Cards come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and “indexes”. When it comes to cards for poker, you will find two sizes and two common indexes. Be prepared to be confused. You should also always have 2 decks that have a different color on the backs of the cards that are very easy to distinguish one deck from another. Be wary of a game with 2 decks with the same, or easily confused, backs. It is too easy to “foul” a deck by accidently (or on purpose) taking a card from one deck and adding it to the other.
Cards come in decks of 52 standard cards and usually include 2 Jokers. The Jokers are never used in a “regular” poker game in a casino. There are some table games and a few casinos where they are used. And Jokers are only used in home games where a “wild card” is desired. We will focus here on decks used in casino poker rooms. Cards are available in paper, plastic coated paper, and full plastic. You should always play with full plastic cards as any paper type card will quickly wear out.
“Poker Size” playing cards are 3.5 inches tall, and 2.5 inches wide. “Bridge Size” playing cards are slightly narrower and measure 3.5 inches tall and 2.25 inches wide.
The index of a card related to the size and color of the numbers and letters in the corner of the card denoting the rank. The most common index sizes are standard and jumbo. Decks are either 2 color or 4 color. A 2 color deck is going to have red indexes for Diamonds and Hearts, and black for Clubs and Spades. The most common coloring for a 4 color deck is green Clubs, blue Diamonds, red Hearts, and black Spades. Other variations do exist in both size and color.
If all you are going to play is Texas Hold’em, poker size, jumbo index, are fine. If you are going to play 4 or 5 card Omaha, 5 Card Draw, or other games with 4 or more cards, bridge size cards are easier to manage, especially regular index. You can have a narrower “fan” of cards to look at. Jumbo index cards are easier to read when on the board and when trying to read your opponents turned-up cards from across the table.
Many home games and casinos use bridge size, jumbo index, decks.