Valentine's Day can be a conundrum when it comes to finding the perfect gift for your significant other. Chocolates and flowers are classic, but if you're looking for something uniquely appropriate that can create lasting memories, consider the charm of playing cards. Yes, you read that right – playing cards! Let's dive into why they make an unexpectedly perfect Valentine's Day gift.
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A Gateway to Quality Time
In our fast-paced digital world, finding meaningful ways to connect with our partner is more important than ever. Dr. Gary Chapman, in his influential work "The 5 Love Languages," highlights the significance of quality time as a profound expression of love. A simple deck of playing cards offers an ideal avenue for this. It invites couples to unplug, engage, and immerse themselves in a shared activity, fostering a deeper bond. Whether it's through a strategic game of Bridge, a lighthearted round of Hearts, or an adventurous game of Poker, playing cards create a space for laughter, conversation, and connection.
These moments of playing cards together are more than just a pastime; they are opportunities to be fully present with each other, an essential aspect emphasized by Dr. Chapman. Such consistent, quality interactions are foundational in strengthening the relationship, turning simple games into cherished memories and traditions. In the grand scheme of things, these regular card games become a testament to the love and care shared between partners, echoing the principles of attention, presence, and shared joy that are central to sustaining love in any relationship.
An Affordable Yet Thoughtful Gesture
Valentine's Day arrives just as we're grappling with the aftermath of holiday spending, with credit card bills making their unwelcome appearance. In the spirit of New Year's resolutions, particularly those focusing on financial well-being, finding a gift that’s both thoughtful and budget-friendly is key. Playing cards present an excellent option in this regard. Unlike the traditional dinner out or a dozen roses that can easily soar above $200, most decks of playing cards are available for under $20. This makes them a financially conscious choice without sacrificing the sentimentality of the occasion.
Opting for playing cards as a Valentine's Day gift showcases thoughtfulness and consideration. It's not about the monetary value but the value of the experience and connection that they bring. These cards are more than just pieces of paper; they are a means to create memories, share laughter, and spend quality time together. In a world where material gifts often overshadow the essence of gifting, a deck of playing cards stands out as a symbol of shared interests and moments, making it a genuinely meaningful gesture that aligns perfectly with a resolution to improve finances.
A Variety of Themes to Choose From
The versatility of playing cards is truly remarkable, offering an array of themes that cater to a wide range of interests and tastes. Whether your partner is enamored by specific hobbies, artistic styles, or cultural themes, there's likely a deck of playing cards that aligns perfectly with their passions. Here are ten different types of gift-giving solutions that playing cards offer:
Each deck in these categories not only serves as a tool for playing games but also as a piece of collectible art that reflects personal interests and passions. This makes playing cards an incredibly thoughtful and personalized gift option.
Creating New Traditions
Gifting playing cards can start a new Valentine's Day tradition. Imagine spending every Valentine’s Day learning a new card game or adding a new deck to your collection. It's a gift that keeps on giving and one that can grow with your relationship.
For the Greater Good
Some playing card decks, like the (Product) Red Playing Cards, come with the added benefit of supporting charitable causes. Gifting such a deck not only brings joy to your partner but also contributes to a greater cause, adding depth and meaning to your gift.
Final Thoughts
This Valentine's Day, think outside the regular box and inside the tuck box with a humble yet versatile deck of playing cards. It's not just a gift; it's an invitation to connect, explore new interests, create memories, and maybe even give back to the community. It's a simple way to say, "I care," and to ensure your Valentine’s Day is full of fun and affection.
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The Rise of Poker in the Old West
Poker's journey into the heart of the American frontier began in the early 19th century. As settlers and prospectors moved westward, they brought with them a game that was easy to learn, required only a deck of cards, and offered a thrilling mix of strategy and luck. It quickly transcended its recreational origins, becoming a symbol of sharp wits and the unyielding determination to succeed against all odds. In the rough-and-tumble world of the frontier, a good poker face could be as valuable as a sharp axe or a sturdy horse. By mid-century, poker had become a cornerstone of frontier life, embodying the daring and entrepreneurial spirit of the era.
Poker and Saloon Culture
Saloon culture was at the epicenter of poker's rise. These establishments served as social hubs where men from all walks of life converged. Poker tables became common fixtures, around which miners, cowboys, and businessmen alike gathered for a game. The clatter of chips and the shuffle of cards were as much a part of the saloon atmosphere as the smoke and the whiskey. In these smoky rooms, friendships were forged and rivalries born, often with the turn of a card. Poker sessions often lasted for hours, with large sums of money changing hands, reflecting both the high-risk, high-reward mentality and the transient nature of wealth in the Old West.
Variations of the Game
The most popular version of poker in the Old West was Five-Card Draw, but other variations like Stud Poker and the simpler Three-Card Monte also found favor. The rules were often fluid, adapting to local preferences, which added to the game's appeal and mystique.
Legendary Poker Players of the Old West
Wild Bill Hickok, emblematic of the Old West, is immortalized in poker lore for his "Dead Man's Hand." His contemporary, Doc Holliday, combined his dental trade with a knack for poker and gunfighting, famously allying with Wyatt Earp, another skilled player, in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Bat Masterson, balancing law enforcement with gambling, was a notable figure at the poker tables. The era also saw Lottie Deno, "The Poker Queen," defy norms with her exceptional skills in a male-dominated field. Luke Short and Ben Thompson, each renowned for their gambling and gunfighting prowess, added to the colorful tapestry of the Old West. These individuals were not just players; they embodied the daring and adventurous spirit of their time, their stories woven into the very fabric of Western legend.
Epilogue
Poker in the Old West was more than a card game; it was a cultural phenomenon that reflected the values and challenges of frontier life. It was a social equalizer, a test of character, and a thrilling diversion, all rolled into one. Today, the legacy of poker continues, a lasting testament to the indomitable spirit of the Old West.
]]>Playing cards have always been synonymous with card games. Since their arrival in Europe in the late 14th century, cards quickly gained popularity. The inclusion of gambling further amplified their allure. Over the years, other uses emerged, such as card magic and cardistry. Yet, card games remain in the spotlight. Poker tournaments, from casual to professional, span the globe, with some even televised. Classic games like Bridge may see a decline, but the past century introduced fresh card games to play with a traditional deck. From timeless trick-taking games like Pinochle, modern variants like Hearts, to social games like President, and children’s favorites like Go Fish, the choices abound.
However, what if you're limited to two players? Often, we're in pairs, either with a loved one or a friend. While many card games accommodate duos, some are best enjoyed with more participants. Yet, numerous card games shine when played by two.
Here's a list of time honored two-player card games using standard playing cards. The focus is on traditional games that have endured, particularly those cherished and widely recognized. While contemporary two-player card games offer intrigue, they must still earn their timeless status. This list, crafted from multiple sources and personal experience, aims to guide. It’s subjective, so "Honorable Mentions" follow, with a "What next" section after each game for further exploration. Listed alphabetically, grab a deck and a partner to dive into these two-player card game treasures.
Trick-taking games
One of the most popular families of card games, trick-takers are games where each player has a hand of cards, and in turns plays a card following the suit played by the first player, with the winner of the suit winning the trick. Trump suits and point cards can add extra elements of interest to game-play.Climbing games
Climbing games are a type of shedding game, where the objective usually is to be the first to empty your hand of cards, sometimes earning points for cards captured by playing the highest ranked cards. Multiplayer climbing games like President, Tien Lien, and Big Two are very popular, but some good two-player climbing games also exist.Rummy and Fishing games
Gin Rummy and Scopa are already on the list above, but many great card games are related to these two archetypes, including several that also work well for two players.
Children's games
Some classic kid's games like Go Fish and Old Maid aren't ideal with just two players, but the following all work well as two player games, although some of these tend to be very simple games that will only amuse younger children.
● Crazy Eights - The game that UNO derived from. The objective is to be the first to get rid of all your cards by matching the number or suit of the previously played card, while certain cards have special abilities like Skip or Draw Two.
● James Bond - A more recent children's game that is growing in popularity, also called Atlantis or Chanhassen. You're trying to be the first to collect a set of four matching cards by exchanging cards with four face-up cards in the middle.
● Slapjack - Try to be the player with the most cards, by being quickest to slap the pile and get all its cards each time a Jack is played. It's somewhat similar in feel to Snap, and easier to play than the related game Egyptian Ratscrew, which is best with more players.
● War - An entirely luck-based game but still very popular with kids, where players simultaneously turn up cards, and have a "war" each time they play cards of the same value, with the cards going to the player who then plays a higher card.
Combat games
These combat games are more contemporary titles that use cards in unorthodox ways, to attack or defend against other players, in a manner reminiscent of the gameplay from popular trading games like Magic the Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh.
● Cuttle - A surprisingly quick and satisfying game where the goal is to be the first to 21 or more points in cards on your side of the table.
● Dueling Nobles - Somewhat math heavy, this is an innovative game that uses cards, tokens, and dice, and was also inspired by trading games.
● Regicide - A cooperative fantasy themed game designed for a regular deck. It has become a huge underground hit in the boardgame community, and has great potential.
Wild cards
Games in this category are lesser known titles that are a little more off the beaten path, and yet have proven to be very rewarding to those who have taken the time to learn and play them.
● Kings in the Corner - You're trying to be the first to get rid of all your cards by playing them in a solitaire-style layout, with eight piles that build outwards with alternating red and black cards in descending order. For a more traditional solitaire fix in a two player game, try Double Solitaire.
● Lamarckian Poker - A fun filler for 2-6 players about evolving the best Poker hand. This blind bidding and drafting game was first issued as part of the excellent Poker Suite from Cheapass Games.
● Sedma - An out-of-the-ordinary trick taking game recommended by David Parlett, and originating from Eastern Europe, where a card can only be beaten by a card of equal value or by a seven.
● Twenty - An interesting adding game where you must either draw a card, or play cards adding to the total of 1, then 2, and so on until 20. If you like arithmetic games of this sort, then David Parlett's games Give or Take and Dracula are also worth trying.
You won't always be able to find a group willing to play your favourite multiplayer card game, and sometimes it's just you and a partner. But as you can see, if you're looking for a two player game with a standard deck of playing cards, there are plenty of fantastic options.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your favourite deck of cards, and grab your lover, your brother, your friend, your colleague, your neighbour, or anyone willing to join you, and get playing!
About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known and respected reviewer of board games and playing cards. He loves card games, card magic, cardistry, and card collecting, and has reviewed several hundred boardgames and hundreds of different decks of playing cards. You can see a complete list of his game reviews here, and his playing card reviews here. He is considered an authority on playing cards and has written extensively about their design, history, and function, and has many contacts within the playing card and board game industries. You can view his previous articles about playing cards here. In his spare time he also volunteers with local youth to teach them the art of cardistry and card magic.
The Casino Range continued Mechanic Industries' creative use of flip-book animation on the card backs, with a series of innovative decks that build on casino-related themes. The first is the Roulette deck, which has an animated roulette wheel on the card backs, along with customized artwork that draws on the roulette motives. Its successor, the Roulette Fanimation deck, operates on the same principle, but is a reimagining of this concept. It uses ideas optimized for card flourishing, as well as a clever use of a roulette-inspired fan display that had good application to card magic.
Later releases continue the gambling theme. The Craps deck helps bring the flavour of classic dice-rolling to our beloved playing cards. While not strictly part of the Casino Range, the next release, Snakes & Ladders deck, incorporates ideas from the classic game of Snakes & Ladders, including an animated snaking ladder, customized details on the artwork, and appropriate inclusions like snake reveal jokers and a snakebite gaff.
The most recent release from Mechanic Industries is the Slots deck. As with all the decks in the Casino Edition Range, along with the playing cards also get access to a full range of high quality video tutorials created by Mechanic Industries, where you get taught how to maximize the secrets of each deck, as well as some magic routines employing the gaffs and other features. So let's head to the casino, and show you what some of these decks look like, and what they have to offer.
Roulette Playing Cards
The Roulette deck is far from your average custom deck, which is evident immediately from its unique animation features and the extensive tutorial video that accompanies it.
The concept of flip-board animation has always fascinated me, and incorporating a moving Roulette Wheel on the card backs seems so obvious that it's surprising no one thought of it earlier. But Mechanic Industries has a talent for delivering innovative ideas, and they've nailed it with this creation.
This deck is not just perfect for gambling routines; it offers so much more. The tuck box itself introduces us to the key elements and helps set the stage for a captivating narrative. On the front, there's a roulette-style betting chart, while the back displays the mesmerizing roulette wheel that is the highlight of the card backs.
When the cards are in new deck order, flipping the card backs reveals an animation of the roulette wheel spinning around. You really must see this in action by checking out the Roulette promo video. This clever feature also makes it a marked deck, enabling you to quickly discern the value of each card by glancing at the back. Since the animations rely on a 13 repeating back system, riffling through the cards creates an animation effect even if the deck is shuffled.
The card faces feature an abundance of roulette-themed imagery. While the number cards and court cards maintain a standard look, the colors are limited to red and black, which enhances an elegant casino vibe. But what sets them apart are the thematic additions to the court characters, which are adorned with accessories like a roulette ball, rake, and handfuls of money. The crushed stock from USPCC ensures a smooth handling experience right out of the box.
The flip-book animation is just the beginning of the fun. The two Jokers depict a croupier's hand, one holding the ball and the other just releasing it. These can be used for a color change, and sets the mood for other card tricks you can perform with this deck.
With the deck you get a link and password granting access to a comprehensive two-hour tutorial video at Mechanic Industries. This invaluable resource provides insights into utilizing the card backs as a marking system. Furthermore, the instructional video includes tutorials for a variety of incredible casino-themed card tricks like Straight Up, Split Bet, Red or Black, Cool Monte, Lucky Thought, and House Edge. All of these take full advantage of the unique card backs and features incorporated into this deck. For a glimpse of the deck's potential, watch this entertaining 20-minute performance video showcasing these tricks back-to-back.
In short, the Roulette deck is much more than just a deck of cards: it's a complete toolbox of magical effects. Along with the deck, you receive the key to unlock this treasure trove of knowledge, with two hours of video instruction. Additionally, there's a private Facebook group where you can connect and exchange ideas with other enthusiasts. Considering the relatively low price and everything that is included, this deck is a fantastic buy for both magicians and collectors alike.
If you like the idea of the Roulette deck, you should also check out its twin brother, the Roulette Fanimation deck.
This deck is effectively a spin-off from the Roulette deck, as you can see from Fanimation promo video. It takes the same concepts, but adds what they call "fanimation colour step animation", using fans as part of the revelation of a selected card.
Craps Playing Cards
Next up is the Craps deck, which is a perfect choice for gambling routines and beyond, much like its sibling decks. If you're not familiar with it, Craps is a classic and widely enjoyed dice game where players bet on the outcome of a roll of two dice.
The tuck box immediately immerses us in the theme, and is adorned with casino-like betting charts and, of course, pairs of dice. An intriguing card reveal for the 7 of Spades is cleverly hidden on the tuck box flap, ready for magicians to incorporate into their card magic.
When the cards are in new deck order, a fascinating animation of dice rolling on a table comes to life as you flip the card backs with your thumb. This captivating visual needs to be seen to be believed, and you can see it in action by checking out the Craps promo video. Naturally, this animation feature also transforms the deck into a marked one, allowing magicians to swiftly figure out the value and suit of each card simply by glancing at the back.
The Craps theme extends to every aspect of the card artwork, making it one of the most customized decks in the Casino Range. The thin black border on the backs serves as the backdrop for our rolling dice against the moving background of a betting chart, enhancing the illusion and feel of an actual Craps table.
Even the edges of the cards are colored in jet black, creating a miniature table effect, and leaving an unforgettable impression from the moment you lay eyes on it.
The card faces look quite different from previous Mechanic Industries decks, adding to the deck's unique vibe. The edges of all the faces have black borders, along with a sweeping arc on the left and right. The Ace of Spades stands out with its exceptional custom design.
The color scheme has been reduced to red and black, to help strengthen an elegant casino-style appearance, while the font and pips have received stylistic adjustments to give them a fully custom feel. The court cards retain the classic style, but have casino-related embellishments, with Jacks flaunting a wad of cash, Queens sporting a rake, and Kings displaying dice.
The black borders on the faces and backs of the cards are registered perfectly, courtesy of printing by Cartamundi. Cartamundi's Slimline stock has become very popular in recent years, and it handles consistently and smoothly.
The novelty doesn't stop with the flip-book animation and custom artwork. The deck includes three Jokers: one featuring a pair of dice showing 5 and 6; another displaying 2 and 5; and a third left blank. These Jokers offer a wealth of possibilities for magic tricks, since they add to the key values of 7 and 11, and you can create the illusion of a pair of dice falling off the card, leaving it blank.
Finally, the last card is an ad card with some gaffs that can be cut out to create flat dice, that you'll use for the "Squished Dice" routine (taught in the free support materials).
You're also given the link and password needed to access a 50-minute tutorial video at Mechanic Industries, which is packed with information on using the card backs as a marking system. This also offers comprehensive tutorials for performing various impressive tricks (e.g., Die Flat Purse, Squished Die, BPM Roll'em, Stick, Flat Top, and Splat), which make good use of the novel card backs and clever features integrated into this deck.
Slots Playing Cards
The SLOTS deck is the most recent addition to the Casino Range. A slot machine is a popular staple at many casinos, and in depending on where in the world you live, is also called a fruit machine, poker machine, or one-armed bandit. Typically it has a screen displaying three or more reels that spin when it is activated, and this makes it perfectly suited to flipbook animation.
One fun idea about the tuck box is that you can cut out a slit in the top of the tuck box, and use this for depositing a coin (just like you might do with a slot machine), and incorporate this idea into your magic.
The icons on the tuck box immediately bring to mind the kinds of image you might expect to see on a slot machine, and give somewhat of a preview of what we'll see on the card backs. A clever ambigram of the word SLOTS in the center of the card backs ensures that the animation will work regardless of the orientation of the cards.
Riffling the card backs produces a delightful animation of the icons spinning round. Arrows the move up and down the borders help strengthen the visual effect. Head over to this Slots promo video over on the official Mechanics Industries YouTube channel to see how this looks in action. The changing backs also double up as a marking system that reveals the card values, and full information about how to read the card backs is provided in an instructional online video.
The pips have been slightly stylized for a unique touch. And in keeping with the color scheme of the rest of the deck, the Hearts and Diamonds employ a vibrant yellow instead of the usual red, and the result is rather effective, working well with the black of the Spades and Clubs.
The artwork on all the Aces has been given a boost with some extra lines, and the custom design of the Ace of Spades is particularly well done.
As we're used to by now from Mechanic Industries, the court cards are also of special interest, each having some distinctive touch to fit with the casino theme. As a result we have court characters clutching wads of cash, or tossing coins.
For the rest the card faces have a traditional look, to help keep the deck functional and practical for magic. Printing by USPCC on their crushed premium stock ensures quality looks and handling.
The folks at Mechanic Industries like coming up with unique routines for each of their decks, and most of their decks include creative Jokers that facilitate fun tricks. There are three Jokers with this deck, two of which depict their Grinder coin, and the third being blank except for the indices.
The final card included is an ad card with the link and password needed to access the free tutorial that is provided for owners of the Slots deck. It runs for over an hour, and contains a full explanation of everything you need to know in order to get the most out of this deck. This includes some strong magic tricks, and the "Jackpot" effect you'll learn is relatively easy to perform, but packs quite a punch.
Snakes & Ladders Playing Cards
Strictly speaking the Snakes & Ladders deck is not part of Mechanic Industries' Casino Range. But it is also a playful animated deck with similar features, and since it is one of their newer releases, it also deserves some coverage here.
This deck is billed as a re-imagining of the classic Snakes & Ladders game, "but in a Quantum Mechanics kinda way." This ingeniously designed custom deck draws obvious inspiration from the board game, which is immediately evident in its tuck box, which features a snake and ladder coiled into the shape of a Spade. The color scheme of black, gold, and gray offers a glimpse of the main colors seen on the playing cards. The tagline "Animatdna Playing Cards" cleverly plays with the word "animated," hinting at the animations within.
The back of the tuck box showcases the standout snaking ladder design that graces all the card backs. When riffled, twin serpents come to life as a snaking ladder, creating a mesmerizing and magical moment.
The animations are eye-catching in various ways. The first striking feature is how twin yellow bands move up and down the card backs. Upon closer inspection, other elements come alive as well: there's a rotating snake at the center, between two snakes that dance in endless figure-eight patterns. Furthermore, lines at the top and bottom of the card backs gracefully twist and sway. These well-designed animations will instantly captivate anyone who lays eyes on them. You really need to see this for yourself by checking out the Snakes & Ladders promo video.
While the card faces maintain a relatively standard appearance, making them ideal for card magic, the Snakes & Ladders theme remains evident throughout. Each Ace is embellished with a snake or ladder, most prominently displayed on the exquisite Ace of Spades.
The choice to switch the traditional red color of hearts and diamonds to a vibrant gold perfectly complements the theme and enhances the deck's overall appeal without compromising its functionality. The court cards also receive special treatment. Adorned with gold snake-like eyes, each character holds a snake, while ladders grace some of the cards as well.
Two "Snake Reveal" Jokers are included, each featuring a snake on a ladder. One of them shows a curled-up snake, cleverly designed so that magicians can create a fun colour reveal of a forced 8 of Diamonds, in combination with the animations.
