I wanted to buy a box of bicycle cards for the local senior center to play pinochle / bridge. They could always use cards.

I don't play cards - I notice that there are two size indexes, standard and jumbo. One hand, the players are seniors. Other hand, seems like they hold a lot of cards in their hand fanned out.

Which is generally preferred by seniors to play pinochle / bridge - standard or jumbo size index (same card size, just different font size).

At $5/deck, I'd just buy one of each.

I was gonna buy a box ($35 for 12 packs?). I guess I could be a box of each but if there is a strong preference for one size vs the other, I'd just like to buy the preferred size.

I'll just check w/ them next week - I didn't know there were different sizes available.

It also seems there are playing cards and bridge playing cards (bridge cards are 1/4" narrower so that it's easier to hold many cards and fan them out, at least so it seems). Those cards don't seem to be offered in jumbo, just standard font. Maybe that's what will be preferred for pinochle as well since they hold lots of cards.

I think a pack of 12 will allow 3 tables of 4 players each.... (4 decks per table).

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:

I wanted to buy a box of bicycle cards for the local senior center to play pinochle / bridge.

Bridge and Pinochle use different sets of cards. They are not interchangeable.

A Bridge deck has fifty-two cards, values from two through ten plus jack, queen, king, and ace, in each of four suits.

A Pinochle deck has forty-eight cards. No two through eight, and the remaining cards -- nine, ten, jack, queen, king, and ace, are doubled vs. a bridge deck; i.e. two in each of the four suits.

You can make a Pinochle deck by combining two Bridge decks and removing the two through eight cards. Save the removed cards to use in the spokes of your bicycle wheels.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
Save the removed cards to use in the spokes of your bicycle wheels.

There are inexpensive card holders available.
They are basically two plastic discs held together with an elastic band. The cards are placed between the discs.
My arthritic elderly mother-in-law always used one when she played pinochle.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
Bridge and Pinochle use different sets of cards. They are not interchangeable.

I think what the senior center players do is use common decks between pinochle and bridge. They take 4 full decks and remove the numbered cards to play pinochle. Then use the full decks to play bridge.

Seems like the narrower bridge deck would be good for both games as long as the standard size font is okay. If the larger jumbo font is preferred, then just use normal sized decks w/ the jumbo font. Unless the standard font is preferred. So, sounds like 3 choices - I'll check w/ the center next week. I think they are using the standard font decks but may prefer the jumbo. Glad to see bicycle is still made in usa.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
I don't play cards - I notice that there are two size indexes, standard and jumbo. One hand, the players are seniors. Other hand, seems like they hold a lot of cards in their hand fanned out.

I believe the standard and jumbo just refer to the "print" (font) size of the number on the face of the cards, not the actual physical size of the cards.

Correct. That's my understanding. I'm thinking that the larger font is favorable for senior eyes. However, I think a pinochle hand is something like 20 cards which you fan out in your hand to hold. It seems standard font maybe preferred in that case.

So, I'm not sure which way to go yet. I'll ask the center next week.

The additional consideration is bridge cards, which is like a normal deck with standard font but the cards are physically a 1/4" narrower to facilitate fanning while holding your cards. If standard font is preferred, then perhaps a case a bridge cards works for both pinochle and bridge games (alternate days).