Review: Madison Dealers (Erdnase Green) Playing Cards

This review will feature the Madison Dealers Erdnase Green Playing Cards. Review taken from the archive of TuckCase.

Released by Ellusionist.com, the Madison Dealers are of Daniel Madison, popular card magician and illusionist.  Madison had these cards "printed to [his] specifications"  from the design right down to the paper stock and finish. These cards come in a common unlimited Erdnase green and a rare Scarlet red. In order to obtain the Scarlet deck one must purchase a brick of the Erdnase. The cards are not your typical playing cards as Daniel implemented a built in marking system for card hustlers to use for their advantage. It is not known whether or not these cards were printed by USPCC but it is highly speculated.



The specs:

Name: Madison Dealers - Erdnase Green
Company: Ellusionist
Release Date: June 24th, 2013
Stock: Casino Bee (Speculated)
Finish: Magic Finish (Speculated)
Colors: Erdnase Green (Also comes in Scarlet Red)
Face: Standard
Size: Poker

The tuck case design is all white with a card finish.The entire case design is rather minimalist with only the name of the cards plus "Luxury Playing Cards" and Madison's logo on the front in Erdnase green, which is the same color used on S. W. Erdnase 'Expert At The Card Table' first edition. The back design is on the box's back and "Madison Dealers" is written across the top flap. Extremely simple, extremely luxurious. An interesting design element that was added to the case is the "JL" on one inside side flap, which was done in respect to the artist of the cards -  Jeff Lianza. Jeff is also a good friend of Daniel's and makes an appearance in the card deck as the King of Spades.

The back design is a two way borderless design in Erdnase green that features Madison's logo repeated. This is reminiscent of the early house casino decks that were used around the time Erdnase's book was first published - 1902. Most people nowadays know borderless to be the Bee brand of cards. The back design also includes the special marking system that Daniel developed. Most marked decks comes at a hefty price tag but these are offered at normal cost of a custom deck (currently on Ellusionist.com for $6.99).

For the spectator, if they look at the back design enough, it will play tricks on them as the small repeating pattern tends to make the brain do odd things. The marking system in that sense is undetectable. However, as the card magician once you train your eyes where to look for the markings, the back design becomes much less confusing. If you struggle with sight and your vision is poor, this marking system may cause you trouble as the markings are only visible within arms reach. Holding this deck further away causes more problems so trying to use these cards to cheat in a poker game won't be of use.  According to the instruction video, the point of these cards were to be held close up - hence, being called "dealers."

Editors note: I played with this deck for a couple of hours after learning the marking system and was able to guess cards just by glancing at the back. My suggestion is to get used to finding/looking at the markings without giving yourself up first and then memorize the suits. Finally, once you know the suits, tackle the numbers and court cards. I learned if you break it up into three steps, instead of trying to get it all at once, you will get the system much quicker.  

The deck comes with a standard 52 plus 2 jokers, a double back and an ad card. The jokers feature a dead crow, which is extremely morbid for this deck of cards. Considering the deck says "Luxury Playing Cards" on the front of the box, anything to do with death and blood is far from luxury. The crows are not new to Madison's design as his last deck of cards the Rounders also featured them. Despite the morbid Joker design, a 3 of clubs reveal is built into the legs of the dead crow on one of the Joker cards. This is very undetectable unless you are really looking for it or have been told it is there. The Jokers also are not part of the marking system. If you plan on using the marking system it is best you take the Jokers out.

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The Ace of Spades follows the "Luxury" theme by creating an ace out of Madison's logo. The court cards all have a custom Anglo-American style design. Each court features someone from Daniel's life, whether it be another magician or good friend. Daniel is actually featured on the King of Diamonds, which also has a 9 of Clubs reveal.  The Rounders also used people from Daniel's life as well. The use of real life people in a deck of cards is quite interesting and makes these cards all that more personal.

The number cards are standard with no differences other than a slightly darker red ink used on the hearts and diamond.

The Madison Dealers are extremely durable. Used for over 24 hours for practicing and breaking them in, the cards still look, feel and perform like brand new. The cards are a bit stiff as shuffling will require some hand strength initially. Over time that does not become a problem. Fanning is extremely easy as no clumping of the cards occurs. They are almost too smooth so be mindful of that as they do have a tendency to slip away from your fingers.

Notes on the Madison Dealers:

• Brought to us by Daniel Madison and Ellusionist, who also brought us the Madison Rounders.


• This deck was speculated to be the Madison Red Rounders.


• The factory of this deck is not given out. It is speculated that USPCC printed this. However, USPCC is not mentioned anywhere on the deck or in any of the marketing material.


• Daniel Madison also brought the Madison Players to market with Theory 11.

Final Assessment: The Madison Dealers are an extremely useful and versatile deck of playing cards. Although they are not a designer deck where you will see a lot of depth and color, they are certainly a hustler's deck with many tools for performing tricks. This deck has two reveals and a marking system that can all be used in a lot of different tricks.  This deck is recommended for the magician who doesn't want to spend time marking his/her own deck. It is also for the magician who doesn't want to pay double the price for a marked deck. The Scarlet red version of this deck is something for all collectors to track down as there were only a limited amount made available.

Score: 9.5/10

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Review: INFINITY Playing Cards by Ellusionist

This review will feature the INFINITY Playing cards and is taken from the archive of TuckCase. One of the coolest decks I ever laid eyes on is the INFINITY Series deck by Ellusionist, which was designed by the famous Lee Mckenzie. A lot of work went into this deck to get it this cool. Here are the details from Ellusionist's website:

One of the most ambitious decks of cards in Ellusionist history, we set out to create the most unique deck of playing cards ever created. 

The tuck box of the Infinity deck overflows with a richness of design that US Playing card originally said, "Cannot be accomplished." So, we went to work directly with their pressmen, their special effects experts, research & development departments, working in unison to finally land upon a creation that is worth of notoriety in the world of playing cards. It is important to note that only First Edition Infinity Decks had the embossed tuck boxes. The decks available now are 2nd Editions and the box is NOT embossed.