Additionally, a duplicate 4 of Clubs is provided for other card tricks. Combined with the "Snakebite Gaff" that can be cut from the final bonus card provided with the deck, magicians can create an unforgettable moment of magic, as a snake appears to shoot out of the deck, stealing the corner of the spectator's card.
Naturally comprehensive instructions for these tricks and more are provided in the accompanying video tutorial. As with other Mechanic Industries decks, the animation feature doubles as a marked deck, allowing you to easily decode information on the card backs to identify the value and suit of any card, making it perfect for card magic. You're given the link and password for a 44-minute instructional tutorial video, which explains the markings and teaches a sample gambling demonstration routine. Additionally, full teaching is provided for tricks utilizing the other gaffs, namely the Joker Reveal and the Snake Pop Out. Get a glimpse of these routines and the possibilities this deck offers in the performance video.
Final Thoughts
There's a lot about these creative decks to like.
Innovation: One thing that stands out about everything that Mechanic Industries produces is the level of innovation and originality. They have proven themselves able to come up with terrific ideas, with practical application, that helps inject real life into card magic. There's a level of fresh creativity here that is immediately apparent.
Animations: The flip-book animation of the card-backs is a standout feature of these decks. It looks terrific, and most people will never have seen anything like this before on playing cards. This does mean that all the card backs are different, but most spectators won't even notice that until the moment you start riffling the cards. Not only does this give your card magic an instant visual appeal, it can also be used to perform card reveals, and strengthen the effect of your magic.
Marked cards: The animation system is closely linked to the marking system, and these have been cleverly combined and tied together. All the information you need to learn these systems is clearly taught in the supporting instructional materials that Mechanic Industries provides with their decks. Magicians who enjoy marked cards will especially find something here that they can work with.
Novelty: I love all the novelty that these decks bring to the table, especially with the animated card backs. This gives them immediate appeal with collectors. And when used for card magic, the animation features help make the tricks performed with these decks more memorable and exciting. And of course the special features of the animated card backs lets you perform card magic that you simply can't do with an ordinary deck. The inclusion of unique Jokers and gaffs, and the things possible with these, just enhances this even more.
Quality: The quality of the cards themselves is good, since they are high quality playing cards printed by industry giants USPCC and Cartamundi. So the stock and finish is something that magicians will immediately find familiar and durable.
Instruction: One thing I really like about the Mechanic Industries decks is that you're not left on your own to figure things out. Purchasing one of their decks means you are buying into their brand, and they want to reward you by giving you the tools you need to take this to the next level, by providing you with the learning materials and ideas you need. And the online video tutorials they provide aren't bare-bones affairs. They cover a lot of ground, and include numerous effects and routines you can perform with each deck.
Value: I'm still blown away by the amount of things you get with the purchase of a single deck. Not only is the price-point less than many custom decks, but for around $10-13 price-point you not only get a fully custom deck with some very fun built-in features, but full access to all the video tutorials.
Recommendation
I've had an enormous amount of fun with the Casino Range of animated decks from Mechanic Industries, because they offer so much more than your average deck of custom cards. Each deck is a toolbox of creative visual magic, and gives you the potential to demonstrate visual effects that the average person has never seen before.
They will appeal to collectors who like the idea and novelty of the flipbook animation, and I love them for that reason alone. But in combination with the unique tricks that these decks will enable magicians to perform, they will especially shine in the hands of magicians, who are best placed to take full advantage of all the unique features packed inside, and who like the idea of impressing their audience with something unique and memorable.
And in each case, Mechanic Industries gives you everything you need to maximize the potential of this clever deck, especially with the help of their high quality video tutorials. That ensures that these are a complete package, and so much more than just another 54 pieces of cardboard.
Whether your love is just collecting novel playing cards, or whether you are into serious card magic, the Casino Range is excellent value, given everything you get for the price. So whether you're just a collector or magician, these unique and attention-grabbing decks will find a welcome home in your collection.
Where to get them?
● Roulette Playing Cards
● Roulette Fanimation Playing Cards
● Craps Playing Cards
● Slots Playing Cards
Related decks from Mechanic Industries
● Snakes & Ladders Playing Cards
● Mechanic V2 Playing Cards
● Mechanic Metallic Playing Cards
● Visualies Gaff System Playing Cards
Mechanic Industries
● Official website, Tutorials, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram
About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known and respected reviewer of board games and playing cards. He loves card games, card magic, cardistry, and card collecting, and has reviewed several hundred boardgames and hundreds of different decks of playing cards. You can see a complete list of his game reviews here, and his playing card reviews here. He is considered an authority on playing cards and has written extensively about their design, history, and function, and has many contacts within the playing card and board game industries. You can view his previous articles about playing cards here. In his spare time he also volunteers with local youth to teach them the art of cardistry and card magic.
Card game lovers around the world are familiar with the rummy games. The popularity of card games is due to the entertainment and refreshment they bring to your mind. Card games can help improve your thinking, ability to pay attention, and better observational abilities.
It is also a great way to connect with family and friends close to you and pass the time. Playing rummy online gives the players a chance to earn money legally.
However, many card game lovers are not familiar with the history of rummy games. Therefore, in this post, we discuss the history behind the development of this loved card game. Continue reading as this will surely be entertaining.
Many theories revolve around the history of rummy games. Some say the game came from the Spanish, whereas others believe it originated and developed by the influence of the Asians. Let's take a look at both the theories.
Many people believe that the rummy games originally come from another Spanish game known as Conquian. This game was widely popular in Spain, or some say Mexico, and believe that the Spanish people were the ones who introduced the game to Americans when they migrated. The game spread around America in the 19th century.
Another popular belief about the origin of the rummy game relates it to Asia. A card game known as Mahjong, which was popular in China about a thousand years ago, had the same style as Rummy. The pick and drop technique of both the games are quite similar.
Other than the Chinese game, Hanafuda, a Japanese game, developed by the Portuguese speculates rummy evolved from this game as well, hence, the link between Rummy and Asia.
Well, Rummy is a game everyone can learn and play. Besides, the game is very interesting, and all you need is a deck of cards and someone to play with. Some might consider it as a simple game; however, each game comes up with new challenges each time you play.
The game requires the players to be mentally alert and use critical thinking to play the game. The main reason for this game's popularity is there were limited to no other entertainment options in those days.
Therefore, people would play cards, and among those games played, Rummy was always on top. The game's popularity drastically increased in the 1930s as the Hollywood stars began playing the game as well.
Another reason for the game's popularity is that it has always been an inexpensive way of entertainment while staying indoors.
Ever wondered where the name Rummy came from? Well, people believe the word rummy derives from the word rum. The word rum, on the other hand, is a British slang, which means odd, strange, or queer. Perhaps it was the way the British saw the game, therefore, giving it that name.
However, another theory is that the word Rummy comes from the game Rum Poker instead. There is an assumption that rum poker is the ancestor of every rummy game played in different parts of the world.
Some gamers also think the name of the card game came from the alcoholic drink known as rum. The link between rum and Rummy has an interesting story. The loser of the game had to buy the winning players the next round of drinks.
We all know it is a card game, but some might not be familiar with how to play the game. Well, here is a list of the rules and ways to play this game.
If you feel like you need to further understand and go over the game rules, you can revise all the rules on playingcarddecks.com and experience a fun fledged rummy game.
The truth is that we can't really be sure about the origin and history of this highly popular and exciting game. However, without a doubt, we can say that rummy has a universal appeal, and it has transcended boundaries.
About the writer: Brandi Marcene has over a decade of experience in content. Having seen the constant evolution of the field, she undertakes efforts to keep pace with the continuous changes to offer first-rate, ready-to-publish copy. Her interests lie mainly in literature with the occasional Netflix series. She has extensive experience of writing about most topics under the sun, but has a particular passion for finance and fitness.
Playing cards have been around since the late 1300's and were a luxury game that was mainly used by the wealthy. They were used as a way to gamble or as a way to keep busy during the day. As time went on, cheaper methods were created to make playing cards more accessible to all. With this, the playing card popularity grew!
Now, we have professional playing cards that are used in poker tournaments and hosted events while also being a way for brands to spread awareness. With the popularity of playing cards and brands wanting a fun way to spread their brand, custom cards are perfect now more than ever! "But where does one print their own cards?" some may ask. At Shuffled Ink!
Shuffled Ink is family owned and operated since 1999 in Orlando, Florida. They are dedicated to providing first-class customer service, unbeatable pricing, low minimums, incredibly fast turnaround times, and much much more! Shuffled Ink offers the entire spectrum of customization options, from custom backs with standard or jumbo playing card faces to custom backs printed with custom faces on every card in the deck!
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Click here to receive details and pricing for your project: Shuffled Ink
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In 2020 he created Charmers Playing Cards in collaboration with Lotrek, one of the very top playing card designers in the world, and that deck went on to be nominated for the Diamond Award. Then in the past year he created his Marvelous Hummingbird Feathers Playing Cards in collaboration with Chris Tipton, and that was nominated for this year's Diamond Award. Considering the huge number of playing cards that appear on the market every year, to have a deck you have produced make the shortlist of the top four candidates is a huge honor and recognition.
But there is a lot more to Kellar O'Neil, and in this article we're going to learn more about him, and some of the decks he has produced. While he is active in the playing card community, especially as a creator, his roots lie in his expertise as a magician, although he prefers to call himself a mystifier due to his performing style. He's been performing professionally for over 20 years, and when going to one of his shows you can typically expect Victorian charm in a historic venue, with some astonishing illusions courtesy of Kellar, who is billed as The Southern Charmer, Mystifier of the Finest Affairs.
Kellar was kind enough to agree to do an interview, so please join me in welcoming him, and let's listen to what he has to say about himself, and about his beautiful playing cards.
For those who don't know anything about you, what can you tell us about yourself and your background?
What can you tell us about your career as a performing professional?
I love performing for audiences to give them a moment in time where they can simply forget about the world's problems (and their problems) and realize that there is wonder - true sense of wonder that still remains in the world ... and doesn't need to be on a screen!
You describe yourself as a "mystifier" rather than a magician, but also as a mind reader and mentalist. What is the significance of those terms for you?
A mystifier is someone that creates wonder for someone. My interaction with the audience is one of an experience, and not just a 'show.' I want someone to remember the moments they had - not just some showcase of the impossible. Ten years down the road, I want those that have experienced my performances to say - WOW! that really changed my perspective.
What is the significance and origin of the name used for your professional website, keepthewonder.org?
Keep the Wonder is a reminder to everyone I meet to take a moment to enjoy the true miracles in life - those miracles are within us and we have so many wonderful things in life yet to experience and explore.
The name Marvelous Decks has a similar feel. What is the origin and significance of this name?
Marvelous Decks does have a similar feel - that name was created by myself and Chris Tipton (Master of Letterpress Art). When we decided to create the concept of Marvelous - we knew that there are so many Marvelous Details in Life and we want to capture those as creatively as possible and bring those to collectors, magicians and the world. Marvelous encompasses the magical wonders of this world. We can't wait to share more.
What should we know about Marvelous Decks, and what it strives to be?
Marvelous Decks is a creation between Kellar O'Neil & Chris Tipton. Our decks have and will strive to be 'eye-candy' and 'texturally miraculous'. We give great thought to the designs and production process. I have a background in print production and the creative, while Chris has many years in design and production and is at the top of letterpress in the world. Our experience through these projects was a perfect fit in our minds ... and so ... Marvelous it is. So, so many Marvelous things coming...
Mind reading effects mostly, and some card flourishing.
Which playing cards do you personally use when performing?
My Charmers Playing Cards designed by Lotrek.
Do you have any favourite deck that you have used for performing over the years?
I am a fan of Theory 11's Citizens Playing Cards.
As a performing professional, what qualities are most important to you for handling of a deck?
Definitely the stock and finish.
What card stock do you prefer the most, and why?
I am a huge fan of Cartamundi B9 Linen Slimline. It's just so so buttery - and they know their shimmer.
What are your thoughts on how the playing card industry has changed, and the explosion of custom playing cards that we are seeing today?
I love this! I am an avid supporter of the community and love supporting as many decks as I can. Creativity at its best. I love watching other creators, and watching videos of cardists, magicians and collectors experience all of these decks.
You used Kickstarter to help produce your Charmers deck. What has your experience with Kickstarter been like?
Kickstarter is a great platform. It's great that there is a platform that can be used to create a new product. More decks are coming from us on Kickstarter.
I wanted to have my own deck designed and was honored to work with Lotrek - it got into my blood after becoming a member of 52 Plus Joker and here we are!
Which decks have you been involved in creating so far?
Charmers, TwentyTwenty, Hummingbird Feathers and coming soon, House of Whispers.
Which of these have been your most successful designs, and which is your favourite?
Honestly, I can't say that I feel one has been more successful than another and I have an admiration for them all as they have different characteristics and meanings.
What are some of the easiest, and what are some of the hardest parts of the process in creating a custom deck?
The easiest part is coming up with ideas. The most difficult is the long process of design (normally two years) and then of course the funding. Fulfillment is fun and rewarding, but a lot of work!
How much time does it take to actually create a deck from start to finish, and what aspects take the most work and time?
Two plus years. Artwork most definitely involves the most work/time - a lot of back and forth to get it just right!!
You printed both the Charmers and the Hummingbird decks with Cartamundi. Why did you opt for them, and what aspects of the results were you particularly happy with?
I believe Cartamundi produces the best decks in the business at the moment. Their stock and finish is something truly special. They are the best in the cold foil finishing as well. I have been able to create a relationship with them that is wonderful. They are busy of course - so patience is key. They stand by their product and quality control is very important to them.
Most of your decks have a relatively standard look to the court cards and number cards. Why was this important for you?
It's a card deck first and foremost - so I want people to be able to sit around a table and play cards or do great card effects. Playing cards are also art - I find that courts should be fun and beautiful, but functional.
My performance style is from this era - so when working with Lotrek we wanted to pull together that style. It's such an elegant style.
How did this deck come about, and what were some of your goals in producing it?
I always wanted to have my own deck and approached Lotrek to create something special - he did such a fabulous job creating a collector's deck - but also extremely functional and magnificently beautiful.
You created this deck in collaboration with Lotrek, who is a rock-star designer in the world of playing cards. How did this collaboration come about?
I simply reached out to him after seeing his decks - I knew it would be a long-shot - but he was excited about the project and we worked well together.
What role did you play in the creation of these decks, and what role did Lotrek play?
I created the name and Lotrek created the art. I allowed Lotrek to use his creative license to make something special. He's truly at the top of the art - and never doubted what his vision was.
What do you like most about how the Charmers decks turned out?
The gold...the gold and the gold. I am partial to the tucks. I am addicted to foils and textures.
Which of the Charmers decks is your favourite, and why?
The Green Standard deck. I love the color and it's my go-to deck for performance. Of course they are all great - and the Signature...well, it's a masterpiece from Lotrek. Glad my name is on there...
The Charmers deck was one of the nominees for 52 Plus Joker's Diamond Award for 2021 Deck of the Year. What did this nomination mean to you?
Such an honor. Very humbling. I never would have imagined this would have happened so quickly with my creations. 52 Plus Joker is a wonderful organization and I am proud to be a member. Their work is awesome for the community.
I love the intrigue of hummingbirds, but also their beauty and determination. My inspiration came from my grandmother's love of hummingbirds. We always spent time together filling hummingbird feeders and watching them visit. Magical!
This deck was a collaboration with Chris Tipton. What should we know about Chris, and what contribution and role did each of you make?
Chris is a true professional in his design and Master of Letterpress. When I decided to create Marvelous - I knew his expertise was a great match. He loves bringing these productions to life and has a love and excitement for the process too.
The tuck box of this deck looks amazing. What went into the design and creation of the tuck box, to accomplish this?
There are 8 dies that went into making these tucks. Chris spent hours upon hours creating this masterpiece. Many prototypes were made with dies and this was because we knew it had to be just right.
What is meant by "multiple holographical foils", and what can you tell us about how the cold foil was used?
We have a Secret Marvelous Recipe for these products...
Why did you decide to go with the colours red, blue, and purple for the three different decks of this series?
Red was my favorite and I knew it had to be used - and the other two colors were so striking ... so I knew they had to be used too. They are based, however on real hummingbird combinations.
What are some of your personal favourite things about how the Hummingbird decks turned out?
The tucks for sure - but I absolutely was amazed when I opened the decks from the factory and they turned out better than I imagined. The Shimmer, shimmer, shimmer is at the top too.
Your Hummingbird deck took out 2nd place for "Best Tuck Box" in Portfolio52's 2021 Deck of the Year contest, and was also a nominee for "Overall Deck of the Year" and the "Best Card Back" category. What do these awards and recognition mean for you?
Whew ... again so humbling. The card community has been such an inspiration to me and to be nominated by the community as being in the top ... words can't describe how blessed we feel.
Can we still get these decks?
Very few decks remain - there are some decks available from other playing card retailers, but very few remain.
The Year 2020 caused everyone around the world to rearrange their normal. This official deck will serve as a reminder that through the highs and the lows, we will go on.
This deck was very personal to me and to others. Covid changed the world, and was a tragic situation - however, we felt that through the court cards we could portray some of the lighter sides of the craziness of 2020, while keeping this deck as a keepsake for collectors and future generations to say ... we did make it and we are stronger for it.
What can you tell us about Kevin Keigley, who was the artist of this deck?
Kevin is based in South Carolina and is a wonderful person and artist as well. He has a whimsy with his art and makes me smile. Expect another Marvelous Deck from Kevin very soon too!
What can you tell us about the novelty designs we can expect to see on the court cards of this deck?
See the gallery at Card Scans. They portray some of the things that represent 2020 as the Year that Turned the World Upside Down ... in a light hearted way.
Why did you opt to print these with Shuffled Ink, and what was that experience like?
We also like this US company. Their stock and finish is nice (and smells good too). Their customer service is wonderful. More Marvelous to come from them too. Their decks handle well.
I collect a wide variety of decks (I have around 300 decks). I normally am pulled towards the more ornate designs. Favorite designers outside of my own decks would be Lotrek and Lorenzo,
What advice would you give someone who is interested in creating their own deck of custom playing cards?
I dig it and love that people are so excited about decks. It is great for us all. Be creative and make it happen! Advice would be to take your time and create something meaningful.
Do you have any recent, current, or upcoming projects that you can tell us about?
House of Whispers designed by Widakk & Dalibass with Marvelous Decks - coming to Kickstarter soon!
What is the best way for people to keep up with news about any new projects you might put out?
Instagram.
Is there anything else you'd like to share about designing or using playing cards?
It's such a fun creative outlet - have fun collecting and treasure the art. Support the community and Keep the Wonder!
While I've not had the opportunity to see Kellar perform his mystifying brand of magic, the fact that he is a professional entertainer who specializes in creating a sense of wonder and astonishment, ensures a good crossover to the world of creating playing cards. He's keen to approach the task of producing custom playing cards with a similar benchmark of success, by creating something genuinely remarkable and breathtaking.
If the Marvelous Hummingbird Feathers deck is any indication, he certainly has what it takes to produce a spectacular deck that stands out from the competition. We can only look forward to what will come next!
Ways to connect with Kellar O'Neil and Marvelous Decks: Keep the Wonder, Marvelous Decks, Instagram.
Last update date: 11/30/22
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This particular routine is known as his "Ribbon" act, because one of the key props is a white ribbon, which separates a table into two halves. Depending on which side Eric places cards, they turn blue or red. His vest also changes colour a couple of times, and there's some final twists where the cards transform into coins. There's no words, but a beautiful soundtrack accompanies the performance, and helps create a real sense of story. It's an outstanding performance which turns magic into theater, and is reminiscent of some of the style of Shin Lim's best work. Eric combines superb sleight of hand with an exceptional presentation, and the result is a true masterpiece of magic. It doesn't get much better than this - ever.
In his Dream Act routine, two spectators select and sign cards, which change places, and visually disappear and reappear multiple times. One of the highlights of the routine is when the cards switch places despite one being inside a plastic bag. In the end, even the deck box visually vanishes. The routine is brilliantly choreographed to music, and is enhanced with smoke, and of course, stunning sleight of hand. His "52 Shades of Red" routine is equally stunning.
For more amazing card magic by Shin Lim, see 52 Shades of Red, and Never Perform the Same Trick Twice, and Not Magic, But Sleight of Hand.
In his winning FISM Act, Wu begins with a deck of oversized cards, and a regular sized deck into which they of course can't fit. The routine then sees him flourishing the cards, producing four-a-kinds that impossibly switch with one another, with multiple magical moments. But the real highlight is in the final stage of the routine, where the oversized cards are magically changed into regular sized poker cards, so that they can fit inside the box. The act tells a wonderful story, and we have the sense that Wu is just as much a spectator to the power of magic as we are. In this video clip there is some non-English commentary which distracts from the performance, but it's still stunning. Also check out his "Memory Fading" ace assembly, and you'll find yourself wondering if this is pure sleight of hand, or just plain sorcery or witchcraft.
This routine is a variation of the well known "Wild Card" plot, but Tommy's presentation and acting skills are superb. He begins with the idea of a spectator needing to select a card at a very precise time, because he apparently has a collection of cards that have been selected by people around the world at that exact time, all the Four of Clubs. But when his spectator selects a different card, Tommy finds himself with a problem, because it doesn't match his collection. Not to worry, he changes his entire collection to match, with some very visual magic. It's a gorgeous performance that is highly entertaining.
For another terrific Tommy Wonder card trick, see Deja Reverse and Elizabeth IV.
This routine was filmed by Michael at the height of the pandemic, so it begins with some personal reflections about that context. The actual trick begins around 1:30 in. He introduces the concept of an "invisible palm", which he uses to explain the premise that after many years of practice you can force a card beneath your skin. It's truly an astonishing routine with four aces, and the sleight of hand technique is impeccable. This is what magic would look like if it was real. Immediately following the trick in the video, there's some fantastic advice that Michael offers magicians.
Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6pLTlDxcnE&t=90s
The idea of a magician finding a spectator's selected card is an old one, but in this routine Denis lets his assistant do all the work: Herbert, a rubber band that has been trained to find any card. A spectator chooses a card which is then lost visibly in the middle of the deck - while Herbert is temporarily "blindfolded" beneath another spectator's hand, so he can't cheat. The rubber band is then wrapped around the deck, and in an instant the rubber band appears wrapped around a single card in the middle of the deck, which is of course the spectator's selection. The routine ends with Herbert performing another remarkable stunt, where he lifts more than his bodyweight.
The Three Card Monte is an infamous routine due to its popularity with street hustlers. The hustler typically displays three cards, two black and one red, and with money on the line, you simply have to follow and identify where the red card is. The version performed by Bill Malone is especially stunning because it isn't done with fast moves, but very slowly, and is combined with the usual Bill Malone humour.
Lorayne's classic Magician vs Gambler routine does a great job of showcasing his skill in sleight of hand, as well as his larger-than-life charismatic persona that was typical of his performances. A true story-teller and entertainer, Lorayne tells the story of a bet between a magician and a gambler, in which the magician is challenged to produce a four-of-a-kind after multiple cuts. He almost succeeds, but when the final card turns out to be a miss, only magic can save the day. And the result is truly magical, as cards not only mysteriously change, but then prove to have been in his pockets all along.
For more entertaining Harry Lorayne card magic, see his dazzlingly and energetic Ambitious Card, and the remarkable display of skill in Numero Uno.
In Neither Blind Nor Stupid, Tamariz has two spectators cut a deck multiple times, and then each select a card and return it to the deck. Could he possibly know anything about their cards? The obvious answer is no, but time and again Juan will say "Yes!" After all, he knows they are on top of the deck. Never touching the cards himself, he has the spectators go through a series of moves to ensure that both cards are impossible lost in two piles, each shuffled by the spectators. And yet in this impossible situation he of course produces the selected cards. But the real beauty of this trick is Juan Tamariz's presentation, which will make you laugh out loud as well as be amazed.
For more sparkling Juan Tamariz, see Bad Luck, Tweezers, Three of Clubs, and Bold Oil and Water, Three Card Monte, and Triple Coincidence, Four Blue Cards, Fooling Cook and Firman.
His Grandpa's Aces is an ace assembly routine, where three aces vanish from three piles, and reappear in another pile with a fourth ace. The concept is familiar, but Copperfield is known for his sense of storytelling and of the dramatic. With this trick he achieves that with a stirring sound-track, and by setting the tone for the effect by drawing on heartstrings by connecting his performance to his departed grandfather, who is shown in a black-and-white home movie with the young David Copperfield. The performance begins with some pop-out moves to produce the four Aces, which relies on pure sleight of hand. Next come some amazing colour changes, as each of the three aces disappears one-by-one visually in front of your eyes. Then comes the final revelation, as all the three aces reappear to join the final ace - where they apparently were all along.
The version shown above omits the sentimental montage of clips showing Copperfield with his grandfather, and goes straight into the routine itself. You can see the full routine with Copperfield's own commentary, here: Grandpa's Aces (with audio commentary by Copperfield).
But hopefully by watching the performances shown in these videos, in seeing some of the world's best at the top of their game, you'll already have experienced a sense of real astonishment and wonder.
If you enjoyed the performances shown here, do check out some of the other videos I've linked to for each magician. Their genius will shine even when the video quality doesn't, because these magicians are among the best in the world. Enjoy!
About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known and respected reviewer of board games and playing cards. He loves card games, card magic, cardistry, and card collecting, and has reviewed several hundred boardgames and hundreds of different decks of playing cards. You can see a complete list of his game reviews here, and his playing card reviews here. He is considered an authority on playing cards and has written extensively about their design, history, and function, and has many contacts within the playing card and board game industries. You can view his previous articles about playing cards here. In his spare time he also volunteers with local youth to teach them the art of cardistry and card magic.
Last update date: 11/16/22
]]>Card games are simply a great source of entertainment, and everyone familiar with these games loves to play them with friends and family. The rise in card games’ popularity is mainly because these are easy to learn and fun as well. It doesn't matter how old you are and where you're from; you can always enjoy a game of cards with your friends and family at home, a picnic spot, or even casinos.
Besides, you don't necessarily need a great set up to play cards. However, if you're hosting a poker night, you definitely have to come with something that will make your guests comfortable and enhance the gaming experience. Of course, many players find this to be a difficult and worrisome task when it comes to hosting a poker night.
However, there is truly nothing to worry about, as today we are going to share with you five essential and great tips that will help you in hosting an awesome poker night. Continue reading and step up your game!
If you're planning on doing anything in life, planning is a great tool that will help you everywhere. Hosting a great poker night is no different. You need to plan everything out when hosting a poker night. First, you need to get a pen and paper, and write down what you need to make this night memorable and fun for not only you but also everyone involved.
What do you think would make a poker night great? You could start off by mentioning the people you would invite. Of course, the guest list is probably the most important task for hosting an event. You don't want to miss out on anyone, and by sending personal invitations, you can inform each guest where they have to come and whether there is a theme they have to follow.
Don't stress yourself out; we've got five great ideas that will help you when hosting a great poker night.
Hosting an event can be quite a hassle and tiring, but when you get everything you need, you know the event is going to be a hit! Therefore, make sure to have all the essentials listed to make your poker night great. You must be wondering what essentials must be there on your checklist for poker night? Well, here are a few things to keep in mind.
You plan everything out, set up everything, and everyone loves it. But, you forget the playing cards. Wouldn't this just be embarrassing? We are not exaggerating when we say this, but many hosts drop the ball at this basic step and find them rushing to the nearest store to buy a deck for poker night at the eleventh hour.
Not only do you have to remember to buy a deck of playing cards, but you also have to buy a durable one. You can't simply purchase a deck that could tear or wears off by playing a few hands. Make sure to get the best quality playing cards you can get your hands on. Not only will this enhance your experience of playing poker but will also attract your guests.
Okay, this is very important. You cannot use a regular table at your home for poker night; this is a big no. You need to create a vibe when it comes to poker night, and the best way to do that would be to set up a poker table.
The better-looking the table, the more comfortable your guest will be and will surely enjoy their time. You can watch a few tutorials to turn it into a DIY project if you have ample time, or rent one for the night.
In order to play poker, you need chips; don’t confuse them with snacks, we are talking about the chips used in the game of poker. You can purchase a good set of chips online or from a nearby store that sells them. Keep in mind that you should get chips that are also of high quality and not that flimsy kind.
By food, we don't mean you should prepare a steak for your guests. They are here to enjoy a game of poker, not dinner. Well, you could prepare a good dish for them after the game, but all you need is snacks during the game.
What is a game night without snacks? The fun and gaming hit a different level when you have chips, crackers, hot creamy pizza, and other snacks to munch on during the game. If you’re wondering what the best dish for poker night would be, you can get an idea from here.
It also depends on who you have invited. If you know them well, you'll know exactly what your friends would prefer. Go ahead and get some packet of chips and, of course, something sweet too.
What would poker night be without drinks? It would be dull and boring. A day before the “event,” go to the nearby store, buy drinks that would last the night, and keep everyone fresh and active throughout the game. This doesn't necessarily mean buying alcohol or beer; there a lot of soft drinks and juices, which would be enough for a good game of poker.
This is very important, just think about it, you invite eight guests but have arrangements for seven. This means one person will have nothing to do than to sit and watch you play. Sure they can get their share of snacks and drinks, but they’ll miss the game. Therefore, if you're inviting guests, make sure to come up with a list and request the invited guests for a response so that you could make arrangements accordingly.
It will give you an idea of the size of the poker table and chairs you’ll need. Moreover, you need to determine the game you’ll play on that particular night. Is it Texas hold 'em poker or a game based strictly on cash? Well, you have to make sure your guests are fully aware of the game mode. This will save a lot of time and arguments during the game as everyone will be aware of what the chosen game is.
Besides, choosing the game also ensures whether your guests are familiar with it and know the rules. You don't want to be teaching a few of the players about the game in advance. This would just be a waste of time and definitely ruin the vibe.
This might not seem like a crucial step, but it's always a good idea to inform every guest about the rules of the game. Other than this, they need to follow house etiquettes. You don't want anyone to end up ruining the night by drinking too much or turning your house into a hot box with cigarettes and cigars. Therefore, by establishing some ground rules, you won't have to worry about anything.
The rules of the game you will play need to be simple, and you shouldn't add rules of your own just because you're hosting the event. This is a big no as your guests will not find it assuming. They might think you’re taking advantage to win. Therefore, establish the game riles beforehand, and if a guest advises something, do take it into consideration. Here are some key points you need to follow before the game starts;
This is a must; when you're playing a game of poker, you don't want loud music because that might distract the players from the game. Other than this, communication can become difficult, and most importantly, not everyone likes loud music. You could set up some good quality speakers and play some classy jazz music instead.
No one is asking you to hire a band to play music; renting speakers or borrowing them from a friend will save you a lot of money, and you can simply play music using an app like SoundCloud.
We shouldn't have to mention this. But sometimes, the pressure of hosting an event can truly get into the mind of the host and influence his or her behavior adversely. Therefore, keep in mind this is your event, and you're the entertainer. Here are some tips you can follow to be a great host and create a memorable poker night
We feel like this is very important to mention. Many people tend to go out of their way and budget to host a good event that will not only be enjoyable but impress the guests. However, this is never a great idea. By hosting a casual event and following the tips mentioned above, you can host an event that won't cost you too much.
Of course, if you have a high budget, you can definitely add more interesting entertainment features. For instance, book a venue for poker night instead of hosting it at your home. This would give you more flexibility with catering, and of course, creating a good vibe. Besides, you could set up a projector for movies or gaming too. Whenever you feel there is a need to rest before playing the next hand or game, simply go and enjoy a movie together.
We have mentioned all the basic tricks and tips to host a great poker night. These five essential tips will surely help you host an event that will not only make you proud of yourself but also entertain your guests. These are common steps all poker hosts must follow as they are simple and pocket friendly.
Moreover, always keep in mind when hosting an event to have everything covered from what you have planned for the night. Plan a week before and get everything before the night arrives. Of course, the table and chips you can leave for the last day. Nobody wants a poker table in the middle of their house for a week. Have fun!
About the writer: Brandi Marcene has over a decade of experience in content. Having seen the constant evolution of the field, she undertakes efforts to keep pace with the continuous changes to offer first-rate, ready-to-publish copy. Her interests lie mainly in literature with the occasional Netflix series. She has extensive experience of writing about most topics under the sun, but has a particular passion for finance and fitness.
Last update date: 10/19/22
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Thoughts: This game has somewhat of the feel of the simple builder game Osmosis in that cards need to pass through others to get to the foundation. You can't just place cards willy-nilly, because you'll get stuck. First you'll have to ensure that the top rows allow you to pass lower valued cards through, so ideally you want to set up the top row with some threes, so that you can use these to move twos to the foundations. The Allgood Solitaire app implements a variation where empty spaces need not be filled immediately, which results in a more flexible game. In this variation, you can strive to have at least one space free in each row, because then you can move any card from the bottom row up the rows to the foundation, and with good play then you can win almost every game. Ascension is certainly a satisfying game to play, and the movement up the rows gives it a very different feel from most builder games.
Thoughts: Confused by the description? You really need to see the game in action to understand what is going on, and play the game using a program like Solitaire Forever. Fission was created by Morehead and Mott-Smith during the historic 1940s era when scientists were working to split atoms, and the theme behind this solitaire game is fascinating. Your chances of winning are actually quite high, but the order in which you play cards is important, because you have to ensure that you don't trap cards needed later in the game. Fission certainly something very, very unique, and it is also rewarding to play.
Thoughts: As the name suggests, this builder game has a flamboyant look about it, but it's quite easy to play and win, although your chances of success can depend on which cards are face-down. In his book, Crepeau suggests a variant in which you play with all the cards face-up for a more strategic game, and this variant has also been implemented in the Allgood Solitaire app. Completely open information available enables you to do more planning, and then you should be able to win most games. While not a deeply strategic game, Flamboyant is different enough from the more well-known builder games to make it interesting to play as a diversion.
Thoughts: The restriction on replenishing spaces with cards that match the suit of the corresponding foundation results in a very enjoyable game which is challenging, and yet can mostly be won with good decision making. Typically you want to vacate spaces in the tableau, and place lower ranked cards there that can't yet be played to the foundation; higher ranked cards will clog things up and make the game nearly impossible to win. It's often a good idea to move some of the initially dealt cards if a space becomes available of the corresponding suit, freeing up spaces for different suits elsewhere in the tableau. So you'll have to plan ahead, and make good use of the four available spaces for each suit. You'll usually be able to get lower valued cards onto the foundations in the first pass through the deck, and then can comfortably finish the game during the second pass.
Thoughts: The game's name originates from the gaps that get created as you play, which gives the tableau a superficial resemblance to a labyrinth. It's hard to win, especially if you don't get the 2s and 3s out early, so you need a favourable luck of the draw to have any chance of success. I've only won about 5% of the roughly hundred games I've played. But when you do start making progress in playing cards to the foundations, more and more gaps appear, opening up more opportunities, and a win is incredibly satisfying. But even a loss isn't too painful, because games only take a few minutes at most. For a two-deck game with a slightly similar feel (but without gaps), take a look at Babette, which is most satisfying when playing with relaxed rules that allow three redeals of the stock.
Thoughts: The use of three card "proils" consisting of cards of matching values is a fascinating limitation that really changes the feel of the game. Once you do have a proil of cards, it means that the remaining card of that value is stuck elsewhere in the tableau, until either you can play it to the foundations, or if you play a card from the corresponding proil to the foundations. The use of the special reserve spot for Kings is an excellent rule that prevents a bad deal of Kings blocking other essential cards. The creator of Allgood Solitaire came up with a variant he calls Open Proils where you begin the game with all cards face-up, and I agree that this is a significant improvement because then you have open information from the start. AllGood rates the odds of winning Roaming Proils as 5% and Open Proils as 15%, but I've found that I can win almost a third of my games of Open Proils if I begin with a starting layout that has the Aces and Kings favourably positioned. This has become my new favourite Fan game!
Thoughts: The rules of this game are very simple and easy to understand, and the concept is brilliant. It really proves to be a rewarding tactical puzzle, and is more difficult than you might expect to achieve successfully. I enjoyed this creative solitaire game a lot due its unique feel. It will especially appeal to people who enjoy working with numbers. Originally published by George F. Hervey in his book Enjoying Card Games for One, Peter Arnold has published a variation that is much easier to win in his book Card Games For One, and you'll find good implementations for both in the Solitaire Forever app.
Thoughts: This is an original solitaire game created by Jim Owen, and when I first played it on BVS Solitaire I knew right away that it belonged on this list. It's an ingenious game that reminds me of the tactical elements of a game of chess, and also some of the tactical elements of more well-known non-builder games like Accordion and Royal Marriage. While it is very simple to learn, real skill is needed to get a win. Before your very first move you should assess the entire board, and figure out which cards should be the ones that you capture with. It's easy to capture cards of the same suit as you play, but eventually you want to get down to a single suit. You'll need to rely on matching values to eliminate a suit, and keeping cards of matching values in play until the latter stages can really help. Bringing in cards from the stock of the game can help or hinder your efforts, and it's wisest to bring these in during the mid-game phase.
Thoughts: This is an extremely fun tactical challenge, that is super easy to learn, and yet can prove more tricky than you might think. The key lies in placing the Aces and 5s, since no card can be placed on the left of an Ace, and no card can be placed on the right of a 5, so you have to try to avoid situations where that happens otherwise you'll get stuck. Getting Aces into the first space of every row will give you a strong start. The fact that you can complete a game in just a couple of minutes adds to its appeal. Other abridged versions of Montana/Gaps include Four Ways, Journey, and Long Trip, all of which use 36 cards (6s through Kings) laid out in four rows of nine columns.
Thoughts: Pairing games tend to be simpler games, and usually require matching cards that are identical in value or that add up to a certain value. This game changes that up, which makes it immediately stand out from the many other games in this genre. Because there are thirteen different values from Ace through King, you can't always simply pair the same set of values (e.g. 1s and 2s, 3s and 4s etc), otherwise you'll be stuck with the Kings. Furthermore you are forced to work with whatever cards are in the tableau, and sometimes that will compel you to make matches you'd prefer to avoid. You can get stuck if you play without any thought, and having some sense of which values haven't yet been discarded can increase your chances of success; as can a healthy number of "undos" in the closing stages.
Thoughts: This works much like a traditional sliding puzzle, the most well known of which is the 15 puzzle, which has the goal of moving 15 numbered tiles into the correct sequence within a 4x4 frame. But while that only has a single space, having four spaces at the start of the game increases your options significantly. What I like about this game is how it offers a very different way of using playing cards than most other solitaire games.
Thoughts: Slide is vaguely reminiscent of the spatial and matching elements of Monte Carlo, but involves considerably more strategy and more interesting choices. It's a good strategy to try to keep cards in the game by only sliding off a card if there is one of matching value in that row. Removing sets of higher valued cards will also earn more points later in the game, since the multiplying factor is higher. Empty spaces produced by the removal of sets can also be filled directly by the stock, and creating these spaces will also prove very useful. Slide is a very unique and enjoyable solitaire game, where decisions really matter.
Most of the above games work very differently from the run-of-the-mill solitaire games that we tend to be familiar with. At the very least, you're certain to come across some very novel solitaire games here, and you may be surprised by how much fun can be had with them. Happy exploring!
Final note: You can certainly play these with an actual deck of playing cards, which is particularly satisfying with an attractive custom deck. But when it comes to learning the rules of a new solitaire game, the best way to play is with the help of a reliable software program, like the ones offered by BVS Solitaire. Their program for Windows is one of the best I've tried, and they also have excellent versions for Mac and for mobile devices.
About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known and respected reviewer of board games and playing cards. He loves card games, card magic, cardistry, and card collecting, and has reviewed several hundred boardgames and hundreds of different decks of playing cards. You can see a complete list of his game reviews here, and his playing card reviews here. He is considered an authority on playing cards and has written extensively about their design, history, and function, and has many contacts within the playing card and board game industries. You can view his previous articles about playing cards here. In his spare time he also volunteers with local youth to teach them the art of cardistry and card magic.
Last update date: 10/14/22
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Bryan's technique is no secret, and he teaches it openly in some tutorial videos. The key to success is that instead of building with the usual pyramid or triangle shape, you use a grid-like structure based on square shapes. This makes for a much stronger and more reliable house of cards, is easy to learn, and you'll be heading for the ceiling in no time.
What to learn more? See my article: Stacking card houses with world record holder Bryan Berg
There are different ways to shuffle cards, but the two most popular methods are the overhand shuffle and the riffle shuffle. Each involves different techniques, and has different advantages. The overhand shuffle is the most common method, and is what most people learn first. It's practical and fast, but it does keep groups of cards together, and magicians take advantage of this to use it to control individual cards while shuffling. The riffle shuffle is more elegant and sophisticated by weaving cards together, and is the kind of shuffle associated with card games and casinos. When done in the hands it can be finished off by letting the two interwoven packets purr satisfyingly together in what is called a "bridge". It will instantly make you look like a professional, and is worth the minimal effort required to learn it.
"Gemini Twins" is a true gem among self-working card tricks. It was popularized after it appeared in one of Karl Fulves' books on self-working card magic, and numerous variations exist. You remove two prediction cards face-down from a shuffled deck, and these are used twice to mark the place where your spectator deals from the deck and stops at any point where they wish. When the deck is spread face up, the two prediction cards amazingly turn out to match in colour and value to the exact cards that your spectator stopped at. Despite a simple method that is easy to learn and perform, this is a very strong magic effect.
The good news is that there's no right or wrong way to approach cardistry, because you can learn whatever you want. So you have complete freedom to explore whatever suits your preferences and taste. Even so it's good to start by mastering the basics and have somewhat of a graduated approach. Don't focus on rushing things, but try to perform the moves smoothly. And keep practicing, because cardistry is perfect for doing "fiddle moves" while you're watching a movie or waiting for a bus. In this instructional video Chris Ramsay will teach you three basic packet cuts: the swing cut, the swivel cut, and the rotation cut. While the rotation cut is a bit more finicky, you'll master the first two in no time, and you'll be surprised how rewarding it is to do these whenever you have a deck in your hands!
What to learn more? See my article: Top moves and flourishes for complete beginners in cardistry
It's called GOPS, which is an acronym for "Game Of Pure Strategy", to reflect the fact that there's no luck. But don't go thinking that this is a brain-burner, because it's not that kind of game at all. Instead, it's all about bluffing. Here's the basic concept: You're trying to win the 13 Diamonds cards, which are point cards corresponding to their value. They're shuffled and then revealed one at a time. Players each get an entire suit as their hand (Clubs or Spades), and simultaneously play a card of their choice, with the revealed point card going to the highest played card. The player who wins the most point cards wins the game. The tutorial video will teach you the game in just two minutes, and it's far more fun than you might think!
