Many manufacturers pass their cards through a process that gives them a linen finish on the surface to enhance their feel further.
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The porous nature of paper cards still leaves them with several shortcomings, even when coated with plastic. Of course, the spill of a drink on a deck of cards will completely ruin it. Players’ skin oils gradually cause the cards to become stuck and difficult to handle over time because they slowly leach into the cards. Paper cards are also easily ripped and bent. It is possible to mark paper cards with a fingernail by pressing them into a certain spot.
Manufacturers began offering cards printed on plastic stock to solve the problems inherent with paper cards. Rather than using a cardstock core, these cards are made entirely from plastic. Because of their non-porous nature, they are washable. You can dry plastic cards with a paper towel if they get wet from beverage spills. Use soap and water to wash sticky cards.
Plastic cards have a significant cost disadvantage compared to paper cards. However, the longer lifespan of plastic cards compensates for the affordability disadvantage. Generally speaking, paper cards are more useful for a single-use before being discarded.
Poker cards and bridge cards are the two standard sizes of playing cards. There are 63 millimeters between the width of poker cards and bridge cards. Bridge and poker cards are both 88 millimeters long.
Depending on the game you’re playing, you’ll want to choose between two different widths. A bridge-size card’s narrow width makes them a better choice in games requiring players to handle many cards, such as Bridge and Hearts. It’s mostly a question of personal preference regarding size, though. Those who prefer bridge-sized cards find them easier to shuffle and deal with. Even bridge-sized cards are used in Texas hold ’em games, in which players are only dealt two cards each!
As originally designed, playing cards did not have any text identifying the rank or suit. Manufacturers began adding labels to the corners of cards at the end of the nineteenth century to make it easier for players to identify cards when they’re held in a fan. These labels are known as indexes.
Each index is different. There are two main types of indexes. The standard index is a smaller size that is easily readable from a player’s hand. Jumbo indexes have a larger size and are, generally, large enough to be read from the left side of the table. In games such as Texas hold ’em, players need to be able to see cards from a distance. Standard index cards are better in games with many cards in the hand because you don’t have to spread them out as much to see each card.
Magnum index cards are another option. A magnum-index card’s indexes take up most of the face of the card, leaving little room for other artwork that you might expect. Magnum indexes have no real advantage for people who require large print due to vision problems. It’s best to use regular index cards or jumbo-sized ones instead.
All that’s left to do is to choose a deck when you learn about the different options available to you! Test out different materials, sizes, and indexes to find one that works for the game you’re playing with the person you’re playing with. Making a good game night great is easy with the right deck of cards.
