Kems vs Copags (AGAIN?? Yes again)

[hachkc]

You can try www.pokerchips.com , www.gamepreserve.com

They both carry DN in bridge size; not sure in that style though.

[starvs]

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You can try www.pokerchips.com , www.gamepreserve.com

They both carry DN in bridge size; not sure in that style though.

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Couldn't find the Dal Negros on gamepreserve but pokerchips.com had two bridge size decks but not the one I'm looking for. Thanks for the info though, I'll keep on looking.

[hachkc]

Try this link .

I believe these are just Torcello style but sold under the name Grand Slam because they are bridge sized.

[tantan]

I may be wrong about this, but from all the poker I've seen on TV (Celebrity poker, WSOP 2003, 2004, Poker @ the Plaza, Championship @ Redstone, WPT Seasons 1-3, Pokerstars Invitational, US Poker championships, even all the old poker on ESPN Classic, etc.) I have never seen Copags being used. About 75% of the cards shown being used are Kems. There has to be a reason why KEM is used more often than most. They tend to use the best; you don't see these shows using inferior chips. If you talk about just the quality of the cards and not the price, I think KEM is a better card. I also personaly prefer KEM designs as well.

[warewulf]

KEM is currently in between production because of the buyout/changeover to USPC. The only decks available seem to be mostly rejects of poor quality. Plus who knows what quality their new decks will be if/when they start making them.

I recently got a double deck of the "CA Cardroom" backs from nicetoys.com, a green and brown deck. The brown was fine, but the green was terrible, did not slide on the felt at all. I emailed them and they sent me a replacement green deck that was as bad as the other. I then emailed them again, had to send both green decks back. They then sent me an opened green deck (I told them to open it and make sure they're decent) and another brown deck. The green deck was great, but missing the Jack of Clubs. I emailed them AGAIN. They refunded my money.

Because of this and other similar experiences I have read about, I dont suggest anyone buy Kem until they get their Sh1t together. In the meantime, Copag is the best choice.

[tantan]

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KEM is currently in between production because of the buyout/changeover to USPC. The only decks available seem to be mostly rejects of poor quality. Plus who knows what quality their new decks will be if/when they start making them.

I recently got a double deck of the "CA Cardroom" backs from nicetoys.com, a green and brown deck. The brown was fine, but the green was terrible, did not slide on the felt at all. I emailed them and they sent me a replacement green deck that was as bad as the other. I then emailed them again, had to send both green decks back. They then sent me an opened green deck (I told them to open it and make sure they're decent) and another brown deck. The green deck was great, but missing the Jack of Clubs. I emailed them AGAIN. They refunded my money.

Because of this and other similar experiences I have read about, I dont suggest anyone buy Kem until they get their Sh1t together. In the meantime, Copag is the best choice.

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understandable. I purchased my two decks of KEM last summer and have not had to try and order new KEMs. I don't need to because they last a long time with proper care. My friend recently purchase two decks online and both were fine.

Still, if I had to order a new deck, I would still take my chances with KEM (there is a store in my city that sells them so I could preview them). I would rather use my old KEMs than use a new deck of COPAGs. Don't misinterpret what I mean by that; I simply prefer KEMs over COPAGs when you factor out the cost. Is the cost that big of a difference? I don't think so. Do you guys all buy generic soda over Coke/Pepsi because it's cheaper?

I'm not tyring to discount what warewulf is saying, if KEM can't get their crap together, they'll lost out to COPAG. But if took a normal deck of each, the KEMs are better. At least if you judge by what's used in major tournaments.

Why would a huge tournament use inferior equipment? Does the Superbowl or World Cup use some avaerage ball you can get at Academy? Or do they use the best available ball/equipment?

[ky70]

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...Still, if I had to order a new deck, I would still take my chances with KEM (there is a store in my city that sells them so I could preview them). I would rather use my old KEMs than use a new deck of COPAGs. Don't misinterpret what I mean by that; I simply prefer KEMs over COPAGs when you factor out the cost. Is the cost that big of a difference? I don't think so. Do you guys all buy generic soda over Coke/Pepsi because it's cheaper?

I'm not tyring to discount what warewulf is saying, if KEM can't get their crap together, they'll lost out to COPAG. But if took a normal deck of each, the KEMs are better. At least if you judge by what's used in major tournaments.

Why would a huge tournament use inferior equipment? Does the Superbowl or World Cup use some avaerage ball you can get at Academy? Or do they use the best available ball/equipment?

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To each his own, but I would not spend more money for a product that is, at best, of equal value. Unless there are differences between one style of Kem deck to another (I own the paisley Kem's) the Kem cards are just simply not a better card (IMO) than the copag signature series cards (Design with the word Copag on the back) that I prefer. Now if you're comparing the Kem's to the Copag 1546 style deck, then I am in complete agreement with you that the Kem's are better (the 1546s have a cheaper/flimsier feel to me), but when compared to the Copag Signature series decks, the Kem's lose the race for first (specifically, these Copags have a better texture to me). I was fooling around with all 4 of my plastic decks (Kem,Copag,Copag,Dal Negro) last night and I still prefer the signature Copag's over them all but I am starting to appreciate the Kem's more. So yes I would spend more for Coke if I enjoyed Coke more than the competition, but I damn sure wouldn't pay more for Coke if I thought that Mr Pibb or Tab [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] or a generic cola tasted better AND it cost less (substance over form)...I wish all my decisions after the flop were this easy. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Now if the Kem Arrow decks have a different feel than the paisley Kem's, then I may need to try those out to see if my opinion changes, but if the only difference is the design on the back, I'll pass.

The bad news is that I hear the Signature series is no longer in production so they will not be available much longer. With this in mind, I ordered the Master styled Copag's because I have this feeling that they will have the same texture/feel as the signature cards. I should get them any day now. If I'm wrong, I may just have load up on the best plastic card out there (that I've used) before they no longer exist. YMMV

[tantan]

Very good points. My arrow back kems are nicer than my other deck, casino club, but I prefer the casino club design.

Anyway, I realize that it's all subjective and people have different tastes and preferences. I don't want to force anyone to buy one cpmany's plastic deck over the other.

My question is if Kem and Copag cards are similar in terms of quality or if Copag is better, why don't major tournaments use them? Why have I not seen Copags on TV? I have even seen other plastic cards on TV (with the clear majority being KEM) but never Copag

[starvs]

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Very good points. My arrow back kems are nicer than my other deck, casino club, but I prefer the casino club design.

Anyway, I realize that it's all subjective and people have different tastes and preferences. I don't want to force anyone to buy one cpmany's plastic deck over the other.

My question is if Kem and Copag cards are similar in terms of quality or if Copag is better, why don't major tournaments use them? Why have I not seen Copags on TV? I have even seen other plastic cards on TV (with the clear majority being KEM) but never Copag

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For what it's worth I believe the USPC and last weeks Aruba WPT both used Gemaco playing cards which no one has mentioned in this thread.

[Blindfolk]

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For what it's worth I believe the USPC and last weeks Aruba WPT both used Gemaco playing cards which no one has mentioned in this thread.

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I just bought a friend two decks of Gemaco's for his birthday. 25 bucks; I hope they're as good as the KEMs I've played with.