Paper Or Plastic Playing Cards: Which One To Go For?

When it comes to a poker game, the most important paraphernalia comes in the form of the playing cards. Every gamer knows the role these cards take in the entire game. However, not all decks of cards are the same. First and foremost, they come in different materials. This is where the dilemma on whether one should go with plastic playing cards or their paper counterparts.

There are different advantages and disadvantages offered by both sides of the coin at this point. It is all up to the players to determine which of the highlighted factors are going to be important for himself.

To start off, paper playing cards are found by most to be cheaper than plastic playing cards. Basically, paper cards are actually made of paper and the coating to protect it. the paper itself is most of the time made up of 2 to 3 plays of card stock while the coating is generally a trade secret of the manufacturers. Each one of them has come up with their coating formula to enhance the overall quality of their paper cards. The regular cost of a pack of paper cards can be as low as $3.

A number of drawbacks come with a deck of paper cards. Because of their make, they are generally less flexible. When one bends a paper card, it usually ends up with a crease or two, which makes it less credible for a serious card game. Another thing is how the coating of the paper tends to wear off after some time. As a result, players end up having a harder time when shuffling the cards. This is basically because their slick characteristic decreases significantly over time, so they stick easily to each other. The card's coating is usually created to provide the slickness it needs to be shuffled easily. It is not designed to provide protection for the card in case of spills and the likes. It is also not possible to wash a deck of paper cards, so any dirt on them cannot be removed. Marks are also easy to leave on a paper card. One can purposely bend the card's corner, and it is going to be easy to determine one from the other. In cases like these where a card in a deck gets ruined beyond repair, there is no other choice left but to buy another deck of cards to play with.

After trying out a deck of paper cards, it is probably going to be smart to try their plastic counterparts. However, there is actually no need to waste money on worthless paper cards when one can invest on more durable plastic playing cards.

Plastic playing cards are made of different kinds of plastic such as cellulose acetate and pvc. Because of their material, they are bound to last longer than the paper ones. Plastic poker cards offer a good amount of resistance to bending, creasing and scratches. They can also be washed or wiped with a wet cloth or sponge to eliminate any dirt or residues left on the cards. It is not very easy to create marks on plastic cards, so a chance to cheat is lessened. These cards are slick by nature, so it is easier for them to be shuffled during any game.

When choosing between paper and plastic poker cards, one has to think about the benefits each one offers. Examining each of these benefits is a great way to determine which type of card to buy and play with.