Respected greetings to all from JJ!

[HolyJJ]

Hello everyone! 

I'm JJ from the UK, and I've been reading posts at this excellent forum from time to time... and so it was only a matter of time before I registered and started posting also!

I'm still relatively new to collecting playing cards (only got into it 12 months ago, and my collection isn't exactly huge (I've not counted them, but I've probably got around 200 decks at present). Whilst I do appreciate excellent design (I like decks by Encarded, Erik Mana, and Midnight Playing Card, just to name a few), my main interest lies in collecting decks with superior handling for gambling slights -- therefore I very much like traditionally cut decks, and borderless decks. I guess that's why from the big name companies, CARC/The Expert Playing Card Company are my favourite.

At present, my favourite decks to practice with are (in no particular order): Richard Turner's Gamblers deck, Exquisite by EPCC, and Richard Turner's traditionally cut Bee deck (I wish I had a few dozen of these!).

And finally, I just want to say that the knowledge of the people on this forum is incredible -- I've learnt a lot over the past month just by reading posts here. So thanks a lot!

[xela]

Welcome aboard! Glad this forum has helped you learn so much, and we're glad to have you here as a member and not just a lurker.

[Anthony]

Welcome to the site JJ, hope you enjoy it as much as I have. Very helpful community around here 

[Don Boyer]

JJ, glad to have you here!  I think you'll fit in nicely.  The only stupid question is the one you fail to ask, so go ahead, ask away.

At present, my favourite decks to practice with are (in no particular order): Richard Turner's Gamblers deck, Exquisite by EPCC, and Richard Turner's traditionally cut Bee deck (I wish I had a few dozen of these!).

Have you tried Richard Turner's Gold Seal Bicycle Rider Backs?  They're also made with Bee Casino grade stock and are traditionally cut.  They're in the classic Rider Back box, available in red or blue and are still available fairly cheaply, perhaps $5 a box domestically.  Be careful when buying them - the only visual difference between them and other Cincinnati-made Rider Backs is the gold sticker on the back, which reads "Traditionally Cut for the Professional".

Nearly identical would be the Professional Bicycles sold by CARC - same stock, finish and cut.  You can ask William Kalush, the head of CARC, about them - Bill just signed up as a member earlier this week!  However, his Rider Backs only come in red - though he also has Skull and Bones Backs in red and black!

You should also check out this topic, if you haven't already: http://aethercards.com/discourse/sales-trades-isos/uk-buyers-unite!/  Some of the UK-based members like you are organizing group purchases of decks from the US in an effort to save on shipping costs.

[HolyJJ]

Thanks a lot everyone!

Xela: