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When you start hosting playing card events like Euchre, you quickly realize you go through a lot of decks — which also means spending a lot of money over time. You’ll also notice something surprising: some cards simply feel better than others. Differences in size, texture, and thickness can be more significant than you might expect. And interestingly, the most expensive cards aren’t always the best choice.

Our Euchre nights usually involve about seven rounds of play. To make things even more interesting, we often play in bars and restaurants where people are eating before — or even during — the games. As a result, cards absorb grease and food residue. Add in drinks on uncovered tables (often without coasters), and cards frequently end up on damp or wet surfaces. Ironically, the cards that feel the nicest at first are often the ones that soak up grime the fastest.

Euchre is our primary game, and it comes with one unique consideration: the Euchre deck only uses cards from Ace down to Nine. That means nearly half of a standard deck goes unused. One easy way to save money when hosting Euchre events is to buy Pinochle decks instead, since they contain two full Euchre decks. This helps reduce waste and stretches your budget further.

In these reviews, we keep this real-world playing environment in mind so we can recommend the best cards for your next card party. We hope this helps as you plan your events!