What to learn more? See my articles: 40+ great card games for all occasions and The best two player games with a standard deck
One of the best non-builder solitaire games is called Exit, or its alternate game Gay Gordons, and was created by card game scholar David Parlett. You set up the game by dealing cards into ten columns of five cards each, plus one column with just two cards. The goal is to eliminate all cards by removing any available pairs that add up to eleven, or a pair of Jacks, or a King/Queen pair. It's super easy to learn, and there's lots of room for planning and decisions because all the cards are dealt face-up. Don't be fooled by the length of this instructional video - the explanation of how to play runs for less than two minutes, and the rest is simply an example of gameplay.
When you look at the final outcome of a kirigami card, it typically has an impossible look, hence the alternative names "impossible cards" or "wow cards". But not all kirigami cards look impossible, and others simply create a beautiful visual aesthetic, or represent an artistic or creative design. And it's not as hard to learn as you might think. Scott typically creates digital designs on his computer first, which he resizes to match a playing card. He's kindly made available all kinds of templates that you can freely download and use. The example in the video is slightly different from Scott's usual kirigami, and shows how to make a mystery box card he calls "Fireworks".
What to learn more? See my article: Creating kirigami cards with Scott Dyer
With the help of some scissors and origami, you'll be able to make your own impossible-looking hypercard with a playing card in only a minute. Seriously - it's that simple to make. All you need to do is make three cuts on the card, and then carefully fold the card in two places as taught in the tutorial. The best way to show off the illusion is to insist that people not be allowed to pick it up, but try to wrap their head around the baffling object that they see. If you use a double-backer card, the result looks even more baffling. For just a couple of minutes work, it's well worth the astonishment that the hypercard can create.
You will need to use the following template, which will tell you exactly how to cut the three cards. That part is all quite straight-forward and simple, but the real challenge is to assemble the pieces together to make the burr. That's why this even doubles as a puzzle, because you can try to figure out how to put the cards together on your own. You'll have to do quite a bit of bending and fiddling to make it work, and if the idea of finding the solution on your own doesn't interest you, then just watch the tutorial video and follow the instructions. Either way the impossible-looking result is impressive.
Especially if you enjoyed making the hypercard and the three card burr, and want a harder challenge, check out George Hart's card constructions. He's created some wonderful polyhedrons made out of playing cards, and some of the instructional videos below are inspired by his work. A fine example is the 3D card star made out of just 12 cards. If you have the patience to make it, the 30 card global sphere is especially impressive. Once you have exhausted the ones on this list, head over to Scott Dyer, who lists a couple of similar projects.
● How to make a playing card flower
● How to make 3D playing card art
● How to make a 3D card star [reference: alternate video]
● How to make a global sphere [reference: template]
● How to make a turbo cube [reference: template]
Have fun!
About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known and respected reviewer of board games and playing cards. He loves card games, card magic, cardistry, and card collecting, and has reviewed several hundred boardgames and hundreds of different decks of playing cards. You can see a complete list of his game reviews here, and his playing card reviews here. He is considered an authority on playing cards and has written extensively about their design, history, and function, and has many contacts within the playing card and board game industries. You can view his previous articles about playing cards here. In his spare time he also volunteers with local youth to teach them the art of cardistry and card magic.
Last update date: 09/20/22
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I should explain what I mean by a "Top 10 list", so that this doesn't cause anyone to shoot flames across the internet in my direction. I'm not suggesting that this list represents the absolute best ten. It's hard to narrow down a strong field down to just ten names, and it is not my intention to suggest that any name not included isn't as good as the ones that are included. This list simply represents ten top candidates, while recognizing that there are others that could be mentioned alongside them. Hopefully what we can all agree on is that if we are going to have a discussion about the best, these ten names belong in that discussion.
So here are ten top playing card designers, listed in alphabetical order by their last name.
Randy Butterfield might be one of the lesser known names on this list, but in terms of the sheer volumes of cards he's produced, he is also one of the most prolific playing card designers of today. I'm not exaggerating when I say that there are literally hundreds of thousands of decks that have been produced with his designs.
Some of these are under his own brand, Midnight Cards. This name refers to the fact that while he works as a packaging designer by day, at night he burns the midnight oil designing playing cards. Other designs he's made have been under other brand names, and some have even hit the mass market in large numbers. His first deck, Ornate, was for the House of Playing Cards in 2012. One of my favourite designs from Randy is his Draconian series, which features incredible borderless card backs that convey the sense of a spiral of dragon scales. Maybe you're familiar with the beautiful Honeybee decks from Penguin Magic? Also Randy's work. The gorgeous LUXX decks produced for JP Playing Cards were his designs too. He's also produced several exquisite decks themed on ancient Rome. And much more.
There's no doubt that Randy is an extremely versatile designer who has his own unique style, and has the ability to produce a wide range of diverse and well-themed playing cards. If you're a serious card collector, there's a good chance you have one of Randy's decks.
Last update date: 08/29/22
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I also love writing about my passions. For me, writing is primarily a labour of love that I do in my spare time. I enjoy it because it gives me the chance to study and learn about new things, and to analyze and organize the material I've learned. I also like sharing my findings with others, and supporting creators and consumers - whether it's in the game industry, the playing card industry, or the magic industry. I've been writing reviews of board games over on BoardGameGeek for well over 15 years already. When I started writing about playing cards and related topics a few years ago, PlayingCardDecks (PCD) proved to be the ideal platform to host some of my articles on these subjects, although I also cross-post a number of them in other places at a later date.
The range of topics I've researched and written about is quite diverse: from the history of playing cards, to interesting facts about playing cards. I've interviewed creators, collectors, cardists, magicians, and historians. I've shared stories about the unique achievements of particular projects. I've covered the best card games you can play, including solitaire card games. I've provided information and tips about learning cardistry and card magic. And much more!
The fifth anniversary of PCD is the ideal time to go through this archive of material, and bring some of the best of these articles back into the light. Perhaps you may have seen many of these before, or perhaps not. Some may have escaped your notice the first time around, or maybe they warrant revisiting. So here's a collection of ten of my favourites, listed in no particular order.
This article has some nostalgia attached to it for me, because it was the first one of my articles to appear on the PCD blog. While not as long as many of my more recent articles, it does raise an interesting subject: what can you do with playing cards aside from playing card games?
There are obvious uses like using them for performing card magic. But what about some more interesting things to try, like building card houses, card flourishing, or card throwing? This article will give you some fun ideas for using playing cards in less orthodox ways.
You'll be surprised at some of the suggestions on this list, and when taken together, they can really help you get more mileage out of each precious deck that you own.
This epic article is the culmination of years of personal study, and time spent learning and playing all kinds of card games played with a traditional deck. You could consider it a greatest hits collection of card games, and if you're looking for good card games to play with your favourite deck, start here.
Klondike is considered a typical "builder solitaire game", and what most people don't realize is that many excellent solitaire card games work completely different than this, and can even be far more interesting. This article lists the best and most popular non-builder solitaire games you should know about.
But where do you begin? To help beginners, I put together a carefully curated list of simple flourishes that anyone can learn with a bit of effort, along with links to the best free video tutorials on the internet that will teach you how to do them.
You just need some pointers in the right direction, and that's what this article is about. I've written quite a few articles about card magic, especially ones that cover the best self-working card tricks in the world. But you have to start somewhere, and in this article I'll help you learn ten simple card tricks, with video tutorials for each.
I've done a lot of research in this area, and this article will help you understand the importance of things like stock, texture, coating, and cut, and what impact they have on handling.
But was it true? I put on my detective hat, and ended up having to dive very deep to find the answer. My sleuthing took me around the world, and after corresponding with cardists, magicians, collectors, and even a university and a hospital, I finally got to the bottom of things.
In this article I trace the roots of playing cards in the far East, identify the time they arrived in Western Europe, and describe how they spread throughout Europe, taking on a new look in different parts of the content, and eventually settling on the form we are used to today.
But one of the most insightful interviews of all was the one I had with Roberto Giobbi, author of the acclaimed Card College series, and arguably the best teacher in card magic today. In this interview he shares many helpful tips and tricks about how to use and handle your playing cards in a professional and pleasing way. What he has to say is well worth reading and studying carefully, whether you're interested in card magic, card flourishing, card games, or even just collecting playing cards.
● Interesting Facts About Playing Cards
● How Well Do You Know Your Playing Cards?
● Playing Card World Records
● Playing Cards as Weapons of War
● What To Look For In a Quality Deck of Playing Cards
● 10 Types of Playing Cards You Should Know About
● How to Create Your Own Deck of Playing Cards
● Great Quotes and One-Liners About Playing Cards
Want to read more? You can view a complete list of my articles on playing cards here: Playing Card Articles. If you're a relative newbie, start by checking out the FAQ: I'm New To Collecting Playing Cards, So Where Should I Start? It is a longer article that condenses some content from other selected articles to help you quickly learn the essentials.
Last update date: 09/22/22
]]>Let me get one thing straight: I am not Will Roya. I'm just some guy out there on the internet that loves playing cards, and loves writing about them. That's stating the obvious, perhaps, but there are some people who think that I'm him. But I'm not him, and can't take any credit for what he has achieved. When people see Will posting blog articles on his site, they sometimes incorrectly assume that he is the EndersGame who writes the articles. But "EndersGame" is just the online handle I've used ever since I started writing game reviews over a decade ago. And Will has more than enough to keep himself busy running a business without complicating things by writing articles too. So if there's any content that upsets you, I'll take the blame for that, not Will.
I first got in contact with Will in late 2017, when we started corresponding about some of the first Kickstarter projects that he was working on at the time. I was already writing about playing cards - purely as a hobby and as a labour of love, and because I like helping out creators and sharing helpful information with other collectors and enthusiasts. I did a couple of write-ups to help spread the word about his early Kickstarter projects. One thing led to another, and he offered to post some of my articles over on his blog. I was happy to agree, and I've been doing that for the last four years, writing about playing cards, card magic, card games, and other playing card related subjects, whenever time permits me to do so.
Now I am not officially part of PlayingCardDecks, and I also publish what I write on other playing card platforms. Occasionally I even purchase playing cards elsewhere. In the end, I'm just a passionate playing card enthusiast like so many of my readers. But I do feel a strong sense of loyalty and appreciation to Will Roya, and I am a satisfied repeat customer. I personally placed my very first order with PCD around April 2018, which coincided with their first anniversary event, which ran for almost a week. They say that first impressions are everything, and I was quickly hooked, and would return often. Since then I've placed more than 30 orders with PCD, some of significant size; something that many other playing card enthusiasts will be able to identify with. Just last week I placed an order and spent over $100 of my own money to pick up several collectors decks which I simply couldn't get from other retailers.
I'll describe this as an appreciation post, because the fifth anniversary of PCD is a good time to reflect back on what Will Roya and PCD have accomplished. It's also an opportunity to share some of the things I particularly appreciate about them, and why they remain my #1 choice as online playing card retailer. As mentioned already, I will occasionally buy playing cards elsewhere too. Any playing card enthusiast knows the importance of shopping around, and there will be times where hard-to-find decks can only be sourced elsewhere, or where there are special offers that are impossible to resist. But on the whole, PCD is the retailer I keep coming back to, and in this article I'll share with you some of the things about them that keep me coming back. Obviously this is biased and from my own perspective, but that's kind of the point!
Over time Will began developing an increasing interest in selling magic products, and eventually gave up performing to focus on sales full time. He also started getting involved in the creation of a number of different magic products. Will soon discovered that his real passion was for playing cards. He started thinking about ways that he could sell them, and how he could contribute to the industry by creating them. He began to get further involved in the playing card industry, and gained valuable experience by helping other creators get their projects crowdfunded, through services he offered in consulting and fulfilment. He also started selling a range of magic products and playing cards via Amazon and eBay.
But eventually it was time to bite the bullet. By now he had an office and warehouse, and he made the decision to focus exclusively on playing cards. He'd already built up an online business over several years by means of his Amazon and eBay sales, so he was well placed to take the next step. In April 2017 he launched PlayingCardDecks.com as a retail website, from the outset offering a selection of more than 1000 different decks of playing cards and related items. The addition of a small band of dedicated staff members has helped him continue to grow.
By the time the first anniversary rolled around a year later, things were moving in a positive direction. Will celebrated the milestone with a bang by offering huge discounts site wide, as he continued to grow the site. At that time his range of different decks was well over 1500, and the total amount of stock numbered in the 10,000s. To mark the occasion, he released a special mystery anniversary deck, and shortly afterwards he launched his Pip Box Club subscription service, a popular program which continues to run successfully even now.
Over time Will has continued to develop his business in various ways, and the creation of custom decks of playing cards under the PCD brand is a notable and important contribution he makes to the playing card industry on a regular basis. From the many times I've corresponded with him, I know that he's always looking for new ideas and willing to try new things, in an effort to improve his business, serve his customers better, and provide more for the playing card enthusiast.
And that brings us to today, five years later. Since its launch, Will has focused on making a diverse selection of playing cards available at reasonable prices, and combining this with good customer service, with speedy processing and shipping. At any given moment you can expect to find literally tens of thousands of decks in stock at PCD, including all the latest and greatest releases. Each month thousands of orders are processed and shipped throughout the United States and around the world. Happy fifth birthday PlayingCardDecks.com!
1. Wide range
Of course the main reason to go to PCD is to buy playing cards. But to keep consumers like us happy, they need to have what we're looking for - in other words, a wide range of products to suit a wide range of customers with a wide range of interests. With literally tens of thousands of decks in stock, and more than 1,500 different decks, this is one of the widest ranges of quality playing cards you'll find anywhere. Whenever there is a new release, which mostly is channeled via Murphy's Magic (the world's biggest distributor of magic and playing cards), you'll usually see it quickly added to the PCD inventory in their new playing cards section, which is constantly being updated.
2. Quality decks
You know those cheap playing cards you can get at places like the dollar store? Well you won't find them at PCD. A significant amount of playing cards available here are printed by the United States Playing Card Company, maker of the famous Bicycle brand, in a high quality air cushion style finish. Others are sourced from industry leading printers and reliable playing card manufacturers like Cartamundi, Expert Playing Cards, and Legends Playing Cards. One thing you won't typically find at PCD are cheaply made cards that are garbage quality.
3. Specialized decks
Every collector tends to have a type of deck that has their special interest, or that they focus on collecting. For me personally, I have a soft spot for cardistry and novelty decks. I really enjoy fiddling with a deck, and experimenting with different card flourishing moves, and practicing sleight of hand. It's a great way to get extra mileage out of a good deck of cards, and to enjoy the visual artwork. I'm happy to report that there's a particularly good range of colourful and creative cardistry decks, which you'll quickly find by entering the word "cardistry" in the search bar. Fun novelty decks are of course found all over the site. Other categories I especially enjoy are transformation decks, vintage decks, and marked decks, and PCD has a large range in each of these categories. And if those don't float your boat, plenty of other categories are listed in the sidebar, including decks arranged by brand (Bicycle, Cartamundi, Ellusionist, etc), or topic (Animals, Fictional, Military, etc).
4. PCD branded decks
From the outset, Will hasn't just been selling playing cards, but has also been heavily involved in producing them. Over the course of the last few years, he's produced a number of excellent PlayingCardDecks branded decks. He first gained experience with several collaborations, and his Chicken Playing Cards was the first deck he produced under his own PCD label. Many custom decks subsequently followed, and he has established a network of reliable connections with artists and producers in the playing card industry. Quite a number of his decks are produced with the help of crowdfunding, and Will has already chalked up almost 30 successful playing card projects on Kickstarter. I especially love the novelty decks that he's produced, and the reproductions of historic and vintage decks.
5. Under $5 decks
I've introduced a lot of teenagers to card magic and cardistry via the communities I'm involved with, including at a school. You'd be amazed at how enthusiastic kids can be about card magic, and especially about cardistry. All you need to do is point them in the right direction by giving them some links to reliable video tutorials on youtube, and they'll be away and running. I like to encourage kids in this by giving them a custom deck. For this, I've found the under $5 range on PCD to be a lifesaver. All of these decks cost around five bucks or less, and yet for the most part they are still quality playing cards. Most kids have never before handled a USPCC produced deck of cards with an embossed air cushion finish, and are blown away by the quality. They also just love decks which are totally customized. There's plenty of decks in the under $5 range that make great gifts, and I've picked out and given away dozens and dozens.
6. Accessories
When you love playing cards like I do, then you'll also find yourself becoming interested in playing card accessories. Over the years I've found myself ordering things like deck cases and brick boxes for storing my decks, deck stands for displaying them, and deck sleeves for protecting them. Then there are helpful products like fanning powder, card clips, card wallets, and dealer coins. Yes, I've bought all those too. In one instance there was a delightful Piatnik playing card puzzle on sale, and that proved to be a great treat for the family. A wonderful book about transformation playing cards continues to be one of my personal favourites. I always keep an eye out for the newest products added to PCD's catalogue, because I never know what kind of interesting accessories I'll find.
PlayingCardDecks has been a wonderful asset to the playing card industry over the last five years, in helping playing card enthusiasts get connected with the decks that they love. With his solid selection of carefully curated products, Will Roya has done a splendid job in helping collectors get their hands on a wonderful range of beautiful and quality decks of playing cards. Playing cards can be used for many different purposes, and whether you're looking for something suitable for card games, card magic, card flourishing, or even just to collect or to give away as a gift, you're certain to find something that you like.
Will Roya and PlayingCardDecks have made positive contributions to the playing card industry in multiple ways. Of course I'm biased, but in my experience most playing card collectors only have good things to say about him and his business. Will is a talented and dynamic individual who has the extensive experience and personal skills needed to succeed, and I'm very pleased to see what he's achieved so far. Many PCD produced playing cards occupy a pride of place in my personal collection, and I look forward to what decks he has in store for us in the remainder of this year. On behalf of others in the playing card industry, thank you Will, and keep up the great work with PlayingCardDecks!
Last update date: 08/18/22
]]>I'm writing a number of Top 10 lists to help celebrate the 5th anniversary of PlayingCardDecks, so of course I also had to do a list about the custom decks that Will Roya has produced under his own label. PlayingCardDecks (PCD) has only been around for 5 years, but already within his first year of starting his business, Will was working on projects to produce his own custom decks. In the context of where PCD was at, this was quite an undertaking. It already requires a huge amount of effort to start up an online business and sales platform, without introducing the extra complication of trying to produce your own decks of cards at the same time.
Many designers and creators have tried their hand at crowdfunding projects for playing cards and discovered how difficult this can be. It's not as simple as setting up a page with nice pictures of your imagined deck, and then waiting for the dollars to roll in. It requires a significant amount of hard work. Not only do you need a good design, but you also need to be good at marketing and communication, and you need to have the right network in place to ensure fulfilment of a quality product in a timely manner. Often creators are happy just to break even at the end of all this - if their project even gets funded in the first place.
But if there's one thing I've learned about Will Roya, it is that he is a man with enormous ambitions, energy, and passion, and he has the smarts to pull this off. Somehow, over the last five years he's managed quite the achievement: running a growing online business, and simultaneously producing multiple playing card projects that have put delightful and high quality custom playing cards into the hands of collectors.
Any "Top 10" is going to be subjective, and it's not my intention to suggest that my choices are necessarily the best of the many decks that have come out under the PCD label. But they are among my personal favourites, and the selections I've made here are somewhat representative of the many different types of custom playing cards that Will has produced since 2018. I've listed them more or less in the order in which they appeared on the market.
Artwork on the interior of the tuck box cleverly pictures Alice falling into the rabbit hole. Sasha's linear style is a deliberately minimalist choice to reflect the absurdity and logic of the story, and the minimalist use of colours ensures a focus on the surreal artwork, with a simple blue and white colour scheme being a recurring feature of the deck. The court cards are a highlight, depicting characters like the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hare, Hatter, White Rabbit, Queen of Hearts and others, while the Aces recall some of Alice's adventures, such as the famous tea-party. Alice is featured on multiple cards in the deck, since she is the recurring and central figure in this tale.
The number cards are customized with uniquely shaped pips in a non-standard arrangement, plus a unique symbol (derived from the story) for each suit, such as the pocket watch and the pepper pot. The Jokers feature special eats and drinks from the story: the "Drink Me" mixture and "Eat Me" cake, which made Alice small and big respectively. And the symmetrical pattern of the card backs represents the garden that she wants to get into. The Alice in Wonderland theme returns through all the aspects of these playing cards, making it a charming deck for the child in all of us.
● Parrot Playing Cards (2021) - This colourful deck features over 200 unique parrot species from around the world, each number card having parrots corresponding to its value.
● Ninja Playing Cards (2021) - A ninja themed deck might not be everyone's cup of tea, but this is a semi-transformation deck, and the artwork on the number cards is especially creative and fun.
● Jolly Roger Cards (2021) - Who doesn't like something with a good pirate theme? The fully custom artwork on all the cards is especially well done, right down to the wooden planks that make up the background.
● Balloon Jungle Playing Cards (2022) - Imagine a vibrant landscape of colourful balloon animals to get some idea of the playfulness of this fun novelty deck.
The other area that PCD has made an important contribution is in the area of reproduction decks. They've put out some lovely historic decks in fine new editions, thus preserving significant aspects of playing card history, and putting these beautiful relics from the past into the hands of modern collectors.
