Need Help Chosing a Deck?

[awc1300]

Cards, this is one of the most important things any magician/XCMer/cardist uses. There are many cards to chose from so I’m going to do my best to help you chose a deck of cards that suits what u need.

I will be using 4 categories of cards:

1. Magic: These cards are good for magic, you are able to ribbon spread these well, and are slippery enough to perform most if not all sleights.

2. Caridstry: These cards don’t necessarily fan well but stick together well for cuts.

3. XCM: These cards are good fore fanning, fariong cutting ribbon spreads.

4. All around good: These cards are good for any of the 3 above.

Decks:

Bicycle Rider Backs: All around good. http://www.kardwell.com/bicycle.htm
These cards are good for everything, most people have seen them before so they are great for magic, they have air cushion finish so they fan/spread well, and they aren’t that expensive.

Tally-Ho Fan/Circle Back: All around good. http://www.kardwell.com/tally-ho.htm
These cards are pretty much bikes but last longer, have a nicer finish and look much nicer, great for magic or manipulation.

Bees: All around good. http://www.kardwell.com/bee.htm http://www.kardwell.com/bee-casino.htm bordered
Bees are favourites of card cheats because of no boarders they are great for second deals, they also feel very nice and last a long time, they can be used for magic, cardistry, and xcm. The only bad thing about these cards is that they are a bit more expensive. They also fan and spread very well.
(There are also WPT bee cards I made a review on these I love them)

One last note on these, there’re some times sold used, in that case only good for cardistry because they clump up.

Hoyle Shell Back: All around good. http://www.kardwell.com/shellback.htm
These are good cards very much like bikes, I think they are too much like bikes laymen might think they are gimmicked so if u could chose, get bikes.

Aviator: cardistry and magic. http://www.kardwell.com/aviator.htm
These cards don’t have much of a finish and are pretty ugly but are still alright for magic and cardistry they also tend to cost less.

Aladdin’s: Cardistry and magic.
These cards look nice last LONG and are good for pretty much anything but fanning.
Studs: All around good.
These cards are nice, the fan is a bit weird looking and the stock is very thin if u can get around that these cards are great.

1st edition Guardians: Cardistry. http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/6...ardiansam8.jpg
These cards don’t fan well at all they do clump up very well so great for cardistry.

2nd edition Guardians:: All around good. http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/6...ardiansam8.jpg
These cards do everything that the 1st edition didn’t do great looking cards almost the same as bikes just a tad better.

Squeezers: All around good. http://www.kardwell.com/images/squeezer.jpg
These cards are pretty much like having a powdered deck, so if your allergic to powder get these, they are one of my favourite decks.

Steamboats: Cardistry/ magic. http://www.kardwell.com/steamboa.htm
These cards do fan but don’t have much of a finish and no boarder so they are great for gambling, and they hold together very well for cardistry.

[B]Texan Palomettos[/B]: Cardistry/magic.
These cards are amazing, they make the nicest fans in the world, they are not sold in the States so you will have to get them on the net they r quite expensive, but well worth it, they last a very very long time.

Vegas: Cadistry. http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgur...icial%26sa%3DG
I don’t like them don’t fan that great thick stock and do hold together well the only good thing is u can buy a lot for a small price.

*********** decks: All around good. ***********.com
I have them all, last long, look great and feel amazing, they have a great finish, only bad things are that some of them are quite expensive, but I would recommend these.

Magic Makers inc: Cardistry.
These cards flat out suck, they fan well for about 2 seconds and most of them look pretty ugly, they do clump and get dirty well, DO NOT BUY THESE.

100% plastic cards: Not good for anything. to many different types.
The only good thing about these are they last forever and are impossible to bend.

These are some deck I do not own but have heard a lot about:.

Jerry Nuggets: Cardistry. http://i14.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/a7/0f/e850_1.JPG
They clump well are thin stock and cost a fortune, they do not fan well, if u have 200-300$ sitting around get yourself a deck if not don’t bother.

Golden Nuggets: Cardistry. http://i11.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/bd/fc/2e7c_12.JPG
These are jerrys with a different design and they tend to cost less they also don’t fan well and clump up. ( they come in a lot of different colors).

Absolute Vodka: Cardistry. can't find a good picture.
They look real nice but don’t fan well and clump up they also don’t have a mirrored back design I would love a deck just because they look so sweet.

Wynn: All around good. http://www.kardwell.com/bee-wynn-icon-playing-cards.htm just blue and red
Browns wynns: They clump and good for cuts.
Blue wynns: Are good for cuts and fan a bit better.
Red wynns: Fan the best. Are still Good for cuts..
All the Wynn cards are bordered so they are good for magic.

Thanks for reading all this I hope you guys learnt something and if u have any comments or anything I should add just reply.

[Shinigami]

Wow, you actually went through ALL THOSE cards!?

[awc1300]

Originally Posted by Shinigami

Wow, you actually went through ALL THOSE cards!?

ya i've been doing magic/flourishes about year now so i've quite a few cards, i think i might make a post on were to buy cards, i'm on wii so my spelling might not be 2 good.

[drkrelemnts]

Note about Bees is that they don't have a border which makes them not as good for magic, especially in a double-lift when they sides can easily peek through.

[awc1300]

Originally Posted by drkrelemnts

Note about Bees is that they don't have a border which makes them not as good for magic, especially in a double-lift when they sides can easily peek through.

thanks i did write that they didn't have borders but they do sell bordered ones (WPT) i have a review for those.

[donkeykong]

Great info! Cheers! Would love to hear about where you get your cards, and a review of the shop's service etc.

BTW, A pic/thumbnail of the cards back design after each of the comments would be nice, although i can google them, but having the pics here would make it more complete and nice i guess, would be helpful to those new to cards. Who doesn't like images.. hehe..

[awc1300]

Originally Posted by donkeykong

Great info! Cheers! Would love to hear about where you get your cards, and a review of the shop's service etc.

BTW, A pic/thumbnail of the cards back design after each of the comments would be nice, although i can google them, but having the pics here would make it more complete and nice i guess, would be helpful to those new to cards. Who doesn't like images.. hehe..

thanks i got the pics but i couldn't find some.

[hanhcom]

i use tally ho only. bothg good for card trick and flourish.

[cameraboirzu]

A note on Bicycle playing cards. If these aren't your mainly used deck of cards and you're using bees and hos, then you're missing out. There are so many good things to be said about bicycle playing cards. Their slippery, fan well, are versatile, and they are the most common type of cards in the United States and most of the world. The U.S. has their own card company, idk if other countries do, but If you live in another country, or in the U.S. for that matter, pick up Bikes, just normal bikes, their better then anything you'll ever use.

Unless you have some of Jerries nuggets laying around....

[awc1300]

Originally Posted by cameraboirzu

A note on Bicycle playing cards. If these aren't your mainly used deck of cards and you're using bees and hos, then you're missing out. There are so many good things to be said about bicycle playing cards. Their slippery, fan well, are versatile, and they are the most common type of cards in the United States and most of the world. The U.S. has their own card company, idk if other countries do, but If you live in another country, or in the U.S. for that matter, pick up Bikes, just normal bikes, their better then anything you'll ever use.

Unless you have some of Jerries nuggets laying around....

tallys and wpt bees r better then bikes they last longer and in my opinion look better, but bikes r still great cause of there price and the quality u get 4 the price. mosr contries have fhe internatinol playing card company witch is a branch of the USPCC. a bikes r better then jerrys.

[Dai747]

nice review bro. i just wanted to let the european users know, (and for the U.S) that the hands down cheapest place to order cards are from Ace Kings ebay shop at this link:
http://stores.ebay.com/AceKing-Playi...638.m118.l1247

i just ordered a brick (4 bike decks, 4 tally ho fanbacks, and 4 wynn decks), and including shipping to berlin, i only paid 34 euros!! kardwells is great if you live in the U.S, but for Europe, FORGET ABOUT IT. the shipping for a brick to europe is more than the brick itself...WAYYYY more. aceking is in the U.S, and he ships 16 decks for 12 euros. as long as you have 16 decks or anything below, its always 12 euros.

hes got a big variety of decks as well. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[Mi5terScratch]

I'll agree that Bicycles are the best. It seems like every time I use anything other than Bicycles, people ask questions. One tip with Bicycles: sometimes you're gonna get something like "hey that's just a trick deck". I always say "These are Bicycles. They are made by the U.S. Playing Card Company. They don't make fake decks." Of course, we all know that isn't true, but no spectator has ever said anything to the contrary. I don't even own any other cards.

[tw1sted]

It seems like you have done your research and I am glad you went out and used all these because I know I couldn't afford to try all those decks.

[zanbeloni]

thanks so much. i think the bicycle rider back are the best for magic.

[lklabelle]

My favorite are the white ghost form ***********e