The specs:

Name: INFINITY
Company: Ellusionist
Release Date: November 22nd, 2011
Stock: Bee Casino grade stock
Finish:  Performance Coating/Magic finish
Colors: Black, white, metallic red, metallic silver, metallic gold, turquoise
Face: Standard
Size: Poker

Most people will be interested in learning the difference between the two editions of this deck. The only difference between the 1st edition and the 2nd is the embossing on the tuck case. It is unfortunate that the 2nd edition doesn't have embossing but that is what makes it the second edition. If you can get your hands on the 1st edition you will have everything this deck has to offer. If you lose a card in the first deck or have to rip it or write on it for a certain magic routine, no need to fear the cards in the 2nd edition will work as replacements.

INFINITY comes with 56 cards in total - the complete 52, two Jokers, an ad card and a double back. The backs of the cards are duel-directional so it doesn't matter which way you hold them. There is a reveal on one of the Jokers that makes this deck really useful for a lot of different card tricks. The cards feature Ellusionist's Performance Coating finish that is actually superior when compared to Bicycle's Standard Air Cushion finish. The Performance Coating makes card fans, spreads and overall handling a breeze. INFINITY also uses Bee Casino Grade Stock which makes these cards extremely durable and last longer than your standard Bicycle deck.  Magicians and card players will be pleased with this deck's longevity.

Everything about the INFINITY deck design is custom - the colors, tuck case, the Jokers, court cards and even the pips! The design is extremely intricate with metallic inks that make even the pips pop. The more I look at this deck the more I find in its design. The back design features deep shadows, swirling line work and the tiniest text that spirals the word INFINITY into the deepest parts of the design creating a three-dimensional effect that you will just get lost in. Although Ellusionist card decks are made with the magician in mind, these cards will make any fan of design drool.

The custom pip design is a unique take on the hearts, spades, clubs and diamonds. The court cards are not only a change in color but the patterns in their dress have all been changed. However, the suicide king, one-eyed jack and the man with the ax are all present in their traditional poses. Often times when decks go completely custom the designer takes the liberty of switching up those cards by removing those traditional elements.  Thankfully that is not the case with the INFINITY deck.



The Ace of Spades is somewhat abstract, which looks like a smokescreen taking the shape of the spade with no real line work. It is odd that the Ace of Spades has this abstract look considering the rest of the deck has confident line work throughout.

The Joker cards are my favorite cards in this deck. They feature a fully bearded "Old Man Time" type figure that truly takes on the concept of infinity. They also have many different design elements that will take you by surprise. As stated previously, one of the Jokers features a cool reveal that goes unnoticed unless you are really looking for it. There is no guarantee on this deck as it is not a USPCC brand issued deck but a 3rd party deck. Despite holding their products to the highest quality, Ellusionist does not have a guarantee on their decks.

Notes on the Infinity Series Deck:

• Took USPCC and Ellusionist about 2 years to bring this deck to life.


• Fully custom intricate design.


• Reveal included on one of the Jokers.


• 2nd Edition decks do not have embossing on the tuck case.


• The designer of this deck also worked on other decks for Ellusionist including Artifice and Artifice Arcane.

Final Assessment: The INFINITY Series Playing Card deck is the bee's knees! Although totally custom the elements of a traditional deck all remain intact. The Ace of Spades is it's only real downfall in terms of design but beyond that it is hard to find fault. As most Ellusionist decks have great handling, this deck is perfect for their target market of magicians. Casual card players will enjoy this deck as well but will be instantly taken for the design. This deck runs about $8 on the Ellusionist website so it might be a bit pricey if you are only going to use them to play cards every other weekend. However, considering the difficulty it took to bring this deck to market it is a must have for a collector and it wouldn't be out of this world if it was priced for double the amount. If you do pick up this deck you might be tempted not to play with it because of how nice it looks. Then again, you could just pick up more than one!

Score: 9.7/10

Review: Artisan Playing Cards by Theory 11

This review will feature both the White Artisan Playing Cards and the Black Artisan Playing cards. Review taken from the archive of TuckCase.

Designed by South African Designer Simon Frouws, Theory 11's Artisan Playing Cards are the epitome of elegance. Initially released in 2012 as a single Black Edition Artisan deck, Theory 11 just released the second (final?) deck of the series, the White Edition Artisan Playing Cards.

The specs:

Name: Theory 11 Black Edition Artisan Playing Cards/White Edition Artisan
Company: Theory 11
Release Date: November 23, 2012/May 10, 2013
Stock: FSC-certified stock
Finish:  Eco Finish
Colors: Black, Gold, Deep red, White
Face: Standard
Size: Poker

Despite being distributed by a company that focuses on magic and performance, the description and the background given out about these cards focuses on "environmentally friendly" lingo. This is not a bad thing as Theory 11 does this with a lot of their decks that are quality performing products but I would appreciate more info about the finish and actual stock used. So far all we are told by Theory 11 is the following:

 "...these premium, luxury playing cards feature elegant gold foil hot stamped onto ultra-lux black paper derived from sustainable forests....produced at The United States Playing Card Company using FSC-certified papers derived from sustainable forests, vegetable-based inks and starch-based laminates. The result is a durable finish that respects the environment." 

We know one thing, these are the cards for the environmentally conscious magician or card player.

Most will wonder what the main differences are between the Black Edition Artisan and the White Edition Artisan. The obvious difference in these cards is the main color template - black and white. Beyond that, the White Edition cards use a metallic gold ink in their cards while the Black Edition uses more of a yellow gold.

Surprisingly, I would have thought the Black Edition would have the darker gold/metallic gold and the White Edition would have the white gold ink to match their theme of light or dark. I do, however, like the light to dark/dark to light contrast that the colors add to the decks. The designs are exactly the same other than that.

