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TonyoMagic wrote:if you're just starting out then i can see why you'd go for a bridge size deck, bit easier for some sleights.

but in the end you have to use poker size. you'll meet other magicians, you might be jamming with other ppl, you might just have a deck tossed at you - 'show me some magic!'...and 9 times out of 10 it'll be a poker deck - it's just The Standard. On a slightly diff take, the bigger deck makes for bigger visual impact, it may sound marginal, but i say every detail counts.

you might start off with blue colour as it hides in the shadows more and is a little more forgiving of bad handling. But once you've got your game together - red is in only way - bright visual impact.

i thought about the colour... ive always liked blue tho for some reason never red. does any one use the other bicycle decks "ghost" ect....

The rule of thumb has always been practice with poker size, perform with bridge. Same theory as in playing billards. The reason being is if you can play on the regulation large table you will be able to kick butt on the much smaller tavern tables. If you can perform the sleights on a Poker size deck, using a bridge sized deck will be that much easier. However here in the states very few (including myself) don't follow that rule. Most stick to Poker size, most gaffs are poker sized as well. Also, the logic of practicing on one and performing with another may seem resonable it is not. Fact is your hands get used to dealing with that particular size so I'm not sure it is any easier switching around as suggested.

As a side note smaller hands don't make much of a difference. Nor do having 'windows' between your knuckles while palming a card make a difference. The point is, your presentation should be such that the spectator is not looking at your hands, they should not be looking for method. That is what mis-direction is for. Larger hands may give some people confidence but really the size of your hand should not affect anything. Rene Levand, one of the best in the business only has one hand.