Poker

Poker cards for playing: classic poker size decks

This category brings together the poker decks made for playing: poker cards with classic court cards and indices, easy to read at the table and easy to replace with an identical deck when they wear out. Here you will find the Bicycle Standard and the Rider Back, Bicycle decks with colored backs, Tally-Ho, Bee jumbo index, Aviator and decks for bridge and canasta. If you want to buy poker cards for a home game or for your club, everything shown as available is in our Madrid warehouse.

If you are looking for a professional poker deck, the things to check are the card stock or plastic, the finish and the size of the indices. Further down we explain what each of these means, how many decks you need for each game and which models fit each case.

Which poker deck to buy for the way you play

What a poker deck is and what to check when buying one

Poker size or bridge size

A poker deck measures 2.5 × 3.5 inches (about 63 × 88 mm). A bridge deck is just as tall but narrower, 2.25 inches (about 57 mm), and is more comfortable when you hold a lot of cards. Poker, blackjack and almost every game played with a standard 52-card deck use poker size. The cards and suits are the same in both.

Cards, suits and values

A poker deck has 52 cards in four suits: spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. Each suit runs from Ace to King, plus the jokers. In Texas Hold'em the cards rank from 2 to Ace, the Ace can also count as the lowest card in the A-2-3-4-5 straight, and suits have no order: which card suit is highest in poker? None, no suit beats another. You will find it with examples in poker card values and in the poker hand rankings.

Standard or jumbo index

The index is the rank and suit in the corners. Standard is the usual one; jumbo is much larger and can be read from a distance, at the cost of leaving less room for the central design. For big tables or older players, jumbo is usually worth it.

Finish and card stock

The finish is what lets the cards glide and stops them sticking when you deal. Bicycle uses Air Cushion, Tally-Ho Linoid and Bee Cambric. On the product pages you will also see crushed or thin crushed: pressed stock, thinner and more flexible, which you notice when you riffle shuffle.

Paper or plastic

Paper decks are the most common choice for home games. Plastic poker cards, such as those from Copag or KEM, stand up better to drinks and bending and can be wiped with a damp cloth, in exchange for a different feel. When we have plastic decks in stock, they appear in this listing.

How many decks you need for a game

For poker one deck per table is enough, without jokers. Even so, many tables use two decks with different backs (for example, one red and one blue) and alternate them: while one hand is played, the other deck is shuffled. In bridge it is also customary to alternate two decks. Canasta is played with two full decks plus four jokers, 108 cards in total.

Poker card brands

Bicycle

Printed in the United States since 1885 and owned by the United States Playing Card Company. It is easy to replace: if one deck gets damaged, you can find an identical one.

Tally-Ho

Created by Andrew Dougherty in 1885 and part of USPCC since 1907. Its classic backs are the Circle Back and the Fan Back, with a Linoid finish.

Bee

A brand from 1892, also from USPCC. Its borderless diamond back is associated with American casinos, which order it with their own logo: it is the typical casino deck.

Aviator

USPCC's budget line in poker size, with thinner stock. Handy when you need several decks.

Fournier

A playing card maker based in Vitoria, Spain, since 1868. Besides the Spanish deck, it makes poker decks.

Copag and KEM

Two brands specializing in 100% plastic decks, designed to last through long games.

Looking for a designer deck?

This category is for decks made for playing. Designer decks, reissued casino style decks (Cherry Casino, Jerry's Nugget, Fultons) and artist decks are in premium playing cards; decks from films, series and other licenses are in licensed playing cards; and short print runs are in limited editions. For magic and flourishes you have magic playing cards and cardistry decks. If it is a gift, take a look at which deck to give as a gift.

Setting up the game

If you are hosting a game with friends, the home poker night guide explains what you need, how to set the blinds and how to split the prizes. For beginners, how to play Texas Hold'em; to go further, the card games you can play with a poker deck. And if you are interested in the deck itself, the complete guide to the poker deck.

Frequently asked questions about poker cards

Which poker deck should I buy for home games?

A Bicycle or a Tally-Ho. They are paper decks with a good finish, easy to read and easy to replace with an identical one. If there are older players at the table or the light is low, a Bee jumbo index.

What is a professional poker deck?

Above all, a deck with good card stock and a good finish, with clear indices, and sometimes made of plastic so it lasts longer. A Bicycle, a Tally-Ho or a Bee is fine for playing at home or at a club.

How many cards are in a poker deck?

52, plus the jokers. The box usually holds an extra card or two, because many brands add advertising or special cards. For Texas Hold'em the jokers are removed.

What is the difference between a poker deck and a bridge deck?

Only the width: 2.5 inches for poker and 2.25 for bridge. The cards and suits are the same.

Are Bicycle cards plastic?

No. The Bicycle decks in this category are paper with an Air Cushion finish, a coating that improves glide, but they are not plastic.

What is a jumbo index deck?

A deck in which the rank and suit in the corners are much larger than usual. They can be read from further away, which is useful in poker, where the community cards are in the middle of the table.

How many decks do I need to play?

For poker, one per table; two with different backs if you want to alternate them. For canasta, two decks plus four jokers.