Dal Negro Plastic Cards. Discuss Dal Negro Plastic Cards, on ChipTalk.net the place to go for your Poker chips and gambling tips. Read it in Poker Gear Reviews.
Dal Negro is one of the major manufacturers of plastic playing cards overseas. The Freedom versions are made in Italy, and are very big all over Europe. They do have a following here in the United States, and seem to be increasing in popularity with home game enthusiasts. They come in poker size, standard index and are held in cardboard packages, much like the paper Bee playing cards.
Price
$16-$20 for 2 decks, depending on the vendor. For example, Pokerchips.com sells them for $16 per set, while buypokerchips.com has them listed at $19.99 per set.
Original KEMs can go for anywhere between $20-$30 per set, unless you want the wide Arrow design which seems to be getting close to $100. Copags are priced around the same as the Dal Negros at around $15-$17 per set. The value of the Dal Negros in comparison to their price and other plastic cards is quite good.
Feel
The first thing you will notice about the cards is how thick they are. Compared to KEMs and Copags, the Dal Negros feel much thicker and more like a paper card or even cardboard. They are harder to bend, and shuffling is definitely a notch harder then other plastic cards. They have a unique feel to them that may take some getting used to when you first get them. When rubbed together, they feel more like paper cards, but still retain the slippery aspect of a plastic card. They are not as slippery as Copags or KEMs.
Looks
The Freedom versions of the Dal Negro cards come with what is called Security Ink. This means that the red on the cards is a very dark, subdued maroon color instead of the standard candy apple red you see on most cards. The upside to this is that it is near impossible for someone to make out the suit or color of your hole cards if they happen to catch a quick glance at them. The downside to this is that it can be hard to discern the red and black from across the table.
As far as graphics go, the cards are top notch. The Ace of spades has a beautifully intricate design. The numbers have a unique look to them when compared to KEM and Copags. This is best demonstrated by the 7s in the deck (See picture below). The suits are illustrated well, and are rounded and pleasing to the eye. The backs of the cards have an illustration of the statue of liberty along with a scrolling flower design. The decks come in red and blue.
Security/Originality
The security ink adds some peace of mind with people trying to catch glimpses of your hole cards. With the availability of cards on the internet however, security against outside cards being introduced into a game is not something you can count on when using anything but customized cards.
Durability
When it comes to durability, the Dal Negros hold their own. They are not quite as durable as Copags, but in my experience they are more durable then KEMs. They are not marked easily and they hold their shape well. The set I have has been used every week for about 3 months and are still flat. There are no marks on the edges and no fraying/imperfections. Overall they are holding up very well.
Reviewers Comments
The Dal Negro Freedoms have quickly become one of my favorite cards to use in my weekly games alongside Copags and KEMs. I use all 3 brands, but right now the Freedoms are seeing the most use. They hold up well, feel great and add a touch of class to the game. The only downside I feel they have is that they come in coated cardboard boxes instead of a nice display or sturdy box like KEM and Copag. Other than that, I would recommend them to anyone looking for a cheaper or different alternative to KEMs.
Card Pictures
Security Ink on the Left, Regular Red on the right :
Linear Mode