For the most part, the playing cards produced by PCD are printed by industry leader United States Playing Card Company, maker of the famous Bicycle playing cards, with their standard "air cushion" finish. So they are a quality product that will stand up to use, and handle smoothly and well. USPCC produced cards have a well-deserved reputation, and rightly receive respect for their consistently good card-stock, clear printing, good handling, and a durability which ensures they last longer than a regular deck of cheap playing cards. In many cases luxury gilded versions of all these decks are also available.
Will Roya has always had a passion and a pursuit of excellence, but now he has added another important arrow to his quiver: experience. Today has even more connections in the playing card industry than when he started out, and he has an established base of supporters, and a proven track record of success. With nearly 30 successful Kickstarter projects under his belt, supporters know that they can count on him to come through in a timely manner, and that they'll get exactly the quality product that they've been promised. I'm already excited about what the next five years will bring under the PCD label!
Where to get them? Some of the earlier PCD-produced decks are now sold out, but you can see the full range of PCD-produced decks here.
Anniversary sale: From July 11 through July 16th, to help celebrate PCD's fifth anniversary, you can get 50% off all PCD-produced decks using this code: PCD50.
Last update date: 07/15/22
]]>So you like playing cards. So do I. But how much do you actually know about them? When I first started getting interested in playing cards, and started learning more about them, I was amazed by how much I didn't know. Fortunately, with the help of some good books, reliable articles, and helpful videos, I found myself learning more. I'm naturally curious, and that holds me in good stead when doing research, because I want to get to the bottom of things, and I want to learn all that there is to know about something. And I want to share something of what I've learned with others, which is one of the reasons why I write articles about playing cards.
I'm currently writing some Top 10 lists to help celebrate the 5th anniversary of PlayingCardDecks. The anniversary was officially in April this year, but is being celebrated with a number of special events and sales starting next week. So I figured that this would be a good opportunity to share some top videos which give useful information about playing cards. I personally find that the more I learn about playing cards, the more I appreciate and enjoy them. Whether it's learning about their history, their production, or exploring their many uses, it all results in an enhanced appreciation and helps keep my passion alive. These are some of the top informational videos about playing cards that I'm aware of. If you're aware of others that are at least as good or better than these, by all means share them by posting a comment on this article. I'm always keen to learn more!
This video has been put together by magician Drummond Money-Coutts, the English magician and card handler familiar from several TV specials including the Netflix series "Death by Magic", and more commonly known as DMC. It's been put together brilliantly, with fine visuals and editing. And the content is excellent, as DMC covers the complete history of playing cards, starting with their apparent birth in the far East.
Even though it runs for nearly 20 minutes, it is not only factual but very engaging and entertaining, and DMC will keep you enthralled as you learn about how playing cards developed into the form that we know them today, and also uncovers some of the lesser known stories about their history. How did Aces become the most powerful card in the deck? Why does the Ace of Spades have extravagant decoration, and was a man hanged in 1805 for forging fake Aces of Spades? Even if you've heard those stories before his fascinating anecdote about the Earl of Sandwich is one you're almost certain not to have heard before.
The first part of the video documents the origin of playing cards, acknowledging that their apparent origins in China are in fact debatable, and that a case can be made for other sources as well. The evidence becomes clearer once playing cards spread through Europe, and this video does a good job of hitting all the main points of the development of playing cards in the 15th and 16th centuries, including cultural and geographic variations, and the origin of the four different suits. Coverage is also given to historical points of interest, such as taxation in England which led to stamping duty paid on the Ace of Spades.
The final part of the video is a lengthy excursus about the origin of the Tarot deck. A compelling case, carefully documented from history, is made that tarot cards first existed as trump cards for a regular deck of playing cards used for gaming purposes. Occult meanings and the use of these cards for fortune telling were all later developments, quite distinct from their original usage for card games. Video footage includes lots of wonderful images of antique playing cards to complement the well-informed and educational audio narrative.
Want to learn more on this topic? See my article: Debunking the myth that playing cards developed from tarot cards.
Over the course of ten minutes, we get to run through a list of 10 facts about playing cards that aren't commonly known. These include these topics like the many sayings inspired by playing cards, the origin of the four suits, the origin of the Joker, why the King of Hearts has no moustache, the origin of the suicide king, the significance of 52 cards and other number patterns in a deck, some historical personalities that have been featured on court cards, why the Ace of Spades is unique, the amount of shuffles needed for randomizing a deck, and some Bicycle brand design secrets.
Want to learn more on this topic? See my article: Interesting facts about playing cards.
A deck begins its creation with massive rolls of paper. Next these are run through the printing press as continuous uncut sheets. Next these are cut into individual cards, before being boxed and shipped. This particular video is short and sweet (little more than two minutes long), so if you enjoyed it and want to see more like it, I have a few more treats for you to check out: How It's Made by Cartamundi Playing Cards (quite a bit older and not the best resolution) and How It's Made by Theory11 Playing Cards, both of which offer further glimpses into the process of manufacturing playing cards.
Want to learn more on this topic? See my article: How playing cards are made.
We get to visit the inside boardrooms and meet the company's CEO of the time, and learn something about the history of playing cards and of the company. Some famous decks we get to see include the Airline Spotter deck and the Iraq's Most Wanted Deck. We also get to watch part of the process, including two sheets of paper glued together and laminated, then set to a predetermined thickness with the crusher. The paper is run through a printing press, and then cut into strips, and into cards. One stunning stat mentioned is that at that time the factory was putting out 20 million cards (400,000 decks) a day! Samples decks are tested before packaging happens. The segment ends with a fun game of poker with some of the company head honchos.
At the outset we quickly learn how secure the United States Playing Card Company is, because even the crew filming the documentary have to go through a series of security checks before they're allowed inside. In turn we get to meet some of the individuals involved with different parts of the manufacturing process, each of whom gives us a brief rundown of what they do: senior desktop operator, plate-making operator, paper input operator, laminator operator, paper operator, printing assistant, second pressman, first pressman, defect manager, stripper, corner puncher, deck inspector, packaging manager, floor-person, distribution specialist, and lead shipper.
But of special interest to us is that Ekat has also created her own custom deck of playing cards, called Fox Playing Cards. In this detailed half hour video she walks through the entire process of creating your own deck, with four main areas of focus: Design, Production, Marketing, and Fulfilment. She shares her own experiences, and explains many of the things that she learned along the way. There's also a couple of segments in the video where she interviews a couple of other creators, to see what we can learn from their experience. If you decide to print with MakePlayingCards, you may also find helpful the step-by-step video guides for using printing with MPC which have been produced by CardMechanic and by Rise Magic.
Want to learn more on this topic? See my article: How to create your own deck of custom playing cards.
This particular video dates back to 2013, prior to Tom's death, and features an interview conducted with Tom and Judy by Ben Train. It's a goldmine of information, as Tom and Judy speak candidly on all sorts of playing card related subjects, including the history of playing cards, various uses for playing cards, and advice for getting into collecting. Their passion and expertise really shines through, and in the process of learning from them you'll also get the chance to see some rare decks from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Want to learn more on this topic? See my article: An interview with veteran collectors Tom and Judy Dawson.
Chris gives an overview of the Jerry's Nugget decks, which were first produced for the Jerry's Nugget Casino in Las Vegas. They were printed in the early 1970s, and were originally sold in the casino's gift shop for around a dollar or so. Demand for them increased after they were popularized by cardists in the 1990s, and when French magician Dominique Duvivier purchased the remaining supply from the casino (the video is wrong about the figure: it was 14,000 not 40,000 decks). And because they were printed with methods no longer possible for environmental reasons, they couldn't be replicated, and prices started skyrocketing. The video also covers a recent reprinting of the iconic Jerry's Nugget decks with a modern stock and a modern finish.
Want to learn more on this topic? See my articles: The legendary Jerry's Nugget playing cards and The case of the missing 40,000 Jerry's Nugget decks.
Next comes an overview of big and influential names in the world of marked decks, notably Theodore DeLand (1873-1931), whose influence is still evident in several factory-printed marked decks produced today. Other important figures from the past include Al Baker, T. Page Wright, and more recently Ted Lesley, whose work helped pioneer the current generation of modern decks with openly readable marking systems, like the GT Speedreaders and Penguin's Marked Cards. The final part of the lecture points to some interesting marked decks from the present, and some good resources for further study. Kevin is very well-informed and well-studied, and you're guaranteed to learn a lot from this. Once you've viewed the presentation and want to learn more, you can also watch the separate Q&A session that followed.
Want to learn more on this topic? See my article: Why do magicians use marked cards?
So I'll leave you with a few other videos that didn't quite make this list, but are still worth watching:
● Unusual types of playing cards (Grand Illusions)
Tim has been collecting toys and cards for over 30 years, and shows some fascinating types of playing cards in his collection.
● Antique playing cards (Jason McKinstry)
A playing card historian and expert shares stories about some of the biggest names in playing card manufacturing.
● The United States Playing Card Company (Michael Slaughter)
USPCC's president at the time, Mike talks about plans for the site of USPCC's old facility, and his vision for USPCC's future.
● Exploring the abandoned historic Bicycle playing card factory (RnK All Day)
Robb specializes in exploring abandoned buildings, and visits USPCC's old factory in Norwood.
● How to make someone pay $400 for a deck of cards (Huron Low)
A TEDx Talk with one of The Virts, who explains the thinking and marketing that made the Virtuoso decks so successful.
● So I designed a deck and made $1.5 million on Kickstarter (Ten Hundred)
Artist Ten Hundred documents the complete process of designing his custom deck, the first ever to hit $1 million on Kickstarter.
● How to break in a deck of cards (December Boys)
An experienced cardists runs through what to do first every time you open a brand new deck, and how to break it in.
● How to keep your playing cards fresh (Rise Magic)
Some tips for playing card enthusiasts about how to look after and extend the life of your playing cards.
● Card counting and casino scams (Sal Piacente)
A consultant in casino game protection and expert in casino cheating offers fascinating insights as he covers movies on the subject.
Last update date: 07/15/22
]]>
Basic reader decks:
● 2005 - Boris Wild Marked Deck ($20) by Boris Wild (Maiden Back)
● 2005 - Ultimate Marked Deck ($40) by Magic Dream (Rider Back)
● 2011 - GT SpeedReader ($14) by Garrett Thomas (Mandolin Back)
● 2017 - Marked Cards ($10) by Penguin Magic (Maiden Back)
Advanced reader decks:
● 2008 - Gambler's Marked Deck ($33) by Boris Wild & Geno Munari (Maiden Back)
● 2013 - The Code ($30) by Andy Nyman (Maiden Back)
● 2017 - Marksman Deck ($35) by Luke Jermay (Mandolin Back)
But now let's take a look at a few great marked decks that break the rules, and don't meet all our requirements and criteria. Once we remove the requirement for a standard Bicycle Rider Back, or its Maiden Back and Mandolin Back siblings, the choices for marked decks really open up enormously.
This article isn't really geared to covering all of the many marked decks that vie for our attention. But there are a couple of notable exceptions that do deserve special mention because of the unique elements they bring to the table. There's even a remarkable deck that uses a coded system rather than a reader system that you simply must know about, given what it can do.
These two innovative marked decks that I'm talking about are:
● 2015 - DMC Elites ($20) by DMC & Phill Smith
● 2017 - Butterfly Playing Cards ($30) by Ondrej Psenicka
After covering these, to wrap things up I'll briefly mention some other options in the way of reputable marked decks, and point you to some resources that will teach you how to turn your own deck into a marked deck.
First released: 2015
Price: $20
The DMC Elites first appeared in 2015 and have gone through several different versions. Shown here is one of the latest incarnations of this popular marked deck, namely the Red V5. The name DMC represents the initials of English magician Drummond Money-Coutts, who combined forces with magic creator Phill Smith to produce these decks.
Description
The DMC Elites aren't Bicycle branded, but use an ingenious marking system on the card backs that works completely differently from any marked deck you've ever seen before. You can literally read these marks from across a room. Yes, really. That's why they are the marked deck of choice for many magicians, and why they deserve special mention here. It's billed as an "optical system" and the way it works is that you actually can't see the markings if they're right under your nose, but only from a distance away - but only if you know how to look at them. Once you know the system, you can't unsee the marks, which will be as plain as daylight to you.
The faces of the cards are effectively all standard, although Bicycle's trademarked Ace of Spades and Jokers have been replaced with custom ones. But for all intents and purposes, when looking at the faces, your spectators will see a completely normal deck. The card backs on the other hand don't look anything like a Bicycle deck. But that's because what this deck brings to the table is a very unique marking system, where the markings are huge, and yet are hidden in plain sight.
It's worth mentioning that the DMC Elites have also gone through several different versions, and continue to benefit from slight improvements each time. For example, the markings were originally just in two corners, whereas the newer versions now have them on four corners. New with the V5 deck is the fact that it comes in the Mnemonica stack, and for the first time it also includes the location of each card in the stack on the card backs. Different versions of the DMC Elites have used different printers, including some that have been produced by USPCC, the printer that makes Bicycle decks. Overall it can be said that even though these playing cards aren't Bicycle branded, they do have the high quality that buyers require for reliable handling.
First released: 2017
Price: $30
The Butterfly Playing Cards from Czech magician Ondrej Psenick also deserve special mention. To use them, we do have to abandon our requirement of a reader system, because this marked deck uses a coded system, relying on marks you have to decipher to figure out the suit and the value of each card. But it is so innovative and so powerful, and has been so well received by magicians, that it would be a serious omission not to include it here.
Description
The shining achievement of this remarkable deck is that it uses a marking system that even trained magicians won't easily detect. Yet courtesy of the built-in edge marking system, you can read a card without even spreading the deck. Strictly speaking, the marks aren't on the sides of the cards, but on the card backs very close to the edges. This ingenious system builds on work by Jeff Busby, and lets you read the value and suit of every single card in the deck simply by bevelling the deck slightly, and looking at the side of the deck.
It has two main marking systems. The "two-way" marking system is on both long edges, and works by enabling you first to identify the value (1 of 13 possibilities, based on where the mark is along the edge), and then the suit (1 of 4 possibilities, using dots). Given how clever the system is, it is remarkable how quickly you can find and cut to any named card. The "one-way" system is implemented only one a single long edge, and uses a slightly different system for identifying the value and suit. It can be used to determine the location and identity of a reversed card, and is so amazing that it's hard to believe, but is genuinely that brilliant.
The Butterfly deck was originally available in blue backs as well as red backs. Ongoing demand led to it being reprinted in a second version in 2017 that employed the same colours, and added a third marking system. Produced alongside this second edition were a limited number of unmarked versions. All the unmarked versions of Butterfly Playing Cards cleverly have tuck boxes without embossing so they can easily be distinguished by touch in a pocket. A new edition released in 2020 features a completely different colour scheme that relies on a jet black look. This version of this ground-breaking deck comes in one of three gilded versions: Black and Gold, Black and Silver, or Black and White. Now the gorgeous deck was not only printed as a marked deck, but a matching unmarked version was also made more widely available, so that the beautiful design could also be enjoyed for card games and poker.
Unlike all the other marked decks considered so far, almost all the Butterfly decks are produced by Cartamundi instead of USPCC. This means that the cards have a different texture and will handle differently than what you are used to. Cartamundi's card-stock is very popular, and it is high quality, but do expect to notice a different feel from the outset. The cards will feel softer and more flexible than a standard Bicycle deck, but they are supple, pleasant, and consistent to work with. While the original Butterfly decks use Cartamundi's thicker Superlux stock, their newest V3 decks released in 2021 use Cartamundi's thinner Slimline stock, as do the decks from the Black series. The V3 decks are also available at a lower cost as refills (i.e. without the video tutorials), to make a regular supply for returning customers more affordable.
Certainly there are plenty of other marked deck options besides the ones covered so far, so what follows isn't even an attempt to list them all. But there are a few other popular ones you will find recommended from time to time when the subject of marked decks comes up.
The Phoenix Marked Deck from Card Shark represents a brand specifically created for magicians as an alternative to Bicycle decks. It was first created as a marked deck, and later their range was broadened to a wider variety of decks using the Phoenix back design, including non-marked decks and gaff decks. As part of their range they offer a practical marked reader deck that uses their distinctive card back, which makes this a good choice for those who are partial to the Phoenix design. The latest version of this comes with the creator Card-Shark's online DVD "Release the Power", which includes detailed explanations and several tricks. A Phoenix Edition of the Boris Wild Marked Deck is also available.
Also using the Phoenix back design is the impressive Phoenix SUM Deck, which was originally created already in 1988 using a different back design. The acronym SUM stands for Set Up Marked, and refers to the fact that this deck is a tool that combines markings with a stack. It brings the idea behind DeLand's Automatic Deck to the modern age, much like other specialized marked decks such as the Marksman Deck and The Code. As such it includes additional information based on the Mnemonica stack, such as the identity of the adjacent card, the number of cards above the cut, and more.
Another deck worth mentioning is the Daredevil deck from Henry Evans, which also uses Phoenix backs, and is remarkable for having arguably the largest openly readable marks ever produced. The name certainly checks out, but it does make this perfect for using in parlour or stage settings.
Reader systems
Several of the bigger playing card publishing houses have produced their own reader decks. Ellusionist offers their Red Keeper deck and their Cohort deck, which are both printed by Cartamundi. The Cohort back design has a relatively standard look, but the marks are a bit on the small side.
From Vanishing Inc comes the delightful Dapper deck, which is quite practical and pleasant to read, but has a fashionable look that won't suit everyone. The first version of these was printed by EPCC, while the newest printing is by USPCC.
Coded systems
The number of coded decks is too great to mention, although the Automatic Deck that Theodore DeLand developed in 1913 is noteworthy for historical reasons, and continues to be printed today. It combines a clever coded marking system with a stacked deck, and is also a stripper deck. DeLand's Daisy and Nifty Decks from 1919 also combine a marking system with a stack; a gorgeous Centennial Edition which recreates the originals along with extra new features was recently produced, and is also available as a collector's set.
Of the many modern decks with coded systems, the Mint deck is very popular, largely because it was created by Asad Chaudhry from the popular youtube channel 52Kards. For a large range of the many different marked decks on the market, check this list.
Jeff Kellogg's Brooklyn Playing Cards (2017) is noteworthy for being one of the first decks to use a printed juice system, and can even be read from large distances away or in low light. To my knowledge this concept of using shaded printing techniques was only ever done before by LPCC's Sharps (2013), which uses a marking system inspired by David Blaine's clever White Lions.
Many coded decks simply aren't practical enough for magicians to use, since they require you to be too engaged in deciphering the marking system while performing. That's why most professional magicians typically prefer to use reader decks. And you can do so quite safely without fear of being caught. Once you have enough experience and confidence, you can use good audience management so that your spectators never get the chance to examine the cards, and so that they will never even suspect the possibility that a marked deck is being used.
Ted Lesley's method of making your own reader deck using transfers and using his book is still available, if that's the route you wish to go. Another excellent starting point is Pete McCabe's book PM Card Mark System (2010) which teaches you to make your own reader deck (with numbers and letters) using a sharpie, and also includes several good routines. The Mainframe system that Kevin Reylek came up with for Tally Ho Circle Backs is also quite brilliant, and can be obtained by contacting him (Instagram, Web). It comes with an excellent 24 page PDF that covers lots of additional tips and a few tricks to get you started.
The book Marked For Life (2002) by Kirk Charles includes a description of two strong systems invented by Bob Farmer, along with a wealth of other terrific information about marked decks. Bob's Farmarx system is the faster to read of the two. His Blob-o-Vision system requires a bit more calculation, but has the advantage that it can be read from further away, despite being more deceptively hidden. Hidden in Plain Sight (2005) is a more recent version of this book, and includes an extra chapter from Boris Wild about the Boris Wild Marked Deck. It's a brilliant book, well-referenced and thoroughly documented, and has a ton of great ideas for tricks with a marked deck.
Boris Wild also teaches his method for marking a deck in his book The Complete Boris Wild Marked Deck (2001), which includes numerous routines too. It's out of print, but you can get an updated and reworked version of his book under the new title Transparency (2012), which is also available as a PDF directly from Boris. If the book is too much of an investment for you, consider his Lecture Notes, which is a 40 page PDF containing the best from Transparency. Alternatively you can check out the previously mentioned book that Boris contributed to, Hidden in Plain Sight (2005). His marking system is also taught in the excellent video Boris produced with Big Blind Media, entitled Boris Wild's Marked Deck Project.
If you're less fussy about it being a Bicycle deck and just want something that is a standard looking deck and is easy to read, even from a good distance away, the popular DMC Elites won't disappoint. If you like the sound of what the Butterfly deck from Ondrej Psenicka can do, be assured that this is no mere hype, and is really what an edge marked deck is capable of. On the other hand if you want a Bicycle deck that has extra markings so that you can take advantage of a prearranged stack, take a look at Andy Nyman's The Code or Luke Jermay's remarkable Marksman Deck.
The instructional materials that you get with a marked deck may also be a big factor for you. One advantage of the Marked Deck from Penguin is that it comes with two lengthy tutorial videos that include a good number of tricks. It is very attractively priced considering that these teaching resources are included for free, making it excellent value.
But once factory printed marked decks with reader systems started appearing around 2005, even Ted Lesley's system became somewhat obsolete. Today we have far more choice than he and his contemporaries ever did, and we have ready access to even more powerful marked decks. Just in the last decade alone we've seen some truly innovative marked decks appear on the market, especially the advanced decks that incorporate stacks, channelling the genius of Theodore DeLand's Automatic Deck, and bringing it to the 21st century in a much easier form.
All this means that options are now readily available to us that magicians could hardly have dreamed of decades ago. So regardless of what marked deck you choose, take the time to reflect on the giants on whose shoulders you stand. And be grateful for the fact that you have access to such wonderful resources. Consider yourself blessed, and have fun using your marked deck!
Where to get them - The two main decks covered in this article:
● DMC Elites by DMC & Phill Smith
● Butterfly Playing Cards by Ondrej Psenicka
Decks covered in previous articles - Factory printed marked Bicycle decks:
● Basic reader decks: Boris Wild Marked Deck, Ultimate Marked Deck, GT SpeedReader, Marked Cards
● Advanced reader decks: Gambler's Marked Deck, The Code, Marksman Deck (all incorporate markings for a stack)
See a complete range of other marked decks over on PlayingCardDecks.com here.
Last update date: 06/15/22
]]>by BoardGameGeek reviewer EndersGame
It is interesting trawling through magic forums and reading old threads from around 20 years ago on this subject. Magicians often had to make their own marked decks, typically using a coded system. When it came to a factory printed marked deck, there were very limited options available. Even compared to just ten years ago, today we have products available to us that the previous generation could never have imagined, particularly when it comes to openly readable decks. We really are spoiled for choice, with a massive range of marked decks to pick from, and new ones hitting the market all the time.
The decks covered in this article are splendid examples of the best of the best. In a previous article I already covered the top marked decks that use the familiar Bicycle Rider Back design, or one of its close siblings, the Bicycle Maiden Back and Bicycle Mandolin Back. The four marked decks I recommended were all reader decks that quickly tell you the suit and value of any given card via easy-to-read marks on the card backs. In order of their release, these were:
● 2005 - Boris Wild Marked Deck ($20) by Boris Wild (Maiden Back)
● 2005 - Ultimate Marked Deck ($40) by Magic Dream (Rider Back)
● 2011 - GT SpeedReader ($14) by Garrett Thomas (Mandolin Back)
● 2017 - Marked Cards ($10) by Penguin Magic (Maiden Back)
In this follow-up article I will cover some Bicycle-branded decks that have more complex systems of markings, because they combine the best of a reader deck with a prearranged stack. This gives you powerful access to even more information, and enables you to perform real miracles. Bear in mind that this guide is especially geared to working magicians. If you're just having fun with friends, a novelty marked deck with a coded system can be fine. But working magicians need something practical, easy to use, and powerful. The marked decks you'll find here are exactly the kind of power tools that professionals are looking for. Here are the three decks that we'll be looking at, again in order of their release:
● 2008 - Gambler's Marked Deck ($33) by Boris Wild & Geno Munari (Maiden Back)
● 2013 - The Code ($30) by Andy Nyman (Maiden Back)
● 2017 - Marksman Deck ($35) by Luke Jermay (Mandolin Back)
Back design: 813 Maiden Back
First released: 2008
Price: $33
The Gambler's Marked Deck is one that most readers won't have heard of before. That's because it was created to be exclusively sold by Houdini's Magic stores in Las Vegas, and was especially geared towards the general public. So it isn't distributed via regular channels, and you won't typically find it at your favourite magic retailer. It is however available online directly from Houdini's Magic.
Description
This deck is notable for combining three powerful tools together into one deck: it's a marked deck, a stacked deck, and a stripper deck, all rolled into one. As we've already seen, this concept is in itself not new, since it goes back to DeLand's Automatic Deck, which relied on similar qualities. But instead of using a coded marking system, the Gambler's Marked Deck is much easier to use, courtesy of its simple reader marking system.
Another ground-breaking feature of the Gambler's Marked Deck was the fact that it was printed on Bicycle Rider Back stock. Not only did it innovate by replacing DeLand's coded system with an openly readable system, but when it was first released in 2008 it was the first time ever that a Bicycle-branded deck had combined a reader system of markings with a stack. As such this pioneering deck would pave the way for later products which followed it, like The Code and the Marksman Deck, which are marked reader decks that incorporate markings for Juan Tamariz's popular Mnemonica Stack.
The Gambler's Marked Deck doesn't use the Mnemonica Stack, but instead uses the intuitive Eight Kings Stack, which can be found in Erdnase's Expert at the Card Table and elsewhere. To make this system easy to use and learn for those unfamiliar with it, the stack order is listed both on the box flap and the Joker. An instructional card for the marking system and a card locator table is also provided.
Of course you can also ignore the extra information provided on the card backs, and just use this deck as a simple marked deck with a reader system. But the amount of information you can glean from any random card back is significant, and altogether there are several pieces of information you have easy access to just by looking at the back of any given card. The most important of these are: the value and suit of the card itself; a quick indication whether it is red or black; the number of cards in the stack (1 to 52), and the value/suit of the bottom card of the stack.
In addition there's also a subtle one-way element to the design, and the card normally at the top of the stack also is marked with three dots to enable you to easily identify it. This means that like both The Code and The Marksman Deck, the reader system on the backs of the Gambler's Marked Deck can help you quickly identify the cards above and below any cut card, and instantly tell you the number of the cards above any cut card. One additional bonus feature of this deck is also worth mentioning: The barcode on the bottom of the tuck box has an 8 of Clubs card reveal.
History
The story behind this deck is worth telling, because it's one that few magicians seem to know about. What follows represents what I learned first-hand from Geno Munari and also from Boris Wild, who was also involved with the creation of this deck. Geno is the man behind Houdini's Magic, and he wanted to create a unique and powerful marked deck, geared especially towards the general public that passed through Las Vegas. With Las Vegas being the home of so many professional magicians, it was an ideal market to tap into, since most tourists were already interested in magic, and many of them would have a natural interest in learning some card tricks. This deck was created to be sold exclusively in Geno's Las Vegas shops, which is why you've probably never heard of it before.
The first version of this deck was printed on lower quality stock, with a generic card back design. Geno then involved French magician Boris Wild to help develop the deck further, and to produce a more professional version. Boris was instrumental in producing a new version of the deck that incorporated the reader markings on the classic Bicycle Rider Back. The deck was also printed by USPCC on much higher quality card stock than the original edition. A relatively inexpensive companion book with 101 tips and tricks was also made available, either separately or together with the deck, to help get newbies started with their new miracle deck.
The involvement of Boris Wild was an additional reason for not distributing the Gambler's Marked Deck more widely via magic retailers or via mega distributor Murphy's Magic. Boris didn't want to cause any confusion with his own marked deck, which was published previously and used a different marking system. At that time the Boris Wild Marked Deck was already on the market, and was targeted towards and promoted for professional magicians. Seeing his name on the Gambler's Marked Deck would potentially make buyers think they were getting the Boris Wild Marked Deck instead, which employed a very different marking system and had very different features. In view of that, it didn't make sense to add to the magician's marketplace another marked deck with his name on it.
And so the Gambler's Marked Deck hit the market in Houdini's Magic stores in 2008. It proved to be a huge hit, and quickly became one of their top sellers. Meanwhile the deck continued to fly under the radar for most magicians, simply because Houdini's Magic wanted it to be a product that was exclusive to their shops. They cleverly realized that the market they had with laypeople and with the general public would likely see a higher turnover than if they marketed this multi-purpose marked deck to professional magicians. And they were right, because the decks flew out of the door and were a big success with Las Vegas visitors. Like DeLand's original deck, it had the power to do miracles, but was so easy to use that even beginners could harness some of its powers.
When the time came to reprint this deck around 2010, USPCC had tightened their rules about using their trademarked Rider Backs. The only way for the Gambler's Marked Deck to get reprinted was to use different card backs. The Maiden Back design had just been released by USPCC in early 2012 as an alternative to the Rider Back design, and could be altered and used in marked decks and gaff decks. The Maiden Back design was developed by Theory11, and was specifically created to serve as
Back design: 813 Maiden Back
First released: 2013
Price: $30
The Code was produced by Andy Nyman for Theory11 in 2013. It is a fine example of a specialized marked reader deck, because it gives more information than just the value and suit of each card, and is built around a whole system, namely the popular Mnemonica Stack by Juan Tamariz.
Back design: 809 Mandolin Back
First released: 2017
Price: $35
The Marksman Deck from Luke Jermay and Vanishing Inc Magic takes things to another level yet again. The Marksman Deck doesn't just tell you the value and suit of any given card, but it also has several different numbers hidden in the design that tell you the position of the card in the deck, and a whole lot more - even more than The Code.
The additional information offered by all these decks, in going well beyond your normal marked reader deck, will seem like overkill to the average magician. Decks like these are really only worthwhile getting if you intend to take advantage of the fact that they allow you to tap into the potential of a prearranged stack like Mnemonica, or the extra information that their markings offer. They are effectively high-powered Swiss Army knives that incorporate multiple tools. So if you are looking for a simple bread knife, and have no use for a prearranged stack or all the extra information about adjacent cards and more, you are probably better off buying one of the cheaper marked reader decks that just provides the suit and value of the cards.
But the real strength of marked decks like these lies in the built-in superpowers that their additional markings give you. With their help, you can accomplish levels of wizardry simply not possible with a regular marked deck, especially if you enjoy mentalism. Admittedly, along with this comes the need to put extra work into mastering the markings and the stack - although the markings themselves are very easy to read and learn. And it's a lot less effort than memorizing a complete deck stack from scratch. It may even help you learn the Mnemonica stack, and if you've been holding off learning a memorized stack due to the sheer hard work involved, these decks will allow you to tap into the potential of a memdeck without the usual entrance requirements.
It's not just the advantages of a stack that these high powered marked decks offer, however. Knowing the value and identity of an adjacent card is already powerful information, because it makes it so much easier for you to get the glimpse you need to identify a card, because you don't actually need to look at the card in question, but can safely look at its neighbour instead. And particularly in the case of the Marksman Deck, there are additional features geared to very specific effects that can truly astound spectators.
It won't come as a surprise that specialized decks like these typically come with a higher price tag than a more generic marked deck. But that's because they come ready-made with routines and presentations that you will quickly learn and soon perform. Another disadvantage of these decks is that you will need to be able to master some false shuffles and false cuts, to enable you to maintain a completely stacked deck.
But the extra expense and extra effort required will be more than rewarded with the kind of marvels you will be performing. And at some stage in your performance you can always let your spectator shuffle the deck, and you can still use it as you would any other marked deck. No matter which of the above decks you choose, if you put in the effort to explore their true potential, you won't be disappointed.
Where to get them: The three decks covered in this article can be found here:
● Gambler's Marked Deck by Boris Wild & Geno Munari (Maiden Back)
● The Code by Andy Nyman (Maiden Back)
● Marksman Deck by Luke Jermay (Mandolin Back)
See a complete range of other marked decks over on PlayingCardDecks.com here.
● It should use an-easy-to-use reader system, and ideally have decent sized markings on the long edges.
● It should disguise the markings sufficiently, and ideally look as normal as possible.
In short, enabling you to read the markings easily and quickly is the most essential quality of a good marked deck, while at the same time it should prevent easy detection by your spectators.
There are plenty of marked decks on the market, but the majority of working magicians will want to narrow down the field of suitable candidates to a Bicycle Rider Back or similar. That's especially true if you plan to use the same kind of deck for all your other card magic, because then the cards will look normal and are less likely to arouse suspicion. Something can seem fishy if you pull out a "special" deck merely for a particular trick that requires a marked deck, and where the cards look completely different from the decks you use for all your other card magic.
About ten years ago the manufacturer of Bicycle decks, the United States Playing Card Company (USPCC), took further steps to protect their brand, and this included trademarking the distinctive design of their classic 808 Rider Back. One consequence of this move is that alterations to the Rider Back design are no longer permitted. This had the effect of ruling out any further printings of marked versions that used this classic back design. But to meet the demand for marked decks in the Rider Back style, USPCC came up with two other back designs that do permit alterations and markings, and which to the casual observer look almost identical to the Rider Back: the 809 Mandolin Back (first released in 2010) and the 813 Maiden Back (first released in 2012).
Some magicians will also have further requirements, such as an additional marking that indicates the exact location of a card in a prearranged deck. This can be incredibly powerful, particularly when it is combined with the concept of a memorized stack, because you can immediately identify the cards preceding or following any given card. Such systems can even enable you to know any card that is a specific number of cards away from any other card. So depending on what you are looking for, the answer to the question about which marked deck is right for you will vary. But I will start by identifying the best reader decks that simply indicate a card's value and suit, and I will save more high powered marked decks with other features for my next article.
In introducing you to the best marked decks that meet the above criteria, I am not going to show you detailed pictures that actually identify and teach the actual markings. Given how carefully magicians protect their secrets, that would be taboo, and I'll already be pulling back the curtain far enough with my written descriptions. But the level of detail I will include is along the lines of what you'll find in the promotional ad copy for these decks, in reviews on Youtube or magic retailer sites, or in discussion threads on public magic forums. So my aim is to find the right balance between honouring the magician's code, while also providing enough information to help you make an informed buying decision about the marked deck that's right for you, working with the details about these marked decks that are already publicly available and easily accessible elsewhere.
In this article I'll be covering the following basic reader decks, which are the best of the breed:
● 2005 - Boris Wild Marked Deck ($20) by Boris Wild (Maiden Back)
● 2005 - Ultimate Marked Deck ($40) by Magic Dream (Rider Back)
● 2011 - GT SpeedReader ($14) by Garrett Thomas (Mandolin Back)
● 2017 - Marked Cards ($10) by Penguin Magic (Maiden Back)
Lesley's method of marking decks was very popular when it came out, largely because it took a different approach to marked decks than the more commonly used coded systems. Using his method resulted in marked decks that were very easy to read, because it offered a bold marking system that could even be read from some distance away.
To be fair, this idea had been suggested well before Lesley. Already in the 1920s, T. Page Wright posited the notion of using a typewriter to put openly readable marks on the backs of cards. And in the 1950s Al Baker used an alpha-numeric system of letters and numbers to represent suits and values, which he implemented on the back design of Bicycle Angel Back Squeezer cards. This was followed by similar systems from Harry Riser and others. But there's no doubt that Ted Lesley's 1983 book popularized the concept for use with Bicycle Rider Backs, and had a significant impact on the use of marked decks from here on in. His idea made it very practical to create a complete and functional marked deck using rub-on transfers, and it quickly became quite a hit with magicians who learned about it.
For its time, Lesley's deck was brilliant and innovative, and his companion book was also highly praised. But it did have disadvantages, especially when compared with the factory printed products we have available to us today. The marks could be considered a little too obvious, and quite a number of performers found that they got caught by spectators when using it. In addition, applying the transfers manually yourself required real time and effort. The transfers could also rub off over time, so they had a limited shelf life.
So while the Ted Lesley Marked Deck still has some admirers today, it has largely been superseded by the factory printed decks that are readily available in today's market, and which are covered in this article.
Back design: 813 Maiden Back
First released: 2005
Price: $20
The Boris Wild Marked Deck is named after its creator, French magician Boris Wild. Boris Wild's credentials speak for themselves: he is a previous winner of FISM, which is the most prestigious award in magic. Boris first started playing around with marked decks in the mid 1990s, but his own factory printed deck first appeared on the market in the sumemr of 2005. Prior to this he had taught his marking system so that it could be used with Ted Lesley's transfers, but having his marked deck factory printed was a truly ground-breaking and revolutionary development. At the time it was the very first factory printed Bicycle marked deck with a reader system on the Rider Back design that was printed by USPCC.
It is still quite popular today due to the unique way in which it indicates suit. By cleverly eliminating the need for a separate marking for suit, this clever deck enables you to do things that can't be done with most other reader decks.
Description
When the Boris Wild Marked Deck was first released it used the Rider Back design on the card backs. That was later changed to the Maiden Back design after USPCC adopted its new policy to disallow any customization of the trademarked Rider Back going forwards. The Maiden Back design was developed as an alternative back design in 2011, and and was originally known as the Angel Back. Boris Wild and Geno Munari (who together also created the Gambler's Marked Deck, a marked deck with a stack that will be covered in the next article) had some input in shaping its final design, which was developed by Theory11. To the average observer, the Maiden Back version of this marked deck still looks like a normal Bicycle deck, and unmarked versions of the Maiden Back are also available.
The Boris Wild Marked Deck is a reader based deck, clearly inspired by Ted Lesley's Marked Deck, but with factory printed marks. In creating this marked deck, among the most important criteria for Boris were speed and readability. He wanted the marks to be on the edge of the cards so that they could be easily read in a spread, while still being well hidden by the design. Everything about this marked deck has been designed for speed, which is also why the markings are entirely numeric rather than alphabetic. They're also located in areas of the card less likely to be covered by your thumb when dealing the cards.
A striking feature of the Boris Wild deck is that the cards are only marked for the value. The suits are cleverly indicated by where this mark is located on the card back, which will be in one of four different places along the long edge of the cards. So the side of each card has been divided into four "levels", each of which corresponds to a different suit.
As is usual for USPCC decks, the Boris Wild Marked Deck comes with two extra cards, which in this case give instructions about the markings and how to use them.
Impressions
The disadvantage of this system is that initially it can take a little longer to read than a standard reader deck, because to determine the suit you need to quickly scan up to four areas on the card backs. Most marked decks allow you to bring your eye straight to a single place on the card back where you know the marking will be, and that makes them quicker to read. In some situations, that makes the Boris Wild Marked Deck less than ideal (e.g. if you're trying to find a four-of-a-kind), although with experience you'll quickly train yourself to use this system rapidly.
But the fact that the markings aren't in the same spot offers some real perks that you can turn to your benefit. This unorthodox marking system has been deliberately engineered to provide other advantages, which are well taught in the support resources for this unique deck. For example, if you're looking for a card from a specific suit, you just need to look at one area of the card, making it much quicker to find. This was one of Boris Wild's goals with this deck, namely to enable you to find a single card in a spread very quickly. It's a real strength of this clever marked deck that you can accomplish this without needing to examine each and every card individually. You can basically eliminate 75% of the deck instantaneously, and focus on finding the selection by just examining a portion of the card back.
In the final analysis, this is a very well thought out system that allows you to find a specific card in a spread just by scanning the relevant level of the card. So if that's the kind of work you're using your marked deck for, this will actually make the Boris Wild Marked Deck a better choice than comparable marked decks. In his video, Boris demonstrates how you can use his markings to locate a specific card in a face-down spread even more quickly than you could locate it in a face-up spread, which is very impressive!
It is true that the Boris Wild Marked Deck will require a little more practice than most other marked reader decks in order to master it. The markings used with this deck also aren't as large as those on some other marked decks, such as the Marked Cards from Penguin. So those who struggle with aging eyes may find that they want to compare it with other options. But the marks are far less likely to be noticed by your spectators, and many magicians report that the markings even go unnoticed by other magicians who are checking to see if it's a marked deck. With less markings on the card backs as a result of the marking system, you're less likely to have someone actually notice the marks anyway. So this deck does have some applications that are unique to it, and it offers flexibility and some advantages that other marked decks don't have.
Teaching materials
Along with my copy of the deck came a double sided sheet of paper with full instructions about how the markings work, and tips to use them. There's also an explanation about how to perform the excellent trick "Name My Card", which is taken from the book Hidden in Plain Sight.
But because you can do things with this innovative deck that you simply can't do with other marked decks, it is best used in combination with some of the additional resources created for it. One such resource is the instructional video that was produced for it by Big Blind Media, entitled The Boris Wild Marked Deck Project. It is available as a DVD or download, is priced at around $30, and has over four hours of tutorials and instruction, including some brilliant routines.
Of all the video resources mentioned in this article, this video is easily the best of the lot. This video showcases Boris himself providing specialized teaching that is geared specifically to the system used by his Boris Wild Marked Deck. He teaches you everything you need to know to maximize the benefits of the Boris Wild markings in a way that isn't possible with other decks. More importantly, he teaches a number of top notch routines, which are surprisingly easy to learn and strong in effect, courtesy of the power of his marked deck.
The video really is a must-have if you want to really want to get everything you can out of this marked deck. The production quality is outstanding too, and Boris does an excellent job in teaching and explaining everything, with the benefit of his expertise. The tips he gives in an extra section about the cull are also very helpful. He also covers how to make your own deck with his marking system, which will take about 15-20 minutes using white transfers or a white marker (that you'll have to purchase yourself) once you're experienced at it. There's no doubt that his passion and enthusiasm is infectious, and will really inspire you to get out there in the real world and do miracles with the Boris Wild Marked Deck.
Besides the video, Boris has also contributed to the book Hidden in Plain Sight (2005) by Kirk Charles, which is not just an excellent resource about his deck and about marked decks more generally, but is one of the all-time top books on the subject of marked decks. His book The Complete Boris Wild Marked Deck (2001) and the more recent Transparency (2012) also teach a solid number of routines, techniques, and applications for marked decks. A 40 page PDF with a selection of the content of Transparency, including six great routines, is available under the title Boris Wild Marked Deck Lecture Notes. While these are specifically tailored to the Boris Wild Marked Deck, they will also allow you to unleash the power of combining a marked deck with a stack (the Boris Wild Memorized Deck), for even more impressive miracles. Boris is a true professional, and a real strength of his material lies in the construction of the routines, and the presentational elements he teaches - this is all very strong magic.
Recommendation
The Boris Wild Marked Deck may not be the first choice for someone looking for a plain reader deck. But if you are prepared to adopt this system and learn the techniques that take advantage of it, you will find yourself well-rewarded given the unique potential this deck offers. It's not as well suited for some tricks that require a marked deck, but for others it is actually better suited. So it's an excellent tool well worth knowing about and considering. And for those who aren't fond of Bicycle backs, a Phoenix Edition of the Boris Wild Marked Deck is also available, which offers an alternative back design.
Especially if you combine the Boris Wild Marked Deck with some of his own teaching materials, you will find yourself very well equipped for some stunning card magic, some of which simply can't be performed with other marked decks. This is definitely a great marked deck that deserves a solid thumbs up.
Back design: 808 Rider Back
First released: 2005
Price: $40
The Ultimate Marked Deck (dubbed in magic circles as UMD for short) was released around 2005. It originates with French magicians and creators Damien Vapereau and Jean-Marc Gahri, and the French company behind it is called Magic Dream.
When the Ultimate Marked Deck first appeared on the market, it was highly praised for being a reader deck that cleverly incorporates marks into the Rider Back design. Many working magicians immediately embraced it, and lauded it for being the best marked deck that they'd seen and used. The fact that it actually used the Rider Back design was naturally a real strength. And unlike the Boris Wild Marked Deck, all the marks were in the same place, making it easier to use.
Description
This deck bears the unique distinction of being the only deck on the list that still utilizes the Rider Back design. USPCC has not allowed marked decks to be printed with the Rider Back design for more than ten years now, and the original print run of the Ultimate Marked Deck preceded this new policy. But despite the new restriction, Magic Dream managed to successfully convince USPCC management to do one final print run of the Ultimate Marked Deck with the Rider Back design in 2015. It's uncertain how they managed to pull this off, given USPCC's strict policy on disallowing any alterations to their trademark. But it definitely means that this print run represents the very last marked deck to be produced with Bicycle Rider Backs. The Ultimate Marked Deck was produced in both a red and a blue version, but at most retailers you'll find that the blue deck is already sold out. Once the remaining stock sells, these will never be available again.
The markings are in the two places where you would expect to find them: near the top left corner, and in the opposite corner, making this deck very intuitive to use and easy to learn. This does make it more susceptible to being discovered via the riffle test ("taking a deck to the movies") than decks like the Boris Wild Marked Deck and the GT Speedreader. Particularly the GT Speedreader is more deceptive in that the marks are near the lower left corner, making them less likely to be observed by a spectator or uncovered via the riffle test. But having the markings at the top left corner is more convenient for reading when spreading or fanning the cards in a normal way, so the Ultimate Marked Deck does use a very practical marking system.
The size of the marks on the Ultimate Marked Deck is similar to those used on the GT Speedreader, and slightly smaller than the ones used on the Marked Cards from Penguin. What dictated the size and style of the markings was an effort to create a marked deck with the ideal qualities best suited to performing card magic in performance conditions before spectators: invisibility and readability. The goal was to have markings that won't be detected by your audience, and that are still easy, simple and quick for you as a magician to read.
Impressions
The font size of the markings on the Ultimate Marked Deck accomplishes exactly what it set out to do. As a magician, you can read them from a slight distance away when performing, knowing that the marks are always in the same place and a cinch to read when you're working with the decks. But because your spectator is slightly further away, the marks will completely escape his notice, because they blend into the design so seamlessly.
One other thing to be aware of about the Ultimate Marked Deck is that the tuck box has a Magic Dream logo on the bottom, which could tip off your spectators that something is out of the ordinary. Although it's highly unlikely that this would be noticed, if you are dead-set on making absolutely everything look innocuous and "normal", you may want to switch the box with a regular one.
Although the Ultimate Marked Deck is at a very high price point compared with other marked decks, its real strength is that it is printed with the Bicycle Rider Back design. So it will especially appeal to magicians who insist on having a marked deck that uses a Rider Back design, and want to steer away from the Mandolin Back and Maiden Back decks. If you restrict yourself in this way, then your options will be very limited, because this is pretty much the only marked deck that meets those criteria.
Teaching materials
The Ultimate Marked Deck also has a Ultimate Marked Deck Companion Book (alternatively entitled: 100% Ultimate: The Secrets + 36 Routines) that can be purchased separately for around $30. Like the deck, it was created by Magic Dream, who owns the rights both to the Ultimate Marked Deck and to the companion book. It was written in 2010 by Ivan Laplaud in combination with the creators of the deck, Damien Vappereau and Jean-Marc Gaheri. It is almost 150 pages in length, so it's a solid piece of work, and even includes some bonus routines contributed by Gaetan Bloom, Darwin Ortiz, and Michael Weber. It's an excellent resource, and is well organized, clearly laid out, has plenty of helpful diagrams, solid ideas, and good crediting.
Besides some specifics about Ultimate Marked Deck, and techniques and tips for handling the deck and glimpsing the marks, the book also provides helpful information about marked decks generally, including their history, and what to look for in a good marked deck. But the real treasure follows all this. About two thirds of the book (over 100 pages) covers tricks and routines for marked decks, and this material is useful for any marked deck, not just the Ultimate Marked Deck. And it is very good content, with a lot of outstanding ideas. Not only does it explain the methods to a number of very fine tricks, but its value especially lies in a real emphasis on presentation. In terms of books with routines and tricks for marked decks, it's one of the very best that I have.
Recommendation
The Ultimate Marked Deck is a good marked deck. And if you do insist on a Rider Back marked deck, then this is the one to get. The companion book is also outstanding, and although it is a separate purchase, it is well worth considering getting regardless of which marked deck you buy.
But you'll likely have to source the deck itself from a magic retailer. And the price is quite steep, and it has a limited availability. So don't wait too long, because once they sell out, they'll be gone forever.
Back design: 809 Mandolin Back
First released: 2011
Price: $14
The GT SpeedReader has been around for a decade now. It is available widely through magic distributor Murphy's Magic, and their current pricing makes it more competitive than ever before, which is appropriate given how the market for marked decks now gives buyers several options to choose from.
This marked deck was created with the involvement of respected magician Garrett Thomas (hence the name GT), who in turn was inspired by the marking system popularized as a result of Ted Lesley's Marked Deck.
Description
Available in either red or blue backs, the GT Speedreader uses the Mandolin Back design, which is used more widely for gaffed decks ever since it came out in 2010 as an alternative to the Rider Back design. The Mandolin artwork was actually created by Garrett, and was deliberately designed to be a close sister to the Rider Back, so to casual observers it looks just like a normal Bicycle deck with the usual seal and artwork. Artistically, it ingeniously represents a later stage in the life of the angel pictured on the Rider Back, who has now grown up, and has moved into an exploration of the outdoor world and the arts. Like the Maiden Back design, the Mandolin Backs are available in unmarked versions, so you can actually use these decks for all your card magic if you really want to. But when used appropriately, there's really no reason for your audiences to suspect anything even if you are using this marked deck, so there's no need to fear that your markings will be detected or noticed.
That's especially due to the location of the markings in this deck. Unlike the Ultimate Marked Deck from Magic Dream and the Marked Cards from Penguin, with the GT Speedreader the markings are only on the lower left hand corner (and on the opposite corner at the top right), and not on the upper left hand corner where they are on most other marked decks. The fact that the markings are only on these two corners of the deck is very much by deliberate design.
The value and suit is marked with the appropriate number/letter and the suit icon. The markings are similar in size to the ones on the Ultimate Marked Deck, but slightly smaller in size than the ones on Penguin's Marked Cards. This makes them less noticeable than with the Penguin deck, but also requires somewhat sharper eyes. Yet they are still easy enough to read, so you shouldn't have any problems using them, unlike some marked decks that feature microscopic print, and are completely impractical. Even so, be aware that some older magicians have reported that they found the markings a little too small. So if your eyesight is starting to wane as you cross the wrong side of 40 or 50, you may need to consider the Penguin deck instead. But overall the GT Speedreader is still very much a functional deck built for workers.
The GT Speedreader deck is produced on Bicycle's standard stock with their usual air cushion finish. The two additional cards included in the current version are a double backer, and an ad card that explains the markings on one side and has a chart with Poker hand rankings on the other side. Not that we should be using a deck like this for Poker anyway, so that was somewhat of an unexpected surprise. The double backer is also marked, so it can be easily identified, and so are both Jokers that come with the deck.
Impressions
So why have the markings at the bottom left? In the instructional video available for the deck, it is pointed out that the traditional location of markings at the upper left of a deck has its origin in the use of marked cards by gamblers and cheats. They often rely on techniques like second deals, for which markings at the upper left are optimal, and marked decks have evolved from this usage. But magicians rely on different techniques than gamblers, so it is important to locate the markings where they will best serve the methods of magic rather than that of gamblers. Having the markings at the upper left comes with a risk that spectators will obscure the markings when they grab a card.
An argument can also be made that the markings are less likely to be detected at the lower left. From the creator I learned than as part of their research when creating this deck, they used eye movement tracking software to see which parts of a card people scan first and look at more closely. They discovered that the top of a card is where people tend to look first, increasing the risk of discovery. Spectators and magicians also expect markings at the upper left, because that's the most obvious place to look and check. But with the GT Speedreader, there is nothing to see there, and even taking the deck to the movies in the usual way will reveal no hints of any markings if you're looking at the top left. When you spread or fan the cards in the regular way from right to left, the exposed section of the card won't offer anything obvious for your spectator to notice that might give away the markings, while from their viewpoint they remain cleverly hidden in the spread and will escape their notice.
And while having the marks at the lower left makes them harder for your spectator to notice, this location can also make them easier for you as a magician to read. When holding the deck in the standard Mechanics Grip, your thumb naturally obscures the top left of a card, while the bottom left remains visible - and that's exactly where the markings are located with the GT Speedreader. This location also enables you to more easily peek at the markings when doing sleights like holding a break. The instructional video helps you learn how to take full advantage of the location of the markings, because it teaches clever techniques for obtaining a peek (e.g. his riffle peek) in ways and moments that you wouldn't think possible. And if using a deck with a stack and letting your spectator select a card by riffling through the deck and peeking at its corner in a natural way, you can still easily read the markings at the top right.
So an argument can be made that for card magic it actually makes more sense for the markings to be on the lower left rather than the upper left. Is it a convincing case? I think it might be slightly overstated, but I haven't personally done enough research to be confident that having the markings at the lower rather than upper left significantly decreases the chances of laymen discovering them. Probably the most important factor for the magician to consider here is your own preference in reading them, and whether having the marks at the top or bottom makes it easiest for you. Both locations have advantages and disadvantages.
But there's no doubt that with the GT Speedreader, everything was about making the markings as easy as possible to read, as quickly as possible. This has also determined other design choices, such as the use of card numbers/letters and suits, so that they match what we're used to seeing on the indices of the faces. Commonly confused suits like hearts/spades and diamonds/clubs have also had their sizes tweaked to make the distinction more obvious, and for similar reasons 6s and 9s are usefully distinguished with the help of a dot in the sixes.
Teaching materials
The newest release of this marked deck also comes with access to an excerpt from an instructional video that from Kozmomagic (creators of the excellent Reel Magic Magazine). Entitled the GT Speedreader DVD, this was released when the GT Speedreader first came out, and is a full length video that runs for 1 hour and 46 minutes. It covers various ways to use the deck, as well as a few tricks, and I highly recommend it.
The first part of the video covers how to read the deck, and general tips about using marked decks. Then there's a section about forces and peeks that teaches how to use the GT Speedreader for several popular forces in a less obvious way, and numerous ways to safely get a peek either before or after a selection is made. There's a decent section about how to use a marked deck in combination with a stack, including some ideas for what you can do with this.
The tutorial video features Garrett Thomas, who also explains how you can use the marked deck to strengthen how you get into classic tricks like Twisting the Aces, or Dai Vernon's The Trick That Can't Be Explained. The section on this Vernon classic is the 4 minute excerpt that you get access to for free online if you buy the deck, and quite frankly it's not much use on its own without the rest of the DVD. But when seen in the larger context of the whole instructional video, it's quite useful. While "The Trick That Can't Be Explained" doesn't absolutely require a marked deck, you'll learn how to perform this classic trick by taking advantage of a marked deck in a way that makes it much easier to perform and more impossible for your spectator.
There's also a half hour section at the end of the video where Garrett himself does half a dozen tricks where he improvises on the fly with actual spectators, showing how you can use the marked deck to take advantage of situations to accomplish very strong effects, and where he gives numerous ideas for different tricks you can do with a marked deck.
Recommendation
When the GT Speedreader first came out ten years ago, it was priced at $20. It is now owned by Murphy's Magic, and the latest printing from 2019 is now at the much more attractive price point of around $14. That makes it significantly less than its original price, and with the backing of Murphy's Magic, it is also getting a much wider and global distribution. That's good news for us, because it means that this is a good value and practical deck that is relatively inexpensive to pick up.
I only wish that there was an easier way to get access to the contents of the entire instructional video, which for now appears to be only available as an actual DVD, and is a separate purchase that costs around $20. To stay competitive with Penguin's Marked Cards, which comes with two full-length video tutorials, I hope that the creators will make the entire video available for purchasers of the deck. From correspondence I've had with the creator of the GT Speedreader, I have learned that this is the plan, and hopefully in the near future it should be available online as streaming video. Either way, the GT Speedreader is a good choice if you like the sound of a quality marked deck, and want discreet markings that are less likely to get discovered by alert spectators.
Back design: 813 Maiden Back
First released: 2017
Price: $10
The Marked Cards deck was produced by Penguin Magic, a popular and specialty magic retailer that has created numerous other magic products. These are guys that specialize in selling to magicians, and in making things for magicians. So they know their target market incredibly well, and decided to create a very practical deck that meets the requirements for use in card magic, with an attractive price point to match. Involved with the project were well known names in card magic like Kevin Reylek, an expert in marked cards, Rick Lax, and others from Penguin.
They certainly succeeded in achieving their aim, because this is easily and rightly one of the most popular marked decks available on the market today, and as an added bonus it is also the cheapest on this list, costing only $10 each ($5 each if you buy a brick directly from Penguin).
Description
Penguin's Marked Cards have very easy to read markings in six different places: in all four corners, as well as at the very top and bottom of the cards. When using the deck you will be looking at the top three markings of these, since the bottom three will be upside down. The markings are very easy to read, with value and suit indicated by the appropriate number/letter and the corresponding pip.
The deck is produced with Bicycle's popular Magic finish, and air cushion style embossing, so the handling will be much like similar decks. After the very first print run, all subsequent printings of this deck use what Penguin calls "Elite stock", which is simply another way to refer to the crushed Classic stock used for a lot of USPCC decks these days. It has proven to be a very popular stock for playing cards, since it feels quite soft rather than snappy out of the box, and handles nicely from the get go. USPCC typically prints 56 cards in a deck, so besides the two Jokers you also get a double backer and a blank-faced card.
The tuck box looks completely innocent, although Penguin has cleverly used a different colour for the text below the giant Spade on the tuck box, as a visual indicator so that you can easily distinguish your marked deck from an unmarked Maiden Back deck. One surprising thing about the box is that it has no tuck seal (which is unusual for a Bicycle deck), which may arouse suspicion for the highly observant spectator. But the deck does come in cellophane so otherwise there is nothing out of the ordinary to notice.
The cards also come in red or blue, and you can even optionally buy them in prearranged Mnemonica order. While that won't mean much for the average person, magicians who use this popular memorized stack will be able to take advantage of it by performing apparent miracles straight up.
Impressions
Like the current Boris Wild Marked Deck, Penguin's marked deck uses the popular Maiden Back design, so it looks very much like a Rider Back deck. If the slight differences between these card backs is an issue for you, simply use an unmarked Maiden Back deck for all your other card magic, and then there will be nothing out of the ordinary to notice when you ring in your marked Maiden Back deck. But for all intents and purposes, to your spectator it will look exactly like any other standard Bicycle deck, and the small changes from the Rider Backs won't even be anything they notice.
The back design does a surprisingly good job of hiding the markings, so if you use this deck wisely you won't ever have to worry about getting caught, and the marks will completely escape the attention of your spectators. Yet once you know where to look, you can easily see them and read them. Having them in six different locations on the card means that no matter how the cards are held or spread, you can easily see some of the marks and still identify the cards.
I wouldn't want to hand these cards out to a spectator for close examination, because the markings are larger than those used by the other three marked decks covered above. But they should still go undetected when in use, courtesy of the complexity of the back design, and the familiar look that is highly reminiscent of the classic Bicycle Rider Back.
Teaching materials
A real benefit of Penguin's Marked Cards is that with your purchase you also get access to two online tutorial videos, one by Rick Lax (48 minutes), and the other by Jon Armstrong (31 minutes). These full length video downloads teach you everything you need to know about making optimal use of the markings, and give some really good advice about getting the most out of your marked deck. They also offer several discreet ways to glimpse the markings in a natural way under the cover of other moves, and include some killer tricks you can perform with the help of your marked deck.
In his video, Jon Armstrong makes a good case for why you should use a marked deck for all the card magic you perform. He also teaches you how to use your marked deck in a way that will ensure your spectators will have no reason to suspect you're using anything other than a normal deck. The Rick Lax video covers how the markings work, and teaches four good tricks you can perform with a marked deck: Dual Divination, Spot the Difference, Show Me a Trick, and Invisible Deck. The last of these combines the power your marked deck with the power of an Invisible Deck, to produce a 1 in 52 miracle where your spectator selects the same card you did. I especially enjoyed "Show Me a Trick", which is like Ted Lesley's classic "Spectator as Mindreader", but adds an "Do as I Do" element where you simultaneously find their card, making the effect even stronger.
Recommendation
Reviews of this deck from magicians are almost universally very positive, and for the price (only around ten bucks), Penguin's Marked Maiden Back deck really can't be beat for value. They're even cheaper when bought by the brick directly from the creators, so they are built to be very affordable, so that you can use them as your everyday deck, regardless of what kind of card magic you are doing.
They're also very practical and easy to use. And the fact that you get free tutorial videos along with the deck is a real bonus, because you not only get good advice about how to use a marked deck, but also get some terrific routine ideas. Considering the entire package, you can hardly go wrong with this excellent deck.
● 2008 - Gambler's Marked Deck ($33) by Boris Wild & Geno Munari (Maiden Back)
● 2013 - The Code ($30) by Andy Nyman (Maiden Back)
● 2017 - Marksman Deck ($35) by Luke Jermay (Mandolin Back)
All of these three decks are also excellent Bicycle-branded marked decks that I highly recommend. However they combine a marked deck with additional markings for a prearranged stack. As a result they are also typically in a higher price bracket, and due to the additional features and possibilities they include, they deserve separate coverage. Look for that in my next two articles, which will also introduce you to some great marked decks that are not Bicycle-branded, as well as some information and resources about how to make your own marked deck.
Besides these, there's a few other factory printed Bicycle decks that were possible candidates for this article. All are around the $10 price point, but I did not cover them in detail since they are not readily available, or have markings that are impractical and too hard to read:
● Pure Mark Playing Cards by TCC (Mandolin Back). This doesn't seem to be carried by most of the larger magic retailers, and is no longer available directly from the creator. I can't recommend it with any confidence because I don't have personal experience with it, and there is not much information about it online. I've seen some glimpses of the marking system in online videos, and it has small markings in all four corners, each of which shows the value and suit.
● Honor Marked Deck by J L Magic (Maiden Back). The markings of this deck are very well hidden on the body and hair of the maiden on opposite corners of the deck. It is a reader deck and is currently still available, but the markings are very small, so it is generally considered to be impractical to use, especially in comparison with the better options available.
● Maiden Marked Playing Cards (Maiden Back). Not to be confused with Penguin's Marked Cards, despite the similar name, this deck does use alphanumeric markings. But they are graphical markings that are not easy to decipher at a glance, which in practice almost turns it into a coded system rather than a reader system. But it does have the advantage that it includes markings for the Tamariz stack, including the identity of the previous card in the stack.
Many younger magicians would balk at the hefty price tags that were commanded by these early factory printed decks, such as the Ultimate Marked Deck, which still retails for $40. But at the time these came out, the concept of a printed Bicycle-branded marked deck with a reader system was still somewhat new, and magicians were happy to spend that kind of money on a versatile and quality marked deck like this, given how ground-breaking it was. And of course you weren't just paying for the materials, but for the secret and the innovation. The price point of a lot of magic products is determined by a large number of different factors, which can include small print runs, development costs, and more, and isn't always as simple as what consumers seem to think when they just consider the cost of materials.
Over the last 15 years the playing card industry has been revolutionized with the help of Kickstarter. Improved technology also means it is easier to produce a custom deck than ever before. Corresponding to these developments are cheaper prices, which is why the newer GT Speedreaders from 2019 and the Penguin Marked Decks from 2017 are so much more affordable than any of their predecessors. Both of those marked decks will only set you back around $10-15 at most. Clearly we're now in a new era where a quality factory printed marked deck is becoming more normal, and this is also reflected in the price.
For example, the Boris Wild Marked Deck has elements about it that other marked decks don't have, and those options might just be what you're looking for in a marked deck. Depending on your needs and wants, it might even be the top deck for you to consider, given that it's not just a marked deck, but offers a system that becomes its own utility tool. All of the above are top choices, excellent factory printed Bicycle-branded marked decks, and are worth knowing about and considering.
Clearly we are spoiled for choice today. It's only when you consider what magicians had available in the way of marked decks two decades ago that we will start realizing how good we have it.
Where to get them: The four decks covered in this article can be found here:
● Boris Wild Marked Deck by Boris Wild (Maiden Back)
● Ultimate Marked Deck by Magic Dream (Rider Back)
● GT SpeedReader by Garrett Thomas (Mandolin Back)
● Marked Cards by Penguin Magic (Maiden Back)
See a complete range of other marked decks over on PlayingCardDecks.com here.
Previous articles in this series (Marked Decks for Magicians - A Definitive Guide):
● Part 1: Why do magicians use marked decks?
● Part 2: What is the best marked deck for card magic?
Acknowledgement: It is important that I provide readers with thorough and reliable information. So I want to acknowledge the assistance of many people I corresponded with when researching and writing these articles, especially numerous individuals who were personally involved in creating these decks. They kindly provided me with answers to specific questions I had along the way, and also reviewed relevant parts of the text to ensure that the information I included was up-to-date and accurate. I especially want to acknowledge the input of Kevin Reylek, who is an expert on the subject of marked cards, and whose assistance was invaluable. Kevin was extremely helpful in ensuring the accuracy of many fine details, and very generous in pointing me in the right direction and in providing me with the information I needed.
About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known and highly respected reviewer of board games and playing cards. He loves card games, card magic, cardistry, and card collecting, and has reviewed several hundred boardgames and hundreds of different decks of playing cards. You can see a complete list of his game reviews here, and his playing card reviews here. He is considered an authority on playing cards and has written extensively about their design, history, and function, and has many contacts within the playing card and board game industries. You can view his previous articles about playing cards here. In his spare time he also volunteers with local youth to teach them the art of cardistry and card magic.
Overview: Black Hole is an adding and pairing game in the style of Golf, which is one of the most familiar solitaire games in the world, popularized especially by its variant Tri-Peaks, which was included in most personal computers with Windows. Black Hole was created by David Parlett, who acknowledges it was derived from Golf. The Ace of Spades starts in the center as the Black Hole, around which are placed 17 fans of 3 cards each. Ignoring suit, and only using the top card in each fan, the goal is to play all the cards into the Black Hole, with the next card always being one higher or lower in value than the previous one.
Thoughts: This is a brilliant game, and the majority of deals are solvable. Ideally you shouldn't change directions up and down within one game, or you'll quickly get stuck. Instead it's best to just build from Ace through King and then wrapping around back to Ace and repeating this process. Because all the cards are face up, with careful planning you can succeed more often than not. A related variant is Four Leaf Clovers, which makes the game harder by having a set-up of 13 fans of 4 cards each, but compensates for this by allowing you to build up or down one card at a time (ignoring suit) on the fans.
Thoughts: The beauty of this game is that you have open information from the beginning because you can see all the cards. By carefully planning ahead you should be able to win most games. Eliminator appears to be a simplified version of Striptease from card game guru David Parlett, which has only four foundations, and adds an extra twist by having four face-down cards that cover face-up queens at the top of each column. With only four foundations in Striptease, you're almost always at the mercy of the draw, making the chances of success extremely rare, which is why Eliminator is more satisfying. Ants is a related variant with four foundations, but instead of open information it deals out four cards at a time.
Thoughts: This isn't an easy game to win, and the odds of success have been estimated as about 1 in 8. To have the best chance of winning, you shouldn't just select whatever pairs are available to discard, but try to keep track of how many of the six pairs in each suit remain. Then when you're down to the final one or two pairs, try to discard cards where a card from the stock will end up in a space that will enable you to pair with it.
Thoughts: Strictly speaking this is a variant of Nestor and its slightly more strategic sibling Vertical. But while those are open information games with all the cards face-up, the hidden information of Doublets is part of its charm. It's usually wise to try to work your way through all the tableau piles as evenly as possible, to prevent cards you need being trapped. By keeping track of the size of each pile, and the values that have and have not yet been paired, you can play the odds to increase your chances of winning, which is very achievable in most games.
Thoughts: It's not hard to see why Pyramid is one of the most well-known solitaire games of all time, because it is easy to learn and play. For a long time Microsoft even included it in their solitaire suites on all Windows operating systems, alongside Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, and TriPeaks (a Golf variant). In Pyramid, however, you can frequently be thwarted by a poor deal. That's why Michael Keller came up with Giza, as a variant of the original that gives more opportunity for strategic play, since you have completely open information from the outset, and can plan more carefully.
Thoughts: In this game you have completely open information from the outset, so there is lots of scope for planning ahead carefully. A key element to keep in mind is to avoid any key cards becoming blocked. If you make good decisions about which cards to remove, you have a good chance of winning successfully. With Exit, David Parlett has created a wonderful game that is easy to learn and play, and yet requires a good amount of skill to complete..
Thoughts: Some adding games come down largely to luck of the draw. But with Fourteen Out you have completely open information from the outset, and with 12 fans to work with, you can do a lot of planning as you play. You can see exactly which pairs still need to be combined in order to succeed, so it is especially important to free up critical pairs, and to prevent vital cards from being blocked. This is a game that involves more skill than luck, and you should be able to win over half of your games with good decision making.
Thoughts: This game is best enjoyed with the help of some software, so that you don't have to keep track of the running total yourself. One way to win is to have one card from Ace through King face-up, but this won't necessarily be the easiest way to achieve a total of 91, depending on the draw. It's surprisingly fun to play and easier than it first appears, especially if you're playing a digital version that takes care of the bookkeeping, and keeps updating the cumulative total for you.
Thoughts: The feel of Royal Marriage is quite similar to Accordion, but the method of removing cards is slightly different, and you have much better chances of winning the game successfully. Instead of moving a card onto a card of matching value or suit, it's the cards in between them that are removed, so the matching cards remain in the line-up. I've found that a good strategy is to try to focus on using the Hearts to eliminate all the other cards, and where necessary using other cards that match to bring cards that are Hearts closer together. Whenever two Heart cards are only one or two apart, you can eliminate the cards in between, and once you have a line-up that consists only of Hearts, the game is basically won.
Thoughts: With Gaps and Montana the goal is considerably harder to achieve, because you only have four spaces instead of six, and the rules for movement are much more strict. With Maze you have lots of options for which cards to move and where, and with good decision-making you can win the game more often than not. The game is easy to learn and play, and yet it remains a game of skill where your decisions matter, without being so challenging that it is the kind of brain-burner like some of the other games in the Gaps family.
Hopefully this article will encourage you to check out some of the wonderful non-builder solitaire games that are just waiting for you to enjoy. Most people are already very familiar with builder games. While these have their appeal, it's with non-builder solitaire games that we get to step further off the path well-travelled, and explore other ways that playing cards can be used in new and interesting ways. The games covered here are among my favourites, but if you enjoy solitaire card games, then you should acquaint yourself with the classics of the genre that these are closely related to, and also check out the many other great non-builder solitaire games that exist.
Final note: You can certainly play these with an actual deck of playing cards, which is particularly satisfying with an attractive custom deck. But when it comes to learning the rules of a new solitaire game, the best way to play is with the help of a reliable software program, like the ones offered by BVS Solitaire. Their program for Windows is one of the best I've tried, and they also have excellent versions for Mac and for mobile devices.
About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known and respected reviewer of board games and playing cards. He loves card games, card magic, cardistry, and card collecting, and has reviewed several hundred boardgames and hundreds of different decks of playing cards. You can see a complete list of his game reviews here, and his playing card reviews here. He is considered an authority on playing cards and has written extensively about their design, history, and function, and has many contacts within the playing card and board game industries. You can view his previous articles about playing cards here. In his spare time he also volunteers with local youth to teach them the art of cardistry and card magic.
Thoughts: Like Baker's Dozen and its close relatives (Bisley being the most well known), this game is quite easy to win. The fact that you don't have perfect information is exactly the feature that makes it fun, because there are surprises in store which you're trying to uncover. If you could see all the cards at the outset, the game actually becomes less interesting and too easy. The rule about not allowing sequences to be moved to empty piles without a single card being placed there first is also a good one, because this also prevents the game being overly simple. Even so, it's quite straight forward to win the vast majority of games, and there is enough scope for decision making to make it rewarding, while still having a casual and relaxed feel. You may also want to try a variation called Stewart, which makes the game harder.
Thoughts: An interesting feature of Eagle Wing is that spaces in the tableau are automatically filled by the reserve, and only later in the game can other cards from the tableau or stock be placed here. This makes the first part of the game primarily about observation, but later in the game your choices will be important. Chances of success are greater than even, and Eagle Wing can be enjoyed as a casual building game with some decisions, while still giving the ability to win quite easily. It is especially satisfying to watch stacks of cards disappear quickly from the tableau to the foundations in the final stages. In some variations building in the tableau is disallowed, but this makes wins extremely rare and isn't recommended. Closely related variations include Wings and Bald Eagle.
Thoughts: Ali Baba plays very quickly and is much lighter and easier than Forty Thieves, in part because it only uses a single deck, but also because sequences can be moved in the tableau. Your initial layout can frustrate you at times, but in many cases you can win fairly easily, especially since most apps allow unlimited redeals of the stock. The variant Big Forty is identical but doesn't begin with the Aces on the foundations, and as a result it locks up much more frequently due to the draw. Both games rely more on close observation and a good draw than skill, but still prove satisfying to complete successfully.
Thoughts: Like FreeCell, this is a game of complete skill, and using the reserve cells wisely is key to success. Opening up a column can help, but empty columns can only be filled with a card one rank lower than the "beak". This factor, as well as that you can only build down by suit rather than alternate colours, makes it more challenging than FreeCell, although Penguin does have more reserve cells (the "flipper") to compensate. Freeing the "beak" to get all suits into play is extremely important. It's a very rewarding game that anyone who likes FreeCell and similar solitaire games of skill is certain to enjoy.
Thoughts: There is no redeal, but this is amply compensated for by the use of the reserve. Effectively the game feels much like Klondike, but with all the cards of the tableau face-up to start with, and having a seven card reserve instead of dealing one card at a time. So there is a lot of open information, plus you have more cards than normal to work with. This gives more room for planning, and you should be able to win about half of your games with clever play. Agnes Sorel is considerably harder to win than Agnes Bernaeuer, because instead of a reserve, seven cards are dealt directly to the tableau each time you draw from the deck in the style of Spider. Some variations give more flexibility for building on the tableau or foundations, but wins are still less frequent with Agnes Sorel than they are in Agnes Bernauer.
Thoughts: What makes this game the most different from other games in the Fan family like La Belle Lucie, is the fact that you can build up or down regardless of suit within the tableau, and the limit of three cards per fan with no redeals. For best chances of winning, you should build up foundations as evenly as possible, and not play the last card of a fan unless necessary, since empty columns aren't refilled, thus reducing the amount of possible manipulation within the tableau. The game feels very tight, but is very satisfying to win, and with good play you should be able to win over a third of your games. For a game closer to most Fan games, I especially enjoy Super Flower Garden, which is less constrained because it allows unsuited building in the tableau.
Thoughts: Many of these mechanics work the same as in Miss Milligan, but Tabby Cat is a more manageable game because it uses just a single deck. The concept of a reserve pile (the "tail") is especially genius, because it gives real room for skilful play. Using it wisely should enable you to win the majority of games. It's essential not to leave cards blocking the tail, since almost always the optimal way to play is to keep it free for use. The variant Manx makes the game harder by only allowing single cards rather than sequences to be placed in the tail.
Thoughts: Game-play is virtually identical to Scorpion, but you need to focus on uncovering the nine face-down cards as soon as possible. You can often make significant progress, but typically some of the cards you need will be trapped face-down, and the result is that you can only expect to win about 1 in 5 games, which is even less than Scorpion. This can be a little frustrating, but on the other hand it is enormously satisfying to complete the game successfully. For much better winning chances, Wasp is a Scorpion variant that allows empty columns to be filled with any card or sequence, and as a result you can win most games with good play.
Thoughts: Effectively all the decisions in Strategy happen when you are playing the cards onto the tableau. This means you must ensure that low cards aren't blocked by higher valued ones from the same suit, otherwise you can't win. With clever play, nearly all games can be won, so it's a game of genuine skill, much more so than its ancestor Sir Tommy, which increases the luck of the draw element significantly by only having four columns in the tableau. Some apps require you to deal the cards onto piles instead of columns; this adds an unnecessary memory element, and Strategy works best when you can see all the played cards.
Thoughts: I'm not usually fond of Spider games, especially because they typically involve more than one deck, and dealing cards on all the columns tends to bring unpleasant surprises and can quickly cause the game to lock up. Curds and Whey is refreshingly different because all the cards are face-up from the outset, so you're working with perfect information. With four different suits in play, the game would quickly prove impossible if it weren't for the fact that you can pack cards of the same value together. A good amount of games are achievable, and it allows for real skill, making it extremely satisfying to get a win.
Thoughts: Australian Patience has become a very popular game since it was first implemented on Thomas Warfield's Pretty Good Solitaire, and it is now found on most solitaire websites and apps. Effectively it takes the basic mechanisms of Yukon variants that build down by suit, and blends this with the Klondike mechanism of having a stock pile to deal through. It is fun to play, but you do quickly run stuck and are dependent on the right cards being drawn. The game often becomes impossible when low valued cards are buried in the waste pile, so count yourself lucky to win about 1 in 5 games. There are some small rule variations that improve your winning chances, like Canberra (one redeal), Tasmanian Solitaire (unlimited redeals), Raw Prawn (empty columns can be filled by any card), and Brisbane (a Yukon type tableau); you will prefer these variations if you want to win more often.
Thoughts: This is a splendid single deck solitaire game that is easy to learn, and is solvable more often than not. Yet it requires skilful play to win regularly, because success depends more on your decisions than it does on luck of the draw. Thirty Six is effectively a variant of Six by Six, which operates similarly but deals cards to the first column rather than a waste pile, making the game much more difficult. The variation Lanes is also more frustrating to complete. In contrast, Thirty Six gets everything right. For a game which offers a similar challenge, but with eight columns and no stock, take a look at Canister, which appears earlier on this list.
The above games all go to show how diverse the range of solitaire builder games is. Within each family of builder games there is typically a rich number of variations worth exploring. Just because you don't enjoy the main game, doesn't mean that there is no variation within its family that you will like. Often these variants change things up, by making the game harder or easier, or by introducing other twists to the game-play. These small changes can often make all the difference between a game you like and a game you don't like.
The above games are all relatives of the twelve most popular builder solitaire games, but the good news is that there's also many excellent non-builder solitaire games. In my next article I'll take some of the most well known of these (e.g. Golf, Pyramid, and others), and suggest less familiar games that are related to each and that you are likely to enjoy if you appreciate the originals.
Final note: You can certainly play these with an actual deck of playing cards, which is particularly satisfying with an attractive custom deck. But when it comes to learning the rules of a new solitaire game, the best way to play is with the help of a reliable software program, like the ones offered by BVS Solitaire. Their program for Windows is one of the best I've tried, and they also have excellent versions for Mac and for mobile devices.
About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known and respected reviewer of board games and playing cards. He loves card games, card magic, cardistry, and card collecting, and has reviewed several hundred boardgames and hundreds of different decks of playing cards. You can see a complete list of his game reviews here, and his playing card reviews here. He is considered an authority on playing cards and has written extensively about their design, history, and function, and has many contacts within the playing card and board game industries. You can view his previous articles about playing cards here. In his spare time he also volunteers with local youth to teach them the art of cardistry and card magic.
The marked version of his original Butterfly Deck from Ondrej Psenicka became a real hit after he successfully used it to fool Penn and Teller, but since then it has spawned some wonderful unmarked versions that make use of its gorgeous back design, including the seasonal decks that are part of the Border Series.
About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known and respected reviewer of board games and playing cards. He loves card games, card magic, cardistry, and card collecting, and has reviewed several hundred boardgames and hundreds of different decks of playing cards. You can see a complete list of his game reviews here, and his playing card reviews here. He is considered an authority on playing cards and has written extensively about their design, history, and function, and has many contacts within the playing card and board game industries. You can view his previous articles about playing cards here. In his spare time he also volunteers with local youth to teach them the art of cardistry and card magic.
The Jolly Almanac of Card Knavery
Andrew subsequently went on to start a Nu Way Magic Blogge where he continued his exploration of Royal Road to Card Magic, with the creation of an entirely new book entitled The Jolly Almanac of Card Knavery, or JACK for short. JACK represents another revisiting of Royal Road, but this time Musgrave completely rearranged the content, and supplemented it with material from the book Expert Card Technique (by the same authors), and with other material sourced from the public domain. The result is a 242 page PDF or e-book, which Andrew has made available for free here. You read that right: he's giving this away entirely for free.
About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known and highly respected reviewer of board games and playing cards. He loves card games, card magic, cardistry, and card collecting, and has reviewed several hundred boardgames and hundreds of different decks of playing cards. You can see a complete list of his game reviews here, and his playing card reviews here. He is considered an authority on playing cards and has written extensively about their design, history, and function, and has many contacts within the playing card and board game industries. You can view his previous articles about playing cards here. In his spare time he also volunteers with local youth to teach them the art of cardistry and card magic.
About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known and highly respected reviewer of board games and playing cards. He loves card games, card magic, cardistry, and card collecting, and has reviewed several hundred boardgames and hundreds of different decks of playing cards. You can see a complete list of his game reviews here, and his playing card reviews here. He is considered an authority on playing cards and has written extensively about their design, history, and function, and has many contacts within the playing card and board game industries. You can view his previous articles about playing cards here. In his spare time he also volunteers with local youth to teach them the art of cardistry and card magic.
About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known and respected reviewer of board games and playing cards. He loves card games, card magic, cardistry, and card collecting, and has reviewed several hundred boardgames and hundreds of different decks of playing cards. You can see a complete list of his game reviews here, and his playing card reviews here. He is considered an authority on playing cards and has written extensively about their design, history, and function, and has many contacts within the playing card and board game industries. You can view his previous articles about playing cards here. In his spare time he also volunteers with local youth to teach them the art of cardistry and card magic.
In the world of sports there are big name teams and big name athletes. Practically everyone has heard of superstars like Roger Federer, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods, or championship winning teams which have created a lasting legacy like football's New England Patriots and baseball's New York Yankees. But there are often hard-working athletes achieving great success under the shadow of these giants.
Much the same is true in the world of playing cards. Most readers will be familiar with big name printers like the United States Playing Card Company, and their European counterpart and owner, Cartamundi. But there are many smaller and lesser known manufacturers who are achieving high levels of success in the shadow of these industry giants, and whose names any creator or collector should also know about.
Examples of such smaller but successful players in the industry include Experts Playing Cards, Legends Playing Cards, and other playing card manufacturers based in Taiwan and China. Especially for creators and designers looking to produce their own deck of playing cards, many printing card companies like these are alternative manufacturers you should be aware of, given that they also can produce high quality products.
In this article I'd like to take a look at another of these lesser known companies, Shenzhen Wangjing Printing Company (WJPC), which has been making an increasing contribution to the playing card industry in recent years.
About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known and highly respected reviewer of board games and playing cards. He loves card games, card magic, cardistry, and card collecting, and has reviewed several hundred boardgames and hundreds of different decks of playing cards. You can see a complete list of his game reviews here, and his playing card reviews here. He is considered an authority on playing cards and has written extensively about their design, history, and function, and has many contacts within the playing card and board game industries. You can view his previous articles about playing cards here. In his spare time he also volunteers with local youth to teach them the art of cardistry and card magic.
Where to learn more? Official website for the 52 Plus Joker American Playing Card Collectors Club
Want to be part of the next event? 2022 April Virtual Weekend (April 23-24)
Previous articles in this series:
● Part 1: Let's Visit an International Playing Card Convention: Featured Speakers
● Part 2: Let's Visit an International Playing Card Convention: Featured Speakers (Part 2)
● Part 3: A Personal Tour with Some Playing Card Creators and Collectors
● Part 4: The Collectors and Cards at a Playing Card Convention
● Part 5: Deck Releases and Deck Awards at 52 Plus Joker's Convention
About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known and highly respected reviewer of board games and playing cards. He loves card games, card magic, cardistry, and card collecting, and has reviewed several hundred boardgames and hundreds of different decks of playing cards. You can see a complete list of his game reviews here, and his playing card reviews here. He is considered an authority on playing cards and has written extensively about their design, history, and function, and has many contacts within the playing card and board game industries. You can view his previous articles about playing cards here. In his spare time he also volunteers with local youth to teach them the art of cardistry and card magic.
Where to learn more? Official website for the 52 Plus Joker American Playing Card Collectors Club
Want to be part of the next event? 2022 April Virtual Weekend (April 23-24)
Previous articles in this series:
● Part 1: Let's Visit an International Playing Card Convention: Featured Speakers
● Part 2: Let's Visit an International Playing Card Convention: Featured Speakers (Part 2)
● Part 3: A Personal Tour with Some Playing Card Creators and Collectors
● Part 4: The Collectors and Cards at a Playing Card Convention
About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known and highly respected reviewer of board games and playing cards. He loves card games, card magic, cardistry, and card collecting, and has reviewed several hundred boardgames and hundreds of different decks of playing cards. You can see a complete list of his game reviews here, and his playing card reviews here. He is considered an authority on playing cards and has written extensively about their design, history, and function, and has many contacts within the playing card and board game industries. You can view his previous articles about playing cards here. In his spare time he also volunteers with local youth to teach them the art of cardistry and card magic.