The decks come with 56 cards. The two additional cards are an ad card and a double back. The  Jokers are not differentiated at all with no reveal added anywhere on the decks. The overall design of the Artisan Playing Cards is impeccable. It is not too showy or glitzy, which is great because something over the top can tend to make the whole project look gaudy. And it is by far from a minimalist design. Both decks have an equal balance of style through the back design, face cards, and Jokers. The first editions of both the White and Black Edition Artisan Playing Cards come with a matte finish with gold (white) and gold/white embossing (black) on the tuck cases.

The duel-directional or two way back design features a white border on both decks with an overall design that is reminiscent of an American money note. Defined patterned borders, emblems and Latin phrases. The centerpiece of the back design is an intertwined G and A inside an emblem that I suppose stands for Artisan and Guild, which compliments the phrase "The Guild of Artisans." I do not believe this is for any particular group but more of a general homage to all artists - magicians included.

In the photo above featuring the Ace of Spades there is an added design element that is included on both of these decks that display the Edition Number or the month the decks were printed. I like this element because it is an obvious way of letting the deck holder know what edition they have and it is an element that most playing cards don't have. First edition Black decks will have 11/12 and first edition White decks will have 04-13. It is interesting to note the difference in the way the date is displayed. The design of the actual Ace of Spades takes the same elements of the back design inside a large spade. Design consistency is played out perfectly here.
The Joker features the "Jolly Joker" that appears to be juggling the four suits within a tight and circular emblem/logo. It is unfortunate the Jokers feature no reveal or any differentiation. It would have been cool to see more done with the "Jolly Joker" character. Instead of an emblem, one Joker could have been presented outside an emblem in a traditional pose similar to the Bicycle Standard 808 Joker. Given this deck is heavy on paying homage to design and artistry it is slightly disappointing they underutilized the second Joker.

Face Cards all follow the Standard playing card design but integrate the deep reds, golds, black and white color palette used in the Joker cards above. Number cards are similar to a Standard deck as well but use deeper reds for the hearts and diamonds.

As far as performance goes they are not as slippery as the Performance Coating finish cards that Ellusionist features on their decks just to give a comparison  However, they perform, fan, spread, shuffle and cut nicely. The only hang up is that the edges are not as smooth as I would have hoped for. This is specifically concerning the White Edition Artisan where I can see where the machine cut the cards down from sheets to decks. It is very minor but noticeable. As far as durability goes they will last as long as any Bicycle Standard deck.
Notes on the Artisan Playing Cards:

+ The Black Edition Artisan Playing Cards were released in November 2012.

+ The White Edition Artisan Playing Cards were released in May 2013.

+ Despite the hype, these playing cards are not Limited Edition Playing Cards and will be available until further notice.

+ Designed by Simon Frouws.

+ Marketing focuses on environmentally friendly production instead of performance.

Final Assessment:

These cards are all design first and performance second. I think if magicians are looking for an incredibly designed deck of cards to show off with they can't lose with this deck. They have the same feel as a Bicycle Standard deck so if that is what you practice with these will feel natural in your hands. However, I would not recommend practicing with this deck in order to preserve the deck longer than a Standard deck of cards. Why waste such a beautiful deck on practice? With all that said, Theory 11 seems to write their descriptions with the gift buyer, collector and environmentally conscious person in mind. I do not know who they are targeting but it almost definitely doesn't seem like the magician or card player that focuses on durability and performance.

Final Score: 9.5/10 

Review: Theory 11 Rebels

The Theory 11 Rebels were designed by Shepard Fairey's StudioNumberONE. Shepard Fairey is the famous designer/artist who did the iconic Obama Hope poster as well as album art for many national recording artists. The Theory 11 Rebels were released on August 31, 2012. Review taken from the archive of TuckCase.

The Specs:

Name: Theory 11 Rebels
Company: Theory 11, Designed by StudioNumberONE
Release Date: August 31, 2012
Stock: FSC-certified stock
Finish:  Eco Finish
Colors: Black, Metallic Silver, Gold, White, Red
Face: Standard
Size: Poker

The tuck case is truly a work of art. The design is filled with iconic and symbolic imagery that is bordered by embossed metallic silver ink. The US capital building is the centerpiece of the two way back design as a two headed eagle, which is used throughout history on flags and other historical pieces, is the main piece for the front of the tuck case. I like the contrast between the name "Rebels" and the heavy imagery that often depicts the State or unity. Although it seems to be contrary, Theory 11's website states the following:

The back design proudly features the United States Capitol Building, a timeless symbol of our nation’s united spirit of independence.  

With that, the theme of this deck can be interpreted in many ways as it is quite mysterious as to why the elements were chosen. The deck can be saying that the US is a rebel as in independent country or it could be paying homage to the way our founding fathers rebelled in history to secure the nation's independence or it can be saying something else. The up-for-grabs interpretation definitely adds to the deck's appeal.

Once you open the tuck case, you are instantly greeted with a red inside. This is a nice change as most decks usually do not do much with the inside of the tuck case.

The deck is a standard 52 deck with 2 Jokers, one double back and an ad card. The two jokers do not offer any differentiation or secret reveal. I am surprised there is no reveal as this deck seems like it would offer something like that given its use of iconic symbols throughout. The Jokers  feature silhouettes of dancing but symmetrical jokers. Despite taking up most of the cards, the joker design is very light. The design is a nice fit in a deck that comes with so many strong objects.

The Ace of Spades is one of my favorite Ace of Spades ever, as it is a huge spade with the double headed eagle in the middle. This iconic image within another iconic image is extremely powerful. I do not think I have ever seen a stronger Ace of Spades design.

The court and number cards are traditional and predominately feature heavy and dark gold, red and navy inks. Given the metallic silver used on the tuck case, I am surprised the court cards did not feature colder colors.  Although I am surprised, it is certainly not a bad thing. To me the contrast shows just how much this deck "rebels" against the mind as you think you will get one thing but you end up getting another.

Aside from design, this deck performs like the majority of the Theory 11 decks. Fanning is quick and slippery but provides enough grip to keep control. Durability is also at the max. This deck can be shuffled, fanned, dealt and dealt again without losing form and snap.

Notes on the Theory 11 Rebels Playing Cards:

• Designed by StudioNumberONE, which is owned by Shepard Fairey.


• Heavy contrasting elements.


• Features the latin phrase, Et Lux In Tenebris Lucet,  which means "And light shines in the darkness" on the back design and tuck case.

Final Assessment: The Theory 11 Rebels are most definitely in my top 5 favorite playing card decks. The iconic imagery exemplifies strength, confidence and power. All three feelings and qualities that are needed to perform under pressure, whether it be in close proximity to a small group or in front of a huge auditorium in front of hundreds. The Rebels are the epitome of it's name by utilizing contrasting colors and statist imagery. The only thing this deck doesn't rebel against is the handler's hands.

Final score: 9.7 

Review: The Ultimate Deck by Stranger & Stranger

The Ultimate Deck came out around the 2012 holiday season in a collaboration between the Buck twins and packaging design firm, Stranger & Stranger. The deck was created as a way for Stranger & Stranger to celebrate the 2012 work year as it was a pivotal year in new package design. The deck took over a year to produce as every single playing card in the deck contains a completely different custom design edge to to edge. Dubbed the "most expensive deck ever produced", The Ultimate Deck retails at a around $25 a pop.

The Specs:

Name: The Ultimate Deck
Company: Stanger & Stranger/Dan and Dave
Release Date: January 2013
Stock: Casino Bee
Finish: Air Cushion Finish
Colors: Multiple
Face: Standard
Size: Poker

The tuck case comes with a classic black matte finish with glossy embossing. It features nostalgic design elements that give the impression of holding an ancient book. The centerpiece is a glossy silver embossed two-way "Stranger" given the effect to create the impression of it being a two-way design. The design, however, is not a two-way design. Underneath the centerpiece on both ends, the one-way design is made apparent. When turned one way it reads "Ultimate Deck" but when turned the other way it reads "Stranger & Stranger." Each side of the embossed centerpiece either reads, "NYC" or "LTN" as well.

The tuck case features a stamp-like seal that is reminiscent of very early decks printed by The United States Playing Card Company. The stamp is totally vintage but it fits in perfectly with the overall concept. The stamp reads "1994 Dead Man's Hand" which is the year the company formed.

The tuck case is a very strong element of the entire deck. It might be the strongest given the amount of detail that goes into it with the gloss on matte finish complete with embossing. The design of the tuck is unforgettable as the two way illusion is created without even being a true two-way. The dark but vintage feel that dresses the entire box sucks you in to a world of mystery just begging you to open the deck to explore its many caves.

Once you break through the stamp seal, you will be greeted with 56 completely custom designed playing cards. It is clear from the start that The Ultimate Deck is 100% an art deck and does not lend itself to be played with. Some of the designs are too over the top and get in the way of actual play. Not to mention the price point of this deck is far beyond something you'd want to dirty your hands on.

Below is an example where the numbers and indices get lost in the artwork: the King of Spades ....or "King of Bulls." The only way we know this is the King of Spades is because the other Kings have been accounted for.

The deck comes with one gaff card and an ad card. Interestingly enough, the gaff card is a "create your own card" which can be used to create any of the other cards in the deck. Since this deck will most likely not enter play, this gaff card somewhat falls flat.

The back design is a flat version of the art on the tuck case. Designed to look two-way at a glance, the back design is most definitely one way as mentioned earlier about the tuck.

Without detailing every card in the deck, we thought we would pull out some notable cards and discuss their place in the deck.

The Ace Of Spades is the arch of any deck but when it comes to The Ultimate Deck, the AoS just becomes another card in the deck. It doesn't seem like Stranger & Stranger gave any special treatment to some of the better known cards in a deck. In fact, the Seven of Clubs got the same amount of effort as the AoS. The AoS features a spade shaped tree complete with a serpent and a snake. In other words, the AoS features The Tree Of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The biblical theme in the AoS shows the depth in The Ultimate Deck. Each card has a story and opens up great possibilities when discussing or learning about the art.

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While the tree is the focal point with it's bold red and green coloring, the card is complete with a weathered paper look almost as if it was taken out of the pages of an old book.

Creepy designs
Stranger & Stranger did not skimp on creepy. In fact, a lot of the cards in this deck are creepy pieces of art. Beautiful but creepy. With that said, the designers nailed the Suicide King. One of the most mysterious cards in a deck of 52 has got to be the King of Hearts. Was the King stabbing himself or was he being stabbed? Stranger & Stranger answered the former. Complete with bleeding hearts, macabre and a skeleton monarch; The Ultimate Deck's King of Hearts takes no prisoners and has no fear completing a story that has long been discussed.

Funny designs
In order to contrast, Stranger & Stranger knew they couldn't just feature all creepy art so they added a little bit of funny. The King of Clubs depicts a King scolding a leprechaun. Let the chuckles begin. For starters, Leprechauns are funny and mystical beings. When they are getting in trouble by bearded monarchs, the scene is just hilarious.

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Cute designs
Cute is probably the last adjective we would use to describe The Ultimate Deck but they managed to stuff it in. The Eight Of Hearts shows a little boy giving a little girl a valentine. Love is in the air as eight hearts float above the basket.

Given the small sample above, it is very clear that Stranger & Stranger created a deck that has a huge amount of artistic variety. The art on the cards features all different styles, themes and nothing is redundant or used more than once including the Jokers. It makes sense considering the amount and variety of product packaging they put out each year. The only thing consistent about The Ultimate Deck is that the artwork is great. As the artwork shines, it would have been the icing on the cake if the pips, numbers and indices were a bit more consistent throughout the deck. Let the artwork fly freely but don't make the pips and indices suffer in the process.

With that, we will not reveal or detail any more of the cards in this deck. Part of an art deck is so that is can be admired by the individual holder and we would like to respect that by only showing the few cards that were seen above.

