The other day, I went to play a game of cards with my brother-in-law and cousin while we were hanging out at my uncle’s house. Although we only had four people playing, it was taking us forever to get through the deck! We played round after round, but it was still like there were two or three times as many cards in play as we actually had in our hands. I was baffled – what could be causing this phenomenon?
The evolution of decks
The earliest cards were most likely game pieces, like dice and tokens, that players tossed out on a flat surface. Because these decks were haphazardly stacked in a pile, they took time to deal out. This meant they slowed down games, which was perhaps one of the reasons why courtiers at King Louis XIV’s court in France grew tired of playing cards and turned to new forms of entertainment such as chess. At some point during or after these early years, cards evolved into their more familiar form: 52 distinct playing pieces with assigned values that could be reshuffled between hands. As players dealt out from a shuffled deck instead of dealing from a messy pile, card games became faster and soon gained popularity across Europe.
Types of decks
Decks come in all shapes and sizes, which is why it’s important to know what kind of deck you have so you can properly treat it. Cleaning a solid-wood deck means you need to avoid products with excessive chemicals or acidic compounds because they could damage wood or stain your wood. Likewise, a laminate wood deck should never be treated with oil-based sealers—it’ll bleed through and make your floor slippery! If you want to clean your deck regularly without damaging it, try a citrus solvent cleaner that doesn’t contain lye or ammonia; just make sure not to use them more than once every two weeks so as not to damage anything.
The use of card sleeves
Card sleeves are a great way to protect your cards, but you should also be aware of how they can affect gameplay. For example, think about what happens when you put a card sleeve on a card with a smooth back (like an Aether Vial or Tropical Island). The back of that card is now slippery, making it hard to remove from your deck box—and if you put that sleeved card into your library bag, it can slide around and jam up your decks. If you’ve ever seen someone try to draw with an Aether Vial and watch their whole deck bounce out of their library bag like kids playing kickball in gym class, that’s why.
Benefits of card sleeves
Card sleeves serve many purposes, and they make your cards last longer. For one, they protect your cards from scratches or damage. It’s easy to underestimate how much wear and tear can be caused by simply pulling a deck out of a box repeatedly over time, so having your cards in sleeves is an easy way to make sure that damage doesn’t happen. Another benefit is that card sleeves also allow you to shuffle more aggressively because there’s no fear of damaging a card. It may seem silly, but if you shuffle hundreds or thousands of times in tournaments each year (as many players do), then it can add up quickly!
Playing card sleeves
When you’re not using your card deck, it’s important to store it properly. Improper storage can lead to a diminished lifespan for your cards and make them hard to handle and shuffle. You should keep your deck in an archival-quality card box with an interior that will protect each individual card. The box should be designed specifically for that purpose; you don’t want a shoebox or other container you already have lying around. You also need to keep your cards away from light, heat, moisture, and dust, so they’ll stay vibrant and last as long as possible. Storing them inside a humid garage is almost always a bad idea!
Factors to consider when buying
If you’re in a hurry, online is often your best bet. You might be able to find a card on eBay or Amazon that way and make a better deal. But if you have some time, then definitely visit an actual store. It’s easy to get impatient when you’re in search of something specific, but shopping at an actual store can save you time and money—not to mention hassle and frustration—in a number of ways The staff will know what they have: When it comes to cards, there are a lot of variables. The same game could come with different amounts of cards and dice, for example, which means it’s hard for even experienced gamers to know exactly what they want before getting into a store. A good employee will know how many cards are included with each game (and may even be able to tell you which ones), so you don’t waste time looking through boxes only to realize later that what you’re looking for isn’t there.
How to store your card deck
A deck of cards is a part of many people’s everyday life. Whether you play them with friends or family, they are an integral part of our social and entertainment lives. But did you know that by storing your card deck incorrectly you could be ruining it for yourself in future games? Follow these simple rules to get your cards fit for use again. 1) If possible, don’t store your cards in their original box. It can often lead to creases appearing on both sides of each card and sometimes leads to bent corners too. The only reason you should store them like this is if there isn’t another option available (for example if you have multiple decks). Try instead keeping them inside their box sideways so they rest against each other as much as possible when not being used. This will stop the damage from occurring during storage.
