talkmagic.co.uk

I was just wondering what size cards you would suggest I use for my card magic.

I'm currently using Bicycle's Black Rider Back 808 deck (Poker size) and I find them a little big sometimes when I try to perform certain sleights. Palming in particular seems to be too difficult with this size (maybe I just have small hands?!)

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris.

Hey, I'm pretty new to all this, but, for what it's worth, my view on this is with a bit of practice it does become easier with the poker sized cards.

However it's what you feel comfortable with that matters. Poker or Bridge sized cards...

I've seen a sig here that says something along the lines of "I thought I had small hands until I practiced" I can see the point here, it's certainly not meant in a derrogatory manner, it's just practice makes perfect kind of thing.

But again, really it boils down to use what you're comfortable with, when I started learning card stuff I started with a cheapo deck of plastic bridge sized cards...it's all I had and until the magic bug really took hold I couldn't justify spending money on "just cards" as mrs lmw calls them!

Cheers.

personally, i think poker size ARE the best for a few reasons...

a; practicing with a larger deck help if you ever come across the situation where you use someone else deck... if they lend you a poker size-no probs, you've been practicing, if they lend you a bridge size, then all the better, i find things alot easier to hide!

b; IF you ever decide to purchase a gimmick deck most good gimmicks are available in Bike 808's, so seeing as you already have an 808, a 'deck swap' will be no problem for you.


at the moment, a really cant think of any more reasons...


but bear in mind 'a' if you practice with a bridge deck, and are then asked to do 'tricks' with a poker set, you'll struggle.... lol.

Well card choice is a personal thing. At the end of the day it is what you feel comfotable handling, if you like bridge sized waddingtons number 1's then you use them. Bridge size is still the standard size in most uk homes and I had never seen a poker size deck of card. But The Gurkha's points
A and B are very valid.

Now if you dont intend on using gaffs/gimmicks and the likes there is nothing stopping you using a deck of Bee bridge size.

It is all up to you mate. But if you practice with poker size you can roll back to bridge if needs be. You cant practice on bridge and upgrade to poker with out feeling a bit awkard.

Thanks very much to all three of you for taking time to reply. All of your comments are extremely important to me (as a beginner) and I can't thank you enough for your input.

I think it's mainly a case of practise that is required for me to become more confident at handling Poker sized cards, but I might try and master sleights using a Bridge deck simultaneously with the Poker sized to see which best suits me.

Thanks again, I'm loving being a part of TM.

Chris

To each there own.....I choose/recommend poker size for the following reasons:

1) In my region poker size cards are more commonly used
2) Most gaffs come in poker size
3) Never felt my hands were too small

Although I choose the poker, that is not to say you must as well......do what you feel most comfortable with. I will say this though....most people have at one time or another felt that maybe their hands were too small, and with practice that opinion often changes!

I am just about to release cards and packet tricks in the size 10 cm x 14 cm, which is 3.94" x 5.51". These cards keep the aspect ratio of a regular pokersize card, but:
- they are perfect for restaurant work (table hopping) in bad light conditions
- they can be carried in a shirts pocket
- every sleight done with pokersized cards can be done with these
- they are not as big as jumbo cards or anglo giant cards
- any gaff can be done
- they are the result of 1-year field testing with professionals (close up magicians)

Nice cards.

Cheers all.

Will bear your comments in mind.

Chris.

The best card or card size or make will differ from person to person, What I did was to try several decks till I found the one that suited me best.

A//

I would definitely choose poker size cards. All of the reasons above are good advice, and here are some others:

-When doing some flourishes (such as the ribbon spread) it looks better with wider cards

-Everyone (or at least nearly everyone) goes through a stage of thinking that they have small hands when they are either starting out in magic or if they are just learning a new sleight. The muscles in the hand need to get used to it, that's all it is.

-Colour changes such as the Shapeshifter are much, much easier with cards that are more square (poker) than rectangular (bridge).

-Most bridge cards have pips in all four corners, where as most poker sized cards have pips only in the top left and bottom right. In my view, cards where all four corners are pipped look amateurish and also dont allow for reverse speads to look like a blank deck.

In my opinion, it's your choice really.

I do agree that most gaffs come in Poker Size but who says you have to buy them. Make your own! Get "The Art of Card Splitting" by Martini. Or, better yet, get "Lickety Split", the book which the DVD was based.

I don't really believe one looks less professional than the other. The bottom line is still the reaction you get from your spectators.

Magic is about creativity. Creativity is about knowing your limits and getting around them.

Art of card splitting is a useful book. I use it to make special cards that I use in mentalist work

A//

I personally use poker size cards (i dont think i even own any bridge sized ones) for all reasons above.

As a counterpoint though, I was preforming a couple days a go with normal bicycles and after some tricks, the spec asked to examine the cards. Once she had checked them, she said the cards were bigger than the ones she had and had 'pictures' on only 2 corners. She claimed them to be 'special' cards and refused to believe anything different.

Any way, pick which ever feels natural (although i recommend poker)

Cheers all. I'll stick with my poker sized decks then - your points are all very valid. I have a bridge sized Svengali deck and have been messing around with them all day and to be honest I've found that practise almost eliminates the difficulties of performing sleights no matter what size I use.

So I think as a general rule It'd probably be best to stick with poker sized.

Thanks again,

Chris.

I personally thing you've made the right choice, Chris.

Make your motto:

Adapt and overcome.

Mike.