Because this deck is an art deck, we did not handle it or break it in. We felt that after reviewing the cards and designs that the deck was not meant to be played with as much as it was meant to be admired.

Notes on The Ultimate Deck:

+ It is not clear how many designers worked on this deck but from the variety it looks as if the entire team was on board.
+ Stranger & Stranger primarily works on alcohol packaging but the ad card mentions that this project came to be to celebrate their expansion into other packaging markets.
+ Dan and Dave distribute The Ultimate Deck.
+ The deck is being sold on ebay for above the normal asking price.

Final Assessment: 
The artwork is incredible. They have that in the bag. They also added some of the history of playing cards into their designs, which was nice to know they didn't neglect it. The work can be admired from more than just playing card fans. In fact, it is probably admired more by those that don't handle cards. Collectors, fan's of product packaging, marketers, Stranger & Stranger fans will jump on this deck. Heck, this deck has the ability to turn people on to the world of playing cards. From there, we hit a wall. Art decks are fun and hip and should be on every card collector's shelf but other than that, this deck is going nowhere. On certain cards, the pip and indices look like afterthoughts or look muddled. This deck would shine if the "playing card" art was more apparent and consistent. If the suits were even recognizable, the deck might be playable making this deck practical and beautiful. However, fanning through the cards, we see zero consistencies where there should be consistencies. Kudos to Stranger & Stranger on creating a work of art but next time they should pay attention to what makes a playing card, a playing card.

Final Score: 8.5/10

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Review: HMNIM Playing Cards

This review is written by Joey Heininger for kardify. No part of this review can be reproduced without written permission from the author.

One of the things I really detest about Dan & Dave was that I was suckered into buying a customized deck from them where all the courts were the same, man I was so upset. How upset was I? Dan & Dave are likely our best sellers and I was contemplating dropping them from our inventory, that’s how upset I was. So imagine my surprise to be suckered in again. That’s right, HMNIM has repeating courts, and you know what, I ain’t even mad.

Just look at this deck, it is beautiful… no I don’t think you really know how beautiful this deck is, get in closer and have a really good look, give it a poke ‘BAM’, and just like that you have fallen prey, you are now ensnared in its beauty.

The art

Hi My Name Is Mark is an apparel company by Mark Hoppus of Blink 182 fame and HMNIM playing cards are a collaboration of them and Dan & Dave and likely one of the Buck twins best marketing ploys in the playing card world only outdone by Theory 11 and their partnership with J.J Abrams.

The art within the deck is focussed around HMNIM’s branding, in particular the use of the octopus, it has a nautical theme and for a guy that built his bathroom in the likeness of Disney’s Nautilus, of course I love it.

What I like

They are just about the coolest looking cards on the planet. The tuck box is beautifully adorned with foils and embossing, the inside of the box is just spectacular. If every deck the Buck twins released came in such a stylish package, they will start to give Theory 11 a run for their money. Oh, and it doesn’t look like a five year old scrawled out the courts with a black crayon during free play at kindergarten so there’s that… cough October cough

What I don’t like

The repeating courts in a custom deck, it’s a real killer for me. For a deck at this price and with the likes of Mark at the helm, one may be of the impression that a full suite of custom courts is not that much to ask for.

What are they good for?

Showing off! Not too crash hot for magic due to their customized nature but have a WOW factor none the less and they do have a bordered design so they can be used. Cardistry, no problem, those borders are thin enough to let the art shine through. But do you know what this deck is best for? Just having, just to say you have one of the coolest looking decks on the market today, put them on the coffee table and just see how many unsuspecting victims it will lure into a conversation.

HMNIM gets 5 and a half out of 8 blood-soaked tentacles.

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Review: The Cardistry of South East Asia (CoSEA) Lecture

The Cardistry of South East Asia (CoSEA) lecture tour is well underway with four lectures down. Jaspas Deck of the New Deck Order (NDO) kicked off the tour in Vietnam before heading south to a ballroom in Bangkok, then continuing to a Karaoke room in Kuala Lumpur and are gearing up for some Jakarta love this weekend.

CoSEA is the largest Cardistry project to-date involving 10 Cardists across 5 different countries. This ambitious project was first announce in March 2014 on Indiegogo with a funding goal of $8k. Unfortunately, this project was only 49% funded and NDO has decided to self-fund their tour and lectures.

I was fortunate enough to be in Kuala Lumpur at the same time as Jaspas and decided to drop by to the CoSEA lecture and see how things are going. Travelling in KL is a challenge with day temperature of 34˚C (93˚F), 85% humidity and overcrowded public transport!

Waiting for public transport in KL

I finally arrived at my destination only to discover that there was a slight miscommunication and the venue has been changed. The organiser was on scene and directed me to the revised venue. All good!

The heat and the venue change did not stop the eager crowd of 30 from coming out to see the 2014 WKC champion in action. Jaspas kicked off the lecture with this awesome video of his cardistry career to date.

The 3 hour lecture consists of 5 main points:

+ The Cardist
+ The Competition
+ The Message
+ The Moves
+ The Community

Jaspas talked about everything from entering contests, pacing, practice methods, improving your skills, to getting inspiration and creating moves. With his background on filmography, Japsas spent a fair bit of time dedicated to videography basics, tips and tricks.

To keep the crowd engaged, Jaspas went through step-by-step two of his signature moves - Reverse Angel and various Isolation techniques. Jaspas is a very good instructor informative, gave great techniques and tips, and I loved how he took his time with each individual. He took the time to make sure we understood each move and technique; even for a non-cardist like me.

Jaspas in action at the CoSEA lecture

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this lecture and I am no cardist. It is amazing to see Jaspas in action and get some insights to what make him the most creative mind in cardistry. Also, it is wonderful to see NDO's noble cause in reaching out to new and existing Cardists all over the world, and at the same time bringing everyone closer together.

Review: Tendril Playing Cards

This review is written by Joey Heininger for kardify. No part of this review can be reproduced without written permission from the author. You can check out Joey's Australian based online playing card store at theFlush.com.au Use discount code KARDIFY to save 10% for orders above $50.

The Man ‘O War or the Bluebottle as it is known here in Australia is a rite of passage. You are not considered a man until you have had to untangle the stinging mess of fire wire from your junk. The more courageous (read sadistic) of us would gather them up and use them as a depraved projectile in a game where there was no clear winner, except perhaps the Fish and Chip shop that sold us the vinegar to cure ourselves. Fast forward a few years and imagine my surprise to receive a deck of cards that immediately transports me back to those days of tweenage delight and the beach I grew up on.

Tendril by Paul Carpenter is one of those rare decks, for me at least that engaged an emotional response, after a quick wince and a twinge in my giggle berries after being forcefully reminded of days gone by, I sat down to have a better look. An interesting deck to say the least!

Tendril, a deck that is oddly polished enough to ensure Paul was to be forevermore taken seriously by the playing card collecting community as a designer, but somehow manages to remind you of those kindergarten days of creating butterfly art and relief paintings.

Paul introduced into the mainstream card design some really innovative and functional elements with Tendril. The back design that appears to be organic and random while remaining mirrored, the boarders on the face of the cards and lastly a box… most cards come in a box, but this one was designed specifically for the Tendril playing cards and manages to complement the deck.

How do they handle?

They handle well, as well as can be expected of any deck printed by the USPCC. There was very little clumping after good use and they spring as expected. I dropped one, but that could probably be blamed on me being a terrible shuffler.

The art

I’ll let the photos do most of the talking here, but I have to say photos just don’t do the deck justice. My personal opinion; they’re beautiful, to others they’re odd. It was the deck the cemented Encarded into playing card stardom so surely they must be alright. If nothing else, the courts are fully customised, and I know that is important to some people.

What I don’t like

The colour, it’s weird, but also somewhat hypnotic in XCM displays.

What I do like

In this case it has to be the boarders. I’m a magician so blending cards into each other is an important feature. This deck provides the shock value of black faces with a boarder to ensure upside down cards get lost in the pack.

What are they good for?

Playing poker and such. No seriously this deck is hands down one of the more versatile fully customised decks out there. Very usable in magic, XCM and for game play, I know they’re good for collecting too, as they are getting a little hard to get your hands on these days and a good chunk of them has found their way into the hands of collectors. Mike, Jackson, Victor… you know who you are, I have my eye on you.

I really should summarise this deck. It is strangely beautiful. There isn’t a deck out there like it and anyone that has tried to emulate it has failed miserably, and rightly so, this deck could have only been pulled off by the master himself; Paul. The colours are hypnotic, but not to my tastes, and the art is both organic in design by functional by nature, and somewhat cool.

Review: Plugged Nickel Playing Cards Prototype

Review by Joey Heininger of theflush.com.au

I’m an Aussie, we have some of the best beef in the world and it is all sans Mad Cow. I love me some steak, and that’s the point I’m trying to make. When I got my hands on this deck I immediately felt like I was at one of those rustic steak houses, you know the ones, with the dimly lit booths and the licence plates on the wall and some race car driver no one has ever heard of has donated his race suit that now proudly hangs over the bar?

Plugged Nickel, is that deck, that deck that doesn’t take itself seriously, that deck you would use if you were having a steak and poker night with the boys.



This is just the prototype so not all is as it will be in the final print, but it gives us a good indication of what is in store. What is in store?

The art is simple while being detailed enough to get the ambience across to its audience. One may mistake himself to be on the edge of a Texan highway sifting through road kill with all the skulls of dead animals and barbed wire that adorn the deck. The number cards have custom pips, perhaps a bit too small for my bad eyesight, that all sit over a custom background.

The art is subjective, some are gonna love it, some are gonna hate it, check out the pictures for yourself, bearing in mind the colour is not quite right due to the prototype printing method. We aren’t looking at a masterpiece here, but it has a quaint charm and will in fact really appeal to the right audience.

[Update] After writing the review, the chosen printer has been changed from Liberty to the USPCC. This will greatly change this deck for the better.

What we were really asked to look at was the chosen printer, Liberty Playing Cards of Texas USA and their stock and handling. Is Liberty Playing Cards going to knock USPCC off its smug high horse? No; there is a reason Bicycles are the most recognised playing card in the world, but that isn’t to say we don’t have a fine deck of cards here.

The stock is thick and rugged and feels like it could last a thousand hands of poker, but alas it just isn’t great for card handling. Truly skilled hands will not have any trouble manipulating this deck to do his bidding but straight out of the box I was a fumbling mess, and as I have to pass this deck along I couldn’t truly break it in. They have a texture similar to the USPCC Air Cushion, but clump slightly. I see them clumping badly after a little use, especially, if like me you live in a humid climate.

But! I don’t really see this deck being overly appealing to the magic / XCM market. This deck would however really suit the good ol’ boys drinkin’ Bourbon and shootin’ the bull over a game or two of Poker and to a lesser extent, Go Fish, and for this I think Liberty really do offer something better than a great deal of those cheaper card producers do.

If the USPCC was a ten year old port barrel whiskey, the MPC would be cheap supermarket beer… that would make Liberty a Bourbon you have to mix with a coke to drink.

If you see this deck for sale and you know you have a poker game coming up, go ahead, grab it, your buddies will enjoy the difference from the run of the mill French courts, but if you are looking for the next deck to wow you audience in a dazzling display of XCM dexterity, grab a deck of Aristocrats instead.

Plugged Nickel printed by Liberty Playing Cards gets five and a half out of ten race car jump suits.

This review is written by Joey Heininger for kardify. No part of this review can be reproduced without written permission from the author. You can check out Joey's Australian based online playing card store at theFlush.com.au Use discount code KARDIFY to save 10% for orders above $50. 

Also big thanks to Eli Retschlag for providing the photos for this review. Check out Eli's review of the deck below and for more reviews and cardistry videos checkout Eli's youtube channel.

