talkmagic.co.uk

Hi

I'm fairly new to card magic and there is one question that's bugging me...

What size cards (bridge or poker) do most magicians use?

Thanks

Ben.

That depends on where you are. In the US, Poker-Sized cards are that standard. I believe that in the UK and parts of Europe Bridge-Sized cards are the standard. The general rule is use what works for you. In the US I have seen professionals with small hands use Bridge-Sized cards.

Okay thanks!

I'm in the UK and I've generally been doing tricks with bridge sized cards and I think they work better for me because they are smaller...thanks for your help!

Ben

That will be fine if you are doing tricks with a clean deck.
If however you wish to incorparate a few packet tricks or
gimmicked cards for change effects into your routine
you will eventually have to change to Poker size cards
because thats the size of 95% of all pack/gimmicked cards
As for using Poker decks in the UK I've never been questioned
on it

Andy

Yeah, I use Poker decks... not many people know the difference really. What I would say is spend time working with both Bridge and Poker decks, as if someone hands you some cards to perform with they'll most likely be Bridge, but you'll still be used to them and so won't have to fumble as you readjust to them .

I've been trying some of Derren Brown's card magic, (when he used to do that stuff) such as the 'Three Card Routine', and was wondering what size cards he uses. I know in his 'Smoke' trick he uses the John Kennedy Mind Power deck, so I suppose I will have to switch to poker size if I am to use decks like this.

It's just I've been practicing with bridge size and poker size feel different...but I'll get used to them.

Thanks,

Ben.

Most special and gaffed decks come in Poker size and the range for that size card is considerably larger than for bridge sized versions. Out of that range I'd guess that Bicycle Rider back Poker 808 cards probably have the biggest range of specials and gaffs so if you need these items try that brand of card. If you're into finger flinging and pure card sleight of hand then almost any deck would be OK.

There are a lot of older threads on the virtues of poker vs bridge, the Search function above isn't the best in the world but give it a try and see what you can find.

There used to be an argument in the UK that most lay people would think that poker size cards were suspicious. However, since TV poker has become very popular most pay people I suspect would now think that bridge size cards were the more unusual of the two sizes.

AS already said, it's up to you which size you choose but as Mandrake has said, if you want to use gaffs, trick decks etc. then you hae little choice but to go for Bikes.

I agree with DAT, I don't think that anyone views poker size cards with suspicion nowadays, the rise of poker and the fact that most people have seen TV magicians using Bikes and the equivalent.

As far as the difficulty of using them; I did play around with bridge cards when I first started, thinking that they would be easier to use but in fact discovered that to the contrary for a lot of moves the extra space for fingers to fit etc actually made the poker size preferable.

Try sitting in front of the TV and just do Charlier and pivot cuts over and over again to get your hands more flexible.

James

Cheers guys, thanks for all the help! I've decided I'm gonna give poker size cards a try...thanks for all the advice!

Ben.