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Welcome back to Monederosmart! During summer nights, when it rains, when the power goes out or just to pass the time, card games are something that most people have in their homes. We may think of it as something simple, but there is a huge variety of types, materials, special games, etc.
Don’t miss out! Below we will show you the best card games, where to find them, how much budget you should have and the main features, so you can choose the one you like the most.
Summary
- Playing cards are a set of approximately 40 cards made of laminated cardboard or 100% plastic, which are mixed and shuffled to make a game.
- There are many types of decks of cards such as Spanish, French, German, etc. These represent some period or form of previous government. They are all used for different types of games such as poker or brisca. There are also other types of games such as themed games.
- Card games bring many benefits for your mental health and improve cognitive skills, they are ideal for children between 6-8 years old. They come in a variety of sizes, prices and features.
The best Card Games: Our Picks
Buying guide: What you need to know about card games
(Photo: Parzuchowski/ Unsplash.com)
What is a card game and what are its advantages?
Card games can be an excellent gift for both children and adults. It is likely to be a little difficult to know which one to choose as there is a lot of variety on the market, not only in the types of cards but also in the variety of games.
These games have many advantages, they are not just for fun. They can bring psychological, social and even motor benefits. Their themes can favour the creativity and imagination of the players, especially if they are started at an early age, or the recommended age.
Classic card games or other types of cards – what should you pay attention to?
As is often the case, classic playing cards are the first to be invented and their differences lie in the period of history in which they were created and what they imitate, for example, the Middle Ages in the case of the Spanish deck.
On the other hand, other types of card games that are more current, include other types of stories or accessories that will make them even more entertaining and different from a traditional card game. Here is a comparison of these two types of games
| Classic card game | Other card games |
|---|---|
| Reinforce memory and other social skills | Increase creativity and imagination |
| Greater variety of games with the same deck | Specific games for each deck |
| They are easy to find and in a variety of prices | Their price will depend on the type of game and cards or accessories it contains, also its availability |
What games can I use a classic deck for?
Poker: for this game an English deck of 52 cards is used. It is usually played in casinos and with stakes, but you can still enjoy an entertaining evening with your family.
The idea is to have an initial bet, so the player who has the best hand of cards (royal flush, pairs, threes, full house, high card, straight, poker) will win the total bets.
Brisca: Commonly used with the Spanish deck, it is divided into four suits: clubs, cups, golds and spades. Each suit has 10 cards and only five score. The aim is to collect the highest-scoring cards before the other players.
Solitaire: As the name suggests, it is perfect for playing alone. Any deck of cards is fine as long as it has 52 cards.
Seven rows of cards are placed in ascending order until 28 cards are completed. This means that in row one there will be one card, in row two there will be two and so on until all seven are completed. Only one of the remaining cards is left face up and the idea is to complete the rows from lowest to highest, i.e. from Ace to King.
Crazy Eights: This game can be played with any deck of cards, although the ideal is to use the French deck. The aim is to get rid of your cards as quickly as possible, similar to UNO.
There are cards that will help to vary the game such as the Four and Seven that make you lose a turn, the Queen of Spades forces the next player to lose a turn, Jokers force the next player to pick up two cards and the number eight cards give you the chance to change the suit of the game.
Let’s go fishing: this game is very entertaining and is especially suitable for the younger members of the household and can be played with any deck of cards. The aim is to have as many sets of four cards as possible.
You have to ask your opponent for cards and he/she is obliged to give you all the cards of the requested value. If the player does not have the requested card he has to say Go fish! And so the opponent will have the last chance to complete a set with a card he will draw from the deck. The winner is the one who has the most sets of four cards.
Buying criteria
If you want to live a unique experience, to imitate a real casino at home, to enjoy with as many people as you want, we recommend that you pay attention to the following qualities that the card game should have. It doesn’t matter if you want a classic card game or a more advanced one.
Materials
Typical materials for card games can be two: plastic/vinyl and plastic cardboard.
Laminated/vinyl: these are the most affordable on the market both in terms of price and availability. They are easy to identify because they are thinner, so they can be easily bent, torn or creased. They are cards that are used occasionally.
Plastic: Cards made of 100% plastic are for professional use in casinos. If you use them at home, they are guaranteed to last for years. They glide smoothly on the boards or tables, are easy to handle and don’t crumple or break as easily. They are a bit more expensive.
(Photo: Appel/ Unsplash.com)
Number of cards
It will depend on how many people normally use the game. There are packs that contain two packs of cards, because often some cards are damaged or lost so that you have a spare. These packs are convenient in case there are more players.
Each deck has between 40 and 56 cards depending on the type of card used (Spanish, French, etc.)
Card sizes
Card sizes are usually differentiated according to the game for which they are used and their main purpose. These sizes are as follows:
- Lilliput: measures 57 x 37 mm. Ideal for travel.
- Patience: measures 53 x 43 mm. Also perfect for travel and magic shows, for example. Its measurements can vary a couple of millimetres.
- Bridge: 89 x 58 mm. As its name suggests, it is especially for playing bridge, its larger size makes it more rigid which facilitates some shuffling techniques.
- Poker: 89 x 64 mm. This size is the most common especially in casinos. Its larger size allows for more visibility. It is also known as standard.
- Jumbo: 190 x 122 mm. They are ideal for magic, decoration or when players are visually impaired. They represent the symbols very well and in large size.
Design
Usually the back has a demarcated pattern or a printed image. It is better if they are differentiated in colour as it is easier for certain games. It should also ideally have a white border. This will prevent cheating.
The key to the front design is visibility. The better quality the symbols are, the easier it will be to play sitting a few feet away.
(Featured Image Source: PDPics/ Pixabay.com)
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