Review: Empire Playing Cards

A big milestone in my career was the day I stepped from out of the shadows of my boss and did it myself… It was a complete cock-up.

Then there are guys like Lee McKenzie. Lee, once an artist for that company that gets way more hate than it deserves for regurgitating decks in different colours that we still buy because we secretly like them and want them for our ever expanding collection. Lee has recently left that company to build his own; Kings and Crooks.

The first deck for Lee on his own turf was Empire. Blisteringly successful, his project shone with the force of a thousand suns to burn a hole in enough pockets to make Brad tremble a little. It was this deck that saw Lee with Success on Kickstarter and release a deck for magicians and collectors now hard to get your hands on.

Why is Empire so hard to get a hold of these days? Those that had them for sale have sold them, those that bought them have kept them, and I dropped a deck in to the pool, so there’s one less deck to be had.

Empire will likely remain the most sought after Kickstarter deck for us. Even though we can no longer get them, I am constantly bombarded with requests to restock them, however Empire was a limited release and there is just no more to be had. We live in hope for an unlimited release in the future.

Does it work? 

I was, as my wife put it “Embarrassing yourself again Joseph” by practicing in public with this deck, a complete stranger walks up to me and says “that’s a fine deck of cards you have there” and then just walked away, I didn’t even get a chance to tell him where to buy it from. Sure I was taken aback, but I think it is a testament as to how well the deck works.

This deck has a bag of tricks too, the six of heats reveal and the subtle one way feature. Empire is functional and collectable.

The art

Lee McKenzie… ‘Nuff said.

What I don’t like

That I don’t have anymore.

What I do like

What I like is this deck is completely customised, and completely functional. Unlike other highly popular, fully customised decks, this one serves its owner well in the usability category. I also like that they handle just as good as about every other high quality deck ever printed by the USPCC.

Empire! Uhh, what is it good for? Absolutely anything

Want to play poker? Go ahead. Are you a magician? A deck doesn’t come any better. Need a bookmark? Lee has you covered with a box full of them that will make your fellow book club members jealous. Good for XCM and flourishing and also highly collectable, this deck gets my highest rating ever… three thumbs up.


This review is written by Joey Heininger for kardify. No part of this review can be reproduced without written permission from the author. You can check out Joey's Australian based online playing card store at theFlush.com.au Use discount code KARDIFY to save 10% for orders above $50.

Review: Medallions Playing Cards

In between his busy airline day job and fatherhood, Joey Heininger runs an Australian based online playing card store, theflush. From this month, Joey will be a contributor on Kardify to provide us with playing card reviews. He will give us a run down on art, feel, and how usable the decks are in specific applications, and his own personal thoughts with a touch of Aussie humour.

It has been said that the “greatest playing cards” ever produced are Theory 11’s Monarchs, and I couldn’t agree more, they have style, they have flair and they lack that extremely annoying nasal voice, but much like Nanny Fine, they have had more outfits than one should own before making a trip to charity to donate one. They come in three basic colours Red, Blue, and White Silver, this is before you include the rare Gold version.

So how does one dress up their flagship deck and provide us with something new, all without losing greatness? They drop the suit and tie for something a little more casual, something like a pirate’s costume.

Does it work? 

If you like layered brown and gold, then yes, if you don’t then you have never had the pleasure of seeing my wife’s hair in the sun. Medallions are Theory11’s best deck on offer after Monarchs in its little red number. It has the same “Ultra-Lux” card stock for the tuck as the Red Monarchs… I don’t even know what Ultra-Lux is, but it sure does feel nice, and lasts a little longer in the pocket too.

The art, by French graphic designer JC Desevre is reminiscent of 18th century pirate booty, hence the name, the tuck flap has a key hole making the tuck look like a treasure chest, and the courts are standard with customised elements complementary to the overall design.

What I don’t like 

The white borders; while the deck has been printed with USPCC’s highest quality control and the boarders are thin, set against the brown and gold, the White borders make the deck look like someone dropped block of chocolate in a flurry of flour. The other element that I don’t like is their unwillingness to adopt a more customised look and print the black pips in a complementary brown, but hey for a deck so sophisticated in its presentation and design can forgive them.

What I do like

Everything else; as per usual Theory 11 has provided us with all the bells and whistles a collector could need and a magician could want, beautiful art, embossed tuck, the right mix of stock and finish, foil accents and to top it all off nicely, a seal, something lacking in both my family car’s motor and many Ellusionist tucks.

What are they good for? 

They’re good in just about all applications one would use a deck of cards. The white borders I complained about earlier is actually a blessing for some, it means they are a usable deck in magic, the boarders are thin too so they work well in XCM, you would be the talk of the table if you broke these bad boys out at poker and if you have a wobbly table you will have 56 little slivers of card and the box they came in to even it out.

The Medallions is easily one of my favourite decks and it is easy to see why it is one of our best sellers. This is a must have deck in your arsenal.


This review is written by Joey Heininger for kardify. No part of this review can be reproduced without written permission from the author. You can check out Joey's Australian based online playing card store at theFlush.com.au

Review: Max Playing Cards and Kardify on Crowd-Funding Part II: What Works, What Doesn't and the Future

Kickstarter has been enormously successful helping pioneer the crowd funding of creative projects. The model is to set a fundraising goal. If the project meets its goal, the money is transferred to the creators to fund the development of the project. Kickstarter collects a 5 percent fee, the creator gets funding, and the backers get the satisfaction of sponsoring a new idea.

In the second part of our crowd-funding review, we will look at what works, what doesn't work and the future of crowd-funding. We have invited several project creators who have successfully completed and delivered on their campaign to this dialogue.

Join Lotrek of Half Moon Playing Cards,  Randy Butterfield of Midnight Card Company, Juan Solorzano as well as Max of maxplayingcards and Ivan of Kardify as we chat about this popular crowd-funding platform. Enjoy!

