You want to switch to a 4 card deck because you have drunk friends who can't differentiate the different suits? Why the **** would you do that? Any edge that you may have not being a complete donk and looking at the suits of the cards to determine whether a flush is possible is gone. It's not cheating, it's a skill.

4 color decks are for the internet, not real life. Tell them to get used to it. If they ruin cards, why go out of your way every time for a new 4 color deck that is harder to acquire and more expensive?

Can't this very same thing happen with a traditional deck? I see it every other tournament I play in.

The idea is you don't know exactly which suit you saw in a two color deck. But that is a marginal consideration, at least for me.

In fact, for us I think it would be the opposite, because if someone has difficulty differentiating cards when laid down face up, he should have an even tougher challenge when they are pitched face down.

Yes, this is true. But as eneely points out,

To further reduce this risk, many gaming supply companies offer "security ink" options using a darker maroon color for the heart and diamond suits rather than a bright red.

If OP or anyone else wants to play with a four-color deck, it's their barbecue. But one reason not to is to help protect the integrity of your game.

I guess it is really a balance to be found. The more secure, the harder to read. Too hard to read, becomes annoying and has a negative impact on the game.

Obviously no one has a problem with the traditional 2 colors decks. You can't got full stupid and make the deck only black to protect the game.

A good dealer with a perfect pitch can protect the game regardless of the number of colors.

Agreed. Four color is for tards.

Let me just break down everything that you said that was wrong.
1. I never said anything about my friends not being able to differentiate suits.
2. You assumed that anyone cares about a minuscule edge like that in a game where everyone gets drunk and destroys the cards.
3. It's pretty clear from my original post that I didn't want to buy expensive ones and that I wasn't going to do that.

I don't think it could have been any more obvious that I haven't used four-colored decks live before and I wanted to see if I could get them cheap and try them out. I've never seen so many rude people just patronizing and aggressively shutting me down just for asking an easy going question (and I spend plenty of time on the internet.)

I think this forum is better than average on 2+2 when it comes to civility, but a few typical posters slip in every now and again.

Besides, while Christian_The_Jew may have been blunt and assuming, I don't see his response as overly rude. There are worse responses in this thread.

Just you guys wait . . . .

Someday you'll be old and semi-blind like a lot of the players in my games. Today, you worry about someone catching a glimpse of a card and being able to gain information about a hand. Not too long from now, the board will be face up and folks will have trouble figuring out what the cards are.

I like a four color deck. I like a large index deck better. I have not found a reasonable source for a large index, four color deck so I have to choose one or the other. My players would rather risk some confusion over the suit than the rank of the cards, especially the face cards.

I choose large index, but if I could find both options on a cardstock I liked that would be my first choice.

DrStrange

I like a four color deck -- I have a copag setup I bought. I stopped using it because I got sick of hearing about it.

I really don't understand why someone would prefer 4-color online but not live...I love my 4-color decks with large indexes.

Dr Strange, Copag does make a set that has both.
http://www.copagcards.com/copag-poke...lor-jumbo.html

OP, do your buddies tear up the cards because they're careless and bend them or do they tear up because they start as bad-quality cards? I went from bicycles that were practically destroyed after two sessions to copags that I've used for 3+ years with minimal fading. If your cards are being trashed due to the latter reason, invest in a $20 set cause they're worth it.

This. I'm sorry, live poker with 4 color deck is like a super tool bag move. Just makes me angry. If you are playing 6 tables online I get it. Live, you should be able to look at the board

Love 'em online, hate 'em online. My only experiences with actual 4-color cards are with Copags. Because the green and blue inks are iridescent, under some lighting I find them difficult to see. However, to each is own. There is obviously a market for them.