Playing with Poker Size Cards vs Playing with Bridge Size Cards
Have you always wanted to know how poker size cards differ from bridge size cards when it comes to choosing or playing with cards? Size is one of a few factors to consider if you want to purchase your own playing cards. Should they be bridge size or poker size? These questions are even more important if you’re planning to purchase an expensive high-quality deck.
A little picturebook
All my life, I’ve loved cards. As a child, my parents would give me their old decks and I’d spend hours with them, pretending they were a little book, or building structures, or making up games. You can find many beautiful card decks on the Accessories page on our sister site at Gifts for Card Players.
Size Makes the Difference
From a technical perspective, size is determining factor that separates the two types of playing cards. Bridge size cards are 57 x 89 millimeters or 2.25 by 3.5 inches while poker size cards are 64 x 89 millimeters or 2.5 by 3.5 inches. Both decks consist of 52 cards including some Jokers, but one set of cards is relatively thin compared to the other.
When playing with bridge size cards, the player holds up to thirteen cards and that extra 0.25 inch can add up fast when holding poker size playing cards. Simply put, bridge cards are smaller and thinner because you have to hold more of them.
Bridge Size Playing Cards for Poker
You can use bridge size playing cards to play poker. And in actual fact, most poker rooms in professional casinos use these cards because of their cost and size. The cards are more affordable than poker size playing cards. Moreover, KEM, the most popular casino card manufacturer, focuses on bridge size playing cards. Interestingly, players use poker cards to play blackjack and use bridge cards in poker rooms.
What About the Shoe?
In the context of blackjack and casino games, the term “shoe” refers to the device that holds multiple decks of cards from which the dealer draws. My mother loved blackjack, and she had a shoe at home that could hold two decks. I still remember her dealing out of the shoe!
The size of the cards used can be either poker size or bridge size, and both can technically be used in a shoe and will fit fine
In blackjack, either size can be used, but poker size cards are more common in North America. The choice between poker and bridge size cards in a blackjack shoe doesn’t affect the game’s rules or the number of cards in the shoe; it simply comes down to handling preferences and the design of the shoe itself. Casinos and gaming venues may choose their card size based on these factors, as well as the availability of suitable shoes and card shufflers designed for the specific size of card they prefer to use.
Which Set of Playing Cards Should You Buy?
If you have to choose between poker size and bridge size playing cards, one of the key factors to consider when buying a new set of playing cards is why you want to buy the cards. If you are purchasing a new deck of cards to replace COPAG or KEM plastic cards that you like because you’ve been using them for a relatively long time, you are likely to buy the same size of cards again.
If your goal is to get some basic cards such as Hoyle, Bicycle, and Aviator, then you have no options. Did you know? If you want to perform some illusions or magic tricks, illusionists and magicians tend to use large poker size playing cards. One of the greatest resources for playing cards suitable for magic and card tricks can be found on The Ellusionist website.
So bridge-size if you’re playing games that require a lot of cards in one’s hand, but poker size works if you’re playing casino games or if you’re planning to amaze your friends with some awesome card tricks. Otherwise, buy the cards that make you feel happy.