[drake]

I do not have enough time to organize and work out the details for a Kem Card Group Buy for the Pharaoh Club. How many people would be interested in buying a couple of double decks of Pharaohs and Paisleys from Kem?? The Paisley Kems are the cards featured on Chiptalk's home page with Pharaohs. We play on a 8 foot oval table and have found that Super Index Bridge is the only way to go, especially if you have any players above 55 at the table. USPC is currently only making Bridge Arrows but I'm sure if we had a big enough order they would start producing these. What do you guys think??

[drake]

I prefer Bridge because we have a center dealer who deals all night and shuffling Bridge size is much much easier.....but I'll buy either.

[DEEJAY]

Originally Posted by JM

We've tried them and everyone agrees they don't 'feel' right. Too small. I suspect casinos probably use them for the speed reason. More games = more rake. I don't think its true for every casino though. We don't have a rake, so the few seconds that may be saved are inconsequential, and we use 2 different color decks, so the person who just dealt is shuffling while the next dealer is dealing. No wasted time there.

I must say just be careful we just recently caught a guy who was a regular cheating by setting up the deck he was shuffling. No one could believe this, so it went on for a long time,he always seemed to have a hand just a little bit better than everyone else and always on his deal, one day we took a small break someone said he stacked the deck in his favor, in the middle of the hand during the flop he was called on this, and indeed he had the best hand in the suit that was called for by the accuser needless to say all hell broke out ---since that awful day one deck only on the table or a designated dealer not in the game working for tips. He must have slipped up one day when i had a flush draw on the river,he had aces full but the card that fell to me made my royal flush. huge pot ! did he set me up with the flush only to lose to his full house don`t know, he never bet the full house until the river putting me all in to his demise.

[JM]

Originally Posted by DEEJAY

I must say just be careful we just recently caught a guy who was a regular cheating by setting up the deck he was shuffling. No one could believe this, so it went on for a long time,he always seemed to have a hand just a little bit better than everyone else and always on his deal, one day we took a small break someone said he stacked the deck in his favor, in the middle of the hand during the flop he was called on this, and indeed he had the best hand in the suit that was called for by the accuser needless to say all hell broke out ---since that awful day one deck only on the table or a designated dealer not in the game working for tips. He must have slipped up one day when i had a flush draw on the river,he had aces full but the card that fell to me made my royal flush. huge pot ! did he set me up with the flush only to lose to his full house don`t know, he never bet the full house until the river putting me all in to his demise.

Wow, what a scumbag! Was he a friend or just someone you played with? Everyone in my group are friends and we've known each other for well over 10 years. I couldn't imagine any of them cheating, especially considering the low stakes ($20 buy in). But definitely something to watch for with not-so-close friends.

[freerd]

Custom Gemacos or Kems would go great with our Pharaoh's Paulsons! You could probably count on me for at least 3 sets!


btw, would they have concentric grooves? (this would be a bad thing)

[ddollevoet]

I'd get in for 4 sets.

[Nirvana]

I love playing with Gemacos. And KEM's are just as nice. I'd purchase several sets as long as the graphics on the face don't start looking like hieroglyphics.

[panthershutch15]

I would play with either bridge or poker size, but I definately prefer bridge (for the reasons listed above by others).

We also have 2 decks going around the table, but I also don't really worry about cheating because we have known each other for several years and we are all friends, also the buy-in is usually $10-$20. If things were to start getting suspicious I would pay close attention, but nothing strange has happened in a year and a half. It is definately a possiblity at any home game, though.

[BPTDirector]

I'm in for 5 sets if this gets off the ground.

BPTDirector

[knutsont]

I'd take 3 sets...anybody actually working on this?

[aero918]

Originally Posted by knutsont

I'd take 3 sets...anybody actually working on this?

Sorry for the delay. Here is the cost info I received from Kardwell:

Cost for Gemaco 100% Plastic Cards (poker size regular index):

500 - 999 sets: $19.50 / set (1 set = 2 decks)
1000 - 2000 sets: $18.50 / set

Additional charges:
Color set-up charge: $37.50 / color (approximate)

My email was sent to their production plant and the following
reply was sent:

"We do not typically produce plastic cards with 4/c backs. It is
very difficult and especially with a low quantity such as 500
decks. I can make a final decision if you happen to have a
copy of the artwork that I can review. "

Shipping and handling

15% over / under charge:

"Gemaco uses a high speed press for this type of job. The cards
come down on a high speed conveyor belt and the machine
cannot count an exact quantity. Therefore we allow for a 15%
over run or under run. If it goes over, you would be charged for
those decks, if it goes under, we would credit that amount to
your credit card."

Typical lead time: 6 -7 weeks

I asked for the same cost breakdown for KEM and the reply I received was: "Custom Imprinted Kem Cards are not available at this time." This may mean if we want KEM cards, we will have to go through US Playing Card Co.

In the mean time I ordered and received a set of Gemaco 100% Plastic cards (Compass backs, Red / Blue decks, poker size, regular index). I really like them. They are certainly as good as my Egyptian KEM cards. The seem a little stiffer, easy to shuffle, and come in poker size.

At this point, we need artwork, to take this further.