KEM Arrow Black and Gold, Poker Size- Standard Index Playing Cards (Pack of 2) - 1017399

Purchased as a premium gift, superior cards.

Love these cards. They hold up very well. Much better than even the best quality paper cards.

I've been playing cards for many years and decided to switch from Bicycles and Bees to cellulose acetate plastic; ie: KEM and COPAG. I purchased one set each of KEM arrows and COPAGs; both are poker (regular) size. I received the cards a few weeks ago and have had some time to play with my poker group and gauge opinions. Interestingly, our group voted 50/50 KEM vs COPAG. What I can offer is specific differences between the cards which you may find helpful. I've also included the specs of a Bicycle deck for comparison. KEM .014" card thickness .700" deck thickness, w/o jokers 2.5"W x 3.5"L deck dimensions 8.75" surface area COPAG .012" card thickness .625" deck thickness, w/o jokers 2.483"W x 3.465"L deck dimensions 8.604" surface area BICYCLE .011" card thickness .580" deck thickness, w/o jokers 2.48"W x 3.475"L deck dimensions 8.618" surface area As you can see, the KEM deck is almost 12% thicker and 1.7% larger surface area than the COPAG deck, and 21% thicker and 1.6% larger surface area than a Bicycle deck. 21% thicker than a Bicycle deck is a big deal if you're a smaller-handed dealer! Here are my personal thoughts; The COPAG's feel slightly better when shuffling as the deck is slightly smaller, less weight and easier to handle for short fingers (like mine). The KEM's numbering is smaller and much less blocky, and appear more like a traditional deck. The COPAG's have larger (not Jumbo) lettering which is blocky. Both decks have visually pleasing and symmetrical backing designs. Both slide easily on felt and are very easy to riffle/shuffle. The COPAG's have an attractive blue border around each face card picture, unlike the KEM's black border. However, the red ink used on the KEM's hearts and diamonds appear darker and a little higher quality than the COPAG's. My cut cards more than fit the bottom of my COPAG deck. The opposite is true of the KEM deck, as the cut card is just a hair smaller than the deck. Also, the COPAG's will fit inside any paper deck box, like Bicycle or Bee. The KEM's will definitely NOT fit in a standard deck box. If you're switching from a paper plastic-coat deck like Bicycles, Bees or Motors, you'll find the most physical similarities with the COPAG deck. Alternatively, you'll find the most visual similarities with the KEM deck. The KEM deck has a well-known image on the ace of spades and is probably the most recognizable deck around (ie; Rounders). Cost wise, I spent a few dollars more on my KEMs than I did the COPAGs. If I were to choose only one based on price, feel and aesthetics, I'd probably go for the COPAG deck. Oh, I asked my wife which she liked better (as an uninformed observer) and she couldn't really tell the difference between the KEM and COPAG decks. She did like the feel compared to a paper deck though. Then she beat my flopped straight by sucking out on the river with a low flush (I love you dear). Bottom line, choose either one and you'll be super happy you upgraded from the popular paper brands. I hope this helps in your decision!

The cards feel very nice in your hand. One characteristic of many plastic cards is how slippery they are or how unruly they are when shuffling, you will not have any trouble with these. I've also read that the KEM cards smell bad. They do in fact have a plastic oder but it is not anything extraordinary, it smells like any other plastic product would smell and it certainly isn't anything extraordinary or intolerable. I actually bought several brands and types and they all have a particular odor, some more than others, but these are definitely the best overall in feel, handling and appearance.

Kem has been the gold standard for a long time. I recently bought a KEM poker set in standard Index and I love the quality. There was no break-in with these cards, straight out of the packaging they were so easy to shuffle (I usually table shuffle the cards casino style.) The printing on the cards was great, no marks or defects just colorful nicely detailed cards. I had a Kem bridge (narrow) set and a poker jumbo set I bought in the early '90s and although USPCC bought the KEM Co. the quality is about the same, I really can't feel the difference, I would not listen to people that say that old cards are much better, In my experience using older KEM cards and dozens of other cards paper and plastic, KEM is still producing the best. I added a picture showing the difference between KEM cards and the standard Bicycle cards, the KEM cards are much more detailed and colorful with a deeper color pallet and sharper image. The Standard Wide size is the best for playing poker the jumbos are ok but I like the classic look and full size of the JKQ's. I Also have a Copag Playing Card Set which is very nice and I like playing with them, but KEM's are much better and worth $10 more in price. So If you have been thinking of buying KEM's Just do it, You will have cards that can last Years (or decades) and know you have the best.

