The Smallest Poker Set in the World! I have designed it. Ask me anything!

[poker.buddy]

Any ideas for the court cards?

The court cards actually have tragic love story between the Jack, Queen and King of the different suits. It is in fact a puzzle of sorts. This is something I am leaving to people to work once my kickstarter campaign starts. I may even make it a competition. Something like; the first person to describe the story/pattern completely (and has backed my project for at least one pack of cards) will receive a brick of decks for free. I have worked pretty hard making the story complex enough to be interesting and challenging to work out but not too hard as to be impossible.
You can see an example of the Jack of Hearts on the previous page. The Jack of hearts card tells the side of story of the Jack of Hearts. The Queen of Hearts tells the side of story of the Queen of Hearts etc.

[davegk]

Slab serif, ya mean?

Go check out the poker room at Bellagio or Aria or MGM or Caesars...I guarantee they all use bridge decks. Same with Commerce in LA, Bay 101 and Matrix in San Jose, Lucky Chances in Colma, and any other dedicated poker room. I've spent countless hours in these places in the past and not once seen a poker sized deck of cards, except when walking through the casino and passing by a blackjack table. I personally prefer a bridge deck when playing poker.

I'm not saying that bridge size is necessarily the best option for this particular product...just pointing out what I know about standards in the poker community.

-David

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KF_dr3Q2rT8/T9C2rdyu9MI/AAAAAAAAAtE/vUsrywIt45k/s320/bicycle+phantom+spread+2.jpg

This is not a full-serif font face (the name for that escapes me).

In the USA, I've never in my life seen bridge decks. I live in Vegas, and I frequent casinos, no one uses bridge decks. Apparently the WSOP did use a bridge deck, but the WSOP is hardly the demographic here.

[Don Boyer]

Slab serif, ya mean?

Go check out the poker room at Bellagio or Aria or MGM or Caesars...I guarantee they all use bridge decks. Same with Commerce in LA, Bay 101 and Matrix in San Jose, Lucky Chances in Colma, and any other dedicated poker room. I've spent countless hours in these places in the past and not once seen a poker sized deck of cards, except when walking through the casino and passing by a blackjack table. I personally prefer a bridge deck when playing poker.

I'm not saying that bridge size is necessarily the best option for this particular product...just pointing out what I know about standards in the poker community.

-David

I agree - but having said all that, the casual beer-and-pretzels poker player will usually prefer a poker-sized deck over a bridge-sized one.  It also tends to catch all the attention in the design/collector community, considering it has a larger "canvas" for designers to work with.

[John B.]

So question, have you checked into how having holes may affect cheating? Just thinking about it I am seeing chiping the hole, bending to see the corner through the hole. Might be something you might consider. Some poker players might not buy if they think if would cause to much of a problem.

[xela]

So question, have you checked into how having holes may affect cheating? Just thinking about it I am seeing chiping the hole, bending to see the corner through the hole. Might be something you might consider. Some poker players might not buy if they think if would cause to much of a problem.

The holes wouldn't chip, since chipping occurs from shuffling. Also, any casual poker player's deck will usually be chipped.

The only place where cheating is an issue is that one-way back.

[Collector]

This is nice only as idea. Such plaing cards (even plastic) won't live long. And without playing cards this set doesn't have any sense.

[poker.buddy]

This is nice only as idea. Such plaing cards (even plastic) won't live long. And without playing cards this set doesn't have any sense.

Hi.

Can you please explain why you think the cards won't last very long?  Thanks

[Collector]

This is nice only as idea. Such plaing cards (even plastic) won't live long. And without playing cards this set doesn't have any sense.

Hi.

Can you please explain why you think the cards won't last very long?  Thanks

Just laws of physics.

The most obvious reason (only one of several ones) - you weakened the construction. Poker players are your target audience. So at least search how they test their working instrument http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vJI17D9aNI Good luck.

[Maskedfreakinabox]

okay, I rather like this product, even though I own a really nice vintage poker set. I agree that a two-way back is an absolute must, I also think that you should make the cards out of plastic, but not just any plastic, I would say use cellulose acetate for sure. The best plastic for cards that you could ask for. It's what Kem is made out of and Kem are by far the best plastic cards in my opinion. Other than than, I agree with don on all accounts for the chips other than his claim about chip plastic, if you can get the chips that thin out of chip plastic, than that would be Ideal. Cellulose acetate would be my second choice. Also, have you considered adding poker peeks? Good idea for this deck. Quick, less than a second readability is what makes a great poker deck and in my opinion, a great deck in general.

[Rob Wright]

This is nice only as idea. Such plaing cards (even plastic) won't live long. And without playing cards this set doesn't have any sense.

Hi.

Can you please explain why you think the cards won't last very long?  Thanks

Just laws of physics.

The most obvious reason (only one of several ones) - you weakened the construction. Poker players are your target audience. So at least search how they test their working instrument http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vJI17D9aNI Good luck.

I think Collector has a valid point here. I know when I play cards, I use a riffle shuffle. I would suppose that 99.9% of all card players do this as well(that would be a fun fact by the way). How many times would you be able to shuffle the cards before paper would crease at the holes, or plastic would snap???

[poker.buddy]

Just laws of physics.

The most obvious reason (only one of several ones) - you weakened the construction. Poker players are your target audience. So at least search how they test their working instrument http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vJI17D9aNI Good luck.

1. Poker players are not necessarily my target audience. My target audience is the casual card player. Someone who enjoys poker occasionally with friends who may or may not know the rules to poker. OR for people who want to take a poker set with them but cannot take a full poker set suitcase.

2. The cards are NOT going to be made from acetate. They will be made from durable PVC. PVC does not snap like acetate. I will post a video of some of my own tests.

3. The test that person did in the video you linked were in no way scientific. Cards would never be treated like with normal use and in fact he even commented...
"The average poker game can use a deck of paper cards for one or two nights before the deck needs to be replaced. Plastic cards can last for hundreds of nights.
Keep in mind that a paper card would probably crease or dent the first time that I attempted a damage test such as what you see in this video."

4. You are making the assumption that when you will shuffle my cards the corners will always get stuck in the holes. This is not the case. If you are not very good at shuffling then it can happen the first few times you use them. But you very quickly get use to where the holes are and adjust your shuffle to become more accurate.

5. Almost all of the structural integrity of the card remains as the holes are perfectly circular. This means there are no corners that could split.

I will try and provide some videos testing some prototypes of the cards for strength.

[xela]

Hey! Just thought of something. Consider including a poker hands card, and basics of black jack card, as well as a dealer's chip.

[poker.buddy]

Hey! Just thought of something. Consider including a poker hands card, and basics of black jack card, as well as a dealer's chip.

If you look at the photos you will see that the poker hands are already included on the back of the box. The box will also contain a leaflet with rules to a few different games. There will also be a laser cut, rectangular dealer button in the top of each pack.

It's cool to see your thinking about it though. Thanks!

[John B.]

Have you ever played poker with friend while drinking? I have done a few and  I know my buddies toss bad hands and they end up hitting glasses, the table etc, kinda how he was doing it. Yes it was a bit extreme but I felt his actions were close enough for a good test.

[Don Boyer]

1. Poker players are not necessarily my target audience. My target audience is the casual card player. Someone who enjoys poker occasionally with friends who may or may not know the rules to poker. OR for people who want to take a poker set with them but cannot take a full poker set suitcase.

2. The cards are NOT going to be made from acetate. They will be made from durable PVC. PVC does not snap like acetate. I will post a video of some of my own tests.

3. The test that person did in the video you linked were in no way scientific. Cards would never be treated like with normal use and in fact he even commented...
"The average poker game can use a deck of paper cards for one or two nights before the deck needs to be replaced. Plastic cards can last for hundreds of nights.
Keep in mind that a paper card would probably crease or dent the first time that I attempted a damage test such as what you see in this video."

4. You are making the assumption that when you will shuffle my cards the corners will always get stuck in the holes. This is not the case. If you are not very good at shuffling then it can happen the first few times you use them. But you very quickly get use to where the holes are and adjust your shuffle to become more accurate.

5. Almost all of the structural integrity of the card remains as the holes are perfectly circular. This means there are no corners that could split.

I will try and provide some videos testing some prototypes of the cards for strength.

1. A poker set for non-poker players is like a hockey set for non-hockey players...  It makes no sense.

2. I beg you, don't use PVC.  I've seen PVC cards.  They suck, period.  Not to mention that the material is pretty toxic if burned.  The material is extremely flexible in a standard card - with those holes, it will be nearly unshufflable.

3. No person in their right mind would expect this deck to hold up to heavy abuse.  But it should be made durable enough to last for a few hundred games or more.  A single poker night could have dozens of rounds played.

4. Even plastic cards will bend a bit with use - and a bent card will catch in a hole in a riffle shuffle.  So factor that in.

5. The holes may be perfectly round, but they still represent material that's been removed from the middle of the card.  It reduces structural integrity.  Try playing baseball with a whiffle ball and with a solid plastic ball.  The whiffle ball has more flexibility, but in the end the structure is weaker and will break more quickly under identical circumstances.

[Rick Davidson]

I have to say the Discourse has some great creative input.  Agree with Alex and Don on their points.  Ok so you're not going to see this in a casino or picked up by pros.  But it's a really clever idea that would go down great as a travel accessory.  Certainly agree the chips should be plastic.  Nice design.

[poker.buddy]

Sorry I haven't commented in a while. I have been amazingly busy trying to get everything in order before the launch.

I would just like to give everyone a heads up that my poker set; Poker Buddy, will be up on kickstarter any time soon. There are early bird pledge levels if you get there quick enough. I'll let you know when it's live.

[RandCo]

Great idea.

You might consider a 56 card deck with the 2 extra cards (on Bicycle, the ad cards) being whole uncut cards. That way you can stack the cut cards on top of one of the whole cards. Then you can put the cut chips into the holes without needing a holder for the chips (the whole card acting as the bottom of a tube). Then after you put the chips in their tubes, you can put the other whole card on top to help hold the chips in place when you put the deck back into the case.

[Don Boyer]

Great idea.

You might consider a 56 card deck with the 2 extra cards (on Bicycle, the ad cards) being whole uncut cards. That way you can stack the cut cards on top of one of the whole cards. Then you can put the cut chips into the holes without needing a holder for the chips (the whole card acting as the bottom of a tube). Then after you put the chips in their tubes, you can put the other whole card on top to help hold the chips in place when you put the deck back into the case.

Then perhaps you should consider it for a design of your own making.  The creator in question, "poker.buddy", hasn't check in here in over nine months.  His project never made it to Kickstarter.  It was cute and had promise, but I don't think it was terribly practical in its present state.