Plastic Playing Cards

KEM Aces Which plastic playing cards are worth the extra money? Like everything else in poker, it depends.

One way to choose is to examine and feel each brand for yourself. But since plastic cards are relatively expensive, it’s not practical to buy every brand just to compare.

Try finding a good games hobby store in your area. While they won’t carry every brand, they may have a good selection.

If you must buy before you compare, I suggest COPAG cards. They are the best value for your money. And at around $15 for a two-pack, they only cost 3-4 times more than standard paper cards.

Here are the most popular plastic playing cards available:

Best plastic playing cards in order of price

KEM playing cards are the industry standard. The only cards made of cellulose acetate, they have a unique feel.
If you have ever played in a casino or public cardroom, there’s a good chance you were playing with KEM cards. They are the most expensive option at almost $30/two-pack; but if you want to use the best, then KEM is your only choice.
At a few dollars less per two-pack, Gemaco cards are similar in quality to KEM.
Like all plastic playing cards not made by KEM, Gemaco cards are made of PVC plastic, a material which gives Gemaco cards a durable and solid feel.

Gemaco cards will serve you well for several years. However, if you’re willing to spend the $25-$30 for a two-pack, you might as well buy KEM cards.
COPAG cards offer the best balance of quality and price. A Brazilian company, COPAG has recently made a push into the North American market.
A great quality card at $15/two-pack, COPAG offers a real alternative to KEM. Additionally, for a mere $1, COPAG will replace any card that breaks or is lost. KEM’s replacement card policy is no longer being offered, which makes COPAG an even more appealing choice.

If you want to use the best possible deck, but can’t or won’t swing for the $30 KEM, then COPAG are the cards for you.
Modiano and Dal Negro are both Italian card manufacturers with very similar offerings.
Their cards are a bit stiffer and have more texture (less slick, more paper-like feel) than other plastic cards. Priced closely to COPAG cards, both of these brands are a good choice for players who don’t like the too-slick plastic texture.
Royal and A-Plus cards are on the opposite spectrum from KEM. They are too brittle for use in your weekly home game. They will probably not last for more than a few months, and since the manufacturers do not have replacement policies, they’re not worth your money.
However, since Royal cards are roughly the same price as Bicycle or Bee paper cards, they are a good choice if you want to buy plastic cards in bulk. For a company or large home poker tournament, Royal cards are an economical choice for plastic cards.

A-Plus cards retail for around $5/pack, which is too expensive for one-time use. For your weekly game, go with COPAG, Modiano or Dal Negro for just a few more dollars.

Bridge sized cards for poker?

One last consideration when choosing playing cards is the size (width) of the deck.

Playing cards come in two standard sizes: poker (2.50″ x 3.5″) and bridge (2.25″ x 3.5″). Ironically, casinos use “poker” size cards for table games like blackjack and “bridge” size cards for poker.

Bridge size cards, because they are skinnier, are easier to shuffle and hold. When first encountered, the skinny cards feel a bit odd, but after a short while, many players prefer the skinny bridge size cards. Your choice depends on what your group prefers.