Max: Kickstarter is a fantastic idea to help small creators to become their dreams a reality. Regarding playing cards, and working with big companies such as USPCC, it is almost impossible for a talented (or not so talented) creator to print a deck with a minimum edition of 2,500 units and all the expenditures regarding shipping and publicity. They can promote their work and get funds without big risks because if they don't have funds enough, the investment hasn't to be too big. Kickstarter is also a huge showcase that is promoted almost by itself as it connects people who participate in social networks and forums, as well as bloggers who spread the voice about projects and creators.

GROTESQUE Playing Cards by Lotrek

Lotrek: Agreed, the fact that within Kickstarter a huge audience for playing card projects has been built, is the main advantage. Makes you confident that if you have a powerful work, you won’t get lost. It’s also a great tester regarding how well will your deck do later in the market.

Ivan: I think Kickstarter has change the landscape of the playing card industry. Today, we have so much more choices and the ability to discover new and talented designers and artists. I must say, even with the increased in the number of projects, the quality of the decks that is coming is out is incredible!

Lotrek: As a creator, something else that I really like is the direct contact with your backers/buyers. The feedback you have from hundreds of people during the campaign is very empowering and also helps you to avoid or repeat mistakes. You cannot have this opportunity when you just design a deck, have it printed and then throw it in the market.

Ivan: Having completed your own successful Kickstarter campaign, what do you guys think works?

Randy: I don't think anyone can say in all honesty that they know exactly what works on Kickstarter. Having a project that is well thought out and shows the potential Backers exactly what they're Pledging towards is a great start to a successful campaign.

Juan: I think what works on Kickstarter is knowing what kind of projects will do well, especially if executed correctly. The most important thing about any Kickstarter project is to follow the guidelines provided on the Kickstarter school page. That's exactly what I did, and it was very critical to do so. I have seen many projects that skip important parts such as not having a video, and either do not get funded or barely make it. If they had a video, I am sure that their funded would be much more and they would hit their stretch goals. So, the guidelines of having a successful Kickstarter are there, let's take advantage of them!

Ivan: For creative projects the Kickstarter model works well- collect money first, deliver product later. As long as the creator is genuine, you can expect that they’ll deliver something. However, many projects are left unfulfilled and this presented Kickstarter with a problem. It doesn’t keep track of projects after the funding is delivered.  It doesn’t monitor progress, offer assistance, or enforce refunds. Kickstarter recognized this—and changed its guidelines to make it clear that consumers shouldn’t expect fully finished products. I think that doesn’t work for me in Kickstarter. No accountability on their part. What about you guys think?

Max: Agreed, for me it is the protection against scammers and liars. In my opinion, Kickstarter acts as an accomplice to the "crime" when a creator cannot or just doesn't want to fulfil the promise. Kickstarter takes its percentage and washes its hands when backers don't receive their promised reward. This lack of commitment extends to credit card companies that are shielded from these situations. Furthermore, if the backer is outside the USA, international laws of many countries don't includes laws to regulate such situations, mainly because the pledges are intended as donations. Kickstarter procedures should be reviewed for these cases (that I am sure are the less), but I think this is something that goes against their interests.

Lotrek: I cannot say that there was something that didn’t work. There are always malicious people who will cause problems but the percentage is so small that it is not worth mentioning.

Ivan: How about from a creators perspective?

Randy: No matter how buttoned-up a project is, or how great everything looks, it will be a tough sell if the Kickstarter crowd isn't interested in the subject matter. The Imperial Deck had that problem. I chose the artistic subject matter more for myself, and neglected to take into account the age range of most of the Playing Card community. I will not make that mistake again!

White ORNATES by Randy Butterfield

Lotrek: As for me,  the annoying thing about Kickstarter is the fact that it’s only open to creators from specific countries. I cannot understand it and it causes me many problems as I am a Greece based creator. I hope they’ll change that in the near future.

Ivan: I think this will happen eventually. Kickstarter have expended its platform to Australia and New Zealand late 2013. It will be a matter of time before Kickstarter expand to different regions such as Asia and Europe. This will make it much easier for creators from in that region to launch their projects and we will definitely see more backer funded playing cards. What about you gents, where do you think crowd-funding will go in 2014?

Randy: I think crowd-funding will keep going strong in 2014. I could see one or two upstart companies trying to come in and take some of Kickstarters monopoly, but I wouldn't take the bet on them being successful.

Max: The playing cards projects have raised a lot along last year so I imagine they will be increasing day by day. The quality of the decks is getting better too so there is a natural filter that combines the experience of the backers and the quality of the projects. Otherwise, the increase of the shipping rates and the insane (and unjustified) increase of the prices for decks will make many people to give up pledging too or, at least, be much more selective with he projects they back.

Ivan: Adding to that is the fact that not only does international backers have to pay increased shipping rates but also transaction fee for credit card through Amazon Payments. I really hope Kickstarter introduce other payment option such as Paypal. How about you guys? Where do you think crowd-funding will go this year?

Lotrek: I really cannot predict. There was a plethora of playing card projects that got funded in 2013 although there were many lazy money grabs among them. I tend to think that people will become more selective in the future.

Alice of Wonderland Gold Playing Cards by Juan Solorzano

Juan: I think crowd-funding will keep growing and will become the most popular method to start a business - that is my goal. I want to start my own company, make my own rules and work my own hours. I am willing to do what it takes, and I am also learning by some mistakes that all entrepreneurs face early on. Websites such as Kickstarter will create a lot more new entrepreneurs in 2014, some will achieve great success, and some won't. Crowd-funding is gaining media attention and its going to be the way small businesses get funding without ever going to a bank for loan. I also like the all or nothing structure of Kickstarter to fund projects, and the rewards method of giving back something of value to the many backers.

We want to thank all the awesome creators who joined us for this discussion. As we have seen, Kickstarter offers creators an outlet to project their creativity and showcase their amazing talent. At the same time, this platform connect creators with the community giving them direct access to feedbacks, advice and other resources. Regardless of some drawbacks with this popular platform, crowd-funding will continue it's amazing growth and more unique and beautiful decks will be made available to the community.