Cards: the Basis of Every Poker Game
It should go without saying that cards are the most basic part of any home poker game. Despite the fact that this seems obvious to any habitual poker player, many beginners and online poker players neglect the cards themselves and get caught up in details like tournament clocks and chips. You always need to start with the basics in order to do anything properly, and in poker that means you need to start with a high quality deck of cards.
There are a few different materials used to make playing cards, but most people prefer plastic cards. Plastic cards are a little more expensive than fabric backed paper cards, but they will hold up much better to play. Not only are poker cards durable, they are also washable. That means if a slightly tipsy player spills their beer across their hand, all you have to do is wipe of the cards with a damp cloth. If you were playing with a lower quality deck, the entire deck would have to be thrown out because the liquid would warp the cards. In this case, quality is worth the investment.
If you care more about novelty than function, you can purchase cards that were used in actual casino play. The casinos round off the edges of the cards before selling them to the public in order to make sure that they don’t find their way back onto the floor. While these cards add a fun element of casino life to games at home, most players feel that the rounded corners make the cards more difficult to pick up off the table than traditional shaped cards.
