Customer Reviews

United States Playing Cards 1001781 Double-Pack Poker Cards

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Fun: A standard deck of playing cards offers an incredible variety of ways to have fun. There are, of course, the different kinds of games you can play. Bidding games, like Bridge; betting games, like Poker; solitaire games, like Klondike; and trick games, like Euchre. These games can be played alone, or with as many as seven people... and, more if you add another deck.

You can also try to build structures (although, the taller your house of cards, the more decks you may need)-- and the Bicycle brand cards are ideal for this activity because of their slick coating. In other words, it's a challenge! And, of course, there's the ol' putting a card in the spokes of your bicycle wheels trick just for the heck of it.

Finally, one of the coolest things you can do with this deck of cards is practice and perform magic tricks. Instructions sold separately. :)

Educational value: As a former 8th grade math teacher, I swear by the educational value of playing cards. From simple games like "War", which teach relative numeric values (a 5 is greater than a 3, etc.), to blackjack and 31, which teach adding, and on to 5-hand draw poker, which teaches probability... even when young player doesn't realize he or she is learning. As an adult, of course, there's always room to learn more about probability and finesse, esp. with social and gambling games like poker and bridge.

Durable: The Bicycle brand cards set the standard of quality for plastic-coated playing cards. They don't bend or crease easily and, treated well, can last for years of normal use. Only casino-style cards like Bee can outlast Bicycles in the plastic-coated class. The most durable playing cards are 100% plastic, like those made by Kem (among others), but Bicycle is a great value for both cost and durability.

General: Bicycle stands as one of the few standard brands against which all other plastic-coated playing cards are judged. They last ten times longer than most decks that cost half the price; the face designs are attractive; the numbers are easily readable. These are my brand of choice when I host a card game.

"Bicycle Double Pack Poker Size Standard Index Rider Back Playing Cards with Bonus Dice" is the name of this item, but the cards in the pack are not Rider Backs. They are Bicycle Standard decks. Not to say that the Standard decks are bad, but I needed Rider Backs. In the Standard decks, all the suit pips are smaller, and on the face cards, the pictures are smaller as well. Also, there is a slightly bigger gap between the edge of the card and the Number/Letter and suit at the corners, so when you fan the cards, you can't see the letters and suits as well. Not particularly disappointed in the cards themselves, but the fact that they were falsely advertised. The box says Rider Back but when you open the box, they are Standards. If you just want any regular deck of bicycles, get this. If you particularly want Rider Backs, don't.

I use these cards every day for about an hour to play cribbage. They have a nice finish to them, and are very easy to read. The dice are a nice little addition for simple games.

They say the deck is rider back, but it is actually the newer standard version that is lower quality. The only reason I bought this is to get a rider back deck to match my gaff deck. I also heard bicycle is returning to the old cards so I'm hoping that later you will sell rider backs.

even though i read other reviews stating the cards were not the ones shown. i took a chance cause i really wanted the dice plus the cards to. the cards are bicycle but they are the cheapest ones they make. all five of the dice have the bicycle logo on them.

Same quality as in the olden days before 1950. Extra dice add to fun for extra numbers games and replacements for various games.

I bought these for a weekend trip. They aren't very firm and were easily bent. I play cards maybe a few times a year, so I'm not worried if they will last. But these definitely are not super heavy duty cards.

These may not be the exact cards that you'll find in use at the Vegas casino tables, but for home games, these poker decks are solid, predictable, and meet all expectations for home-based play.

These cards were felt flimsy and after a few times some stated to bend. I would not buy these cards again.

I bought these cards for family functions. Since my family consists of little more than alcoholics, degenerate gamblers, and welfare recipients, having cards, booze, and money at parties is the only thing that will get them to show up. Yes, even for major holidays. On Christmas, Grandma can be found in her rocker sipping a hot mug of Bailey's, Grandpa can be spotted on the couch with a bucket of his own vomit between his legs, and the children can be seen pitching pennies near the outhouse. In any case, I bought these cards and they're actually pretty nice. My only complaint is that you only get 5 "bonus dice." Many of the games we play require 6 dice, but it's really not big deal. The cards are sturdy enough for typical use and don't have that "super slippery" feel to them as if they're made out of plastic sheeting. All in all, they're your typical deck of cards that will probably last about a year with very frequent use and at least 5 years if you just pull them out at parties. Of course, these cards will be in the garbage before my next party is over because some alcoholic fool will spill something on them or barf all over them. Last year, Uncle Ted puked into the bowl we were using to hold our bets. You should have seen how Great-Grandma-Jeannie was digging through the vomit to collect her winnings. It was disgusting. How did I ever make anything of myself being related to this troupe of ignoramuses? Normally, we just play poker or 31, but someone suggested we play a game of war with these cards. Being unfamiliar with the game, Aunt Betsy taught me the ropes. I never realized that cards could be used as offensive weapons! I took to it like a Russian toddler to a bottle of Stoli. We had all moved to our defensive locations and began flinging the cards like Chinese stars. These cards are much sturdier than I expected. I whipped one across the room so hard that it sliced right through Uncle Horace's ear and embedded itself in the wall behind him. As my portion of the deck began to run low, I was getting worried. Cousin Earl and I were the only two who hadn't suffered paper cuts. It was down to us. I saw him darting from couch to coffee table to recliner picking up more playing card ammunition. I was down to three cards and had no other cards in sight. That's when I pulled out my dice grenades! I ripped the elastic bad from my underwear and loaded it with a single die. As Cousin Earl stood to attack, I pulled back the die like a slingshot and fired! I got him right in the eye! I won! These cards are great and while they only gave me five dice, I only needed one. I don't know why in the world I was complaining that I didn't get six! Cousin Earl was carted off the the hospital, everyone else applied their bandages, and then I was allowed to take advantage of my victory. The winning player gets to slap all the losers in their faces one time. While most everyone took it well, Great-Grandma-Jeannie whined and complained when her dentures went flying out of her mouth and broke. She can dish it, but she sure can't take it! You'd think she'd learn to be a little tougher being 97 and having lived through 2 World Wars and the Great Depression. Cousin Earl also didn't take his slap too well. After they'd patched him up at the hospital, I went to visit him. Apparently, my slap caused some kind of stitching to break and now he's got to have surgery again or he'll have a lazy eye forever. I'm sure I'll hear about that for the next ten years. In the end, the cards are great even though my family can't take a good slap in the face without complaining! I can't wait till Christmas when we get to play War again! I never knew card playing could be so physical! Buy these cards! They Rock!