I’ve had a set of KEM cards for over 15 years and they are still almost good as new. The paint is starting to flake off in parts, but we went through a spell of playing almost daily for a whole summer on the boat. Best gift for a sailor because they can’t be ruined by water and there are nearly endless games to play with one or two decks. Wish the case accommodated a cut card a little better though. The sizing is just a bit off.

love the feel of the cards when they first came, but one set is permanently bent and the texture is rough. I had kept them in my car so I assumed that was the issue (perhaps too hot/cold) - but the other set (that I hardly used and kept indoors) has cracked all over the surface so they are rough. not too happy with the purchase. (Edited and dropped to 1 star - all four decks (2 decks per set) that I purchased are rough textured and useless.)

Very satisfied with these playing cards, and will be using for my regular poker decks. They arrived in good condition, including the plastic box. Pros: * Good feel for plastic cards, they shuffle well and are NOT overly slick as compared to some cheaper brands. * Excellent printing on both back and display sides of cards. Pattern on back is especially excellent and uniform. * Very durable!! I subjected the enclosed KEM card which is of equivalent thickness and construction to test abuse. Will NOT tear, did not crease with anything except actually folding in half. Cleans up well with no apparent loss of printing colour or intensity or smearing including testing with cola and 151 proof rum, even dried simple syrup & grenadine syrup washed off nicely with moderately hot water and dish soap. * Very flat and uniform. No warping or torsional twisting after repeated shuffling. CON * The STUPID looking nose picking fat joker is a MAJOR drawback. It is so annoying in appearance that I down rated to 4 Stars just because of it! For those who play silly new-age yuppie poker such as Texas hold'em and Omaha this would not be a problem so you folks can consider this a FIVE STAR review, but for traditionalists like me who play only 5 & 7 card stud and 5 card draw and with the standard ONE joker for aces, straights and flushes, this thing is an unnecessary annoyance. Same problem for other single deck games such as 7 & 10 pt Pitch and Euchre which use one or more joker The joker's are easily differentiated however so you can have high and low joker. You listening KEM?

Momentan bin ich sehr zufrieden mit dem Produkt. Hatte vorher die billigen "Made in China" Karten, die meinem Pokerkoffer beilagen, welche allerdings bereits nach ein paar Runden auf waren: vollkommen verschmutzt und verbogen und teilweise sogar eingerissen. Ganz im Gegensatz zu diesem Produkt: die Karten fühlen sich viel edler an, sind schwerer und vor allem elastisch: als ich dann mal zum Test diese neuen Karten verbogen habe, fiel mir sofort auf, dass meine alte Karte verbogen blieb, während diese KEM Karten hier sofort in ihren Ursprungszustand zurückkehrten und man kaum eine Biegung feststellen konnte. Weitere Langzeittests, die die Haltbarkeit darlegen können, kann ich zu meinem derzeitigen Zeitpunkt leider noch nicht aufweisen, da ich noch nicht mit denen länger gespielt habe. Ich bin aber zuversichtlich! Einziges Manko ist, dass keine Pappe-Hülle mitgeliefert wird. Die Plastik-Verpackung ist zwar recht schön, nur kann man zum einen den Deckel nicht sonderlich gut auf das "Mittelstück" mit den Karten drinnen packen, da man den mit Kraft anbringen muss und diesen dann häufig schief anbringt, was allerdings daran liegt, dass an den Ecken keine Stopper sind. Das Aufmachen gestaltet sich ähnlich schwierig. So erging es mir zumindest. Zum anderen führt die fehlende Pappe-Hülle dazu, dass man die Karten schlecht in einen Pokerkoffer rein tun kann, da die Plastik-Box da nicht reinpasst und lose ist ein bisschen ungünstig beim Transport. Aber das sind nur kleine Mängel, sonst ist alles einwandfrei! Für mich sind die KEM Karten trotz des Preises eine wirkliche Alternative zu billigen Papp-Karten, die man nach jedem Abend neu kaufen muss; Und zwar vor allem deswegen, weil diese Karten hier hochwertiger sind und ziemlich sicher sehr viel länger haltbar sein werden.

So nice to play with. The best cards I’ve owned.

We have a Tuesday night poker game and used to buy packs at least every other week. I bought these cards about 5 years ago and wouldn't have had to buy them again unless my dog had chewed one. Well worth the price.

Son suaves y bonitas,que sean gruesas

These cards are incredible. In fact they are so good and so durable you may never have to open the second package…it makes me wonder why they’re offered in double packs at all. I say this because I’m writing this review in August 2022, having ordered them in September 2014. Eight years ago. We play a lot of cards as a family. And after 8 years of regular use they’re still in brand new condition. We’ve never even broken the seal on the second pack. I can’t even imagine at this point ever needing to. There are no marked, bent, damaged, or frayed cards. Just a whole deck of cards still in brand new condition. The condition of the jokers, cards we never use, is indiscernible from the rest. These cards are worth every penny.