Choosing playing cards: size, number of cards, and how to make them last longer
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
6 min reading time
Which deck of cards suits your table? About size, 54 cards versus 52, chips, shuffling, and the four habits that will make a set last for years.
A deck of cards costs a few euros and then sits in a drawer for years – or breaks after three evenings. That difference is not in the brand on the box, but in three things: the size, the finish of the card, and how you store them. Knowing this, you buy well once and enjoy them all winter, precisely in the months when indoor games are played again.
Below, we will go through the choices you make when buying a deck of playing cards or a card game: what you use them for, what size fits, what else you need on the table, and how to prevent your set from becoming sticky or warped after a few evenings.
Start with the question: where will it be played?
The environment matters more than you think. At a large table with four to six players, you want cards that are easy to hold and readable from a distance. On a train, at a campsite, or on a folding table, you want something small that won't blow away.
For the latter situation, Mini Poker Playing Cards with 54 cards (€1.95) are intended. They fit in a jacket pocket or bag and are cheap enough to have two: one in the car, one in the holiday bag. The disadvantage of mini-cards is that they are harder to shuffle and the symbols remain small – for a social gathering with older players, a normal size is more pleasant.
Number of cards: why 54 and not 52
A standard deck has 52 cards in four suits. The two extra cards in a 54-card deck are the jokers. You need them for games like Old Maid and Rummy variants, and they also serve as your spare: if a card gets damaged, you can continue many games with a joker. So, when checking a second-hand or opened deck, always make sure the number is correct before starting a long evening.
Classic deck or a game with its own rules?
With one classic deck of cards, you can play dozens of games, from bridge to crazy eights. That's the cheapest way to bring a lot of fun into your home. The disadvantage: everyone needs to know the rules, and that can sometimes go wrong in a mixed group.
A card game with its own rules solves this – the rules are in the box, and after two minutes of explanation, everyone can play along. UNO Flex, for 2 to 8 players (€6.99) is an example of this: it plays with larger groups than most card games can handle, which is useful if the company is not fixed in advance.
If you want one box that covers multiple games, look for a combination set like the 99-in-1 Game Set with dice, checkerboard, and score pad (€14.95). That saves loose boxes in the cupboard, and the score pad is precisely the item you always seem to lose.
What else needs to be on the table
For poker or any game where you bet points, using chips is more practical than using coins or matches: they stack, they slide, and everyone can see the score at a glance. There are sets of Poker Chips 50 pieces in 6 colors (€9.95) and Poker Chips 25 pieces in 6 models (€9.95). For an evening with four to six players, count on plenty of chips per person; too few chips means arranging change halfway through.
If you play a lot, a card shuffler is worth considering. The Automatic Card Shuffler for 1 to 2 decks (€12.95) is battery-operated and shuffles one or two decks at once. The real advantage is not speed but wear and tear: the less you bend and riffle by hand, the longer your cards stay straight. Handy if you're playing with children who can't shuffle yet, or if you often deal new rounds in quick succession.
Two practical points. First: cards with a motif sometimes have different images on the back. This is fun to look at, but in games where no one should see what card you have, it can disrupt the game – so check if the back is uniform. Second: these cards are meant for adult company. If you're playing with a mixed group, keep a neutral deck on hand so you don't have to explain anything halfway through.
How to make them last longer
Most cards don't perish from playing but from what happens around it. Four habits make a difference:
Dry hands. Grease and moisture from chips, beer, or fries seep into the card and make the stack sticky. Put down a bowl and wipe your hands in between.
Not in the cold or sun. Cards left in the car or on a windowsill warp. In a drawer or box at room temperature, they stay straight.
Back in the box. Loose cards with an elastic band around them will eventually develop a permanent curve. The original box or a small tin works better.
Count afterwards. One missing card makes an entire deck unusable. Counting when tidying up saves disappointment on the next evening.
Once your set is sticky or incomplete, replacing is cheaper than repairing. Therefore, for a regular game night, feel free to keep a spare deck in the cupboard – for the price of a pack of mini-cards, you'll never be empty-handed.
In short
Choose the size based on where it will be played: small and compact for on the go, normal size for the home table. Choose a classic deck if everyone knows the rules, and a game with its own rules if the company changes. For betting games, count on enough chips, and consider a shuffler if cards are dealt frequently and often. Store everything dry, flat, and in its box.
All card games can be found at Card Game, the wider range of board games at Games, and chips and accessories at Gambling Games and Dice. Are you looking for multiple sets at once for a club, association, or staff evening? Email info@verpakkingdeals.nl, and we'll check what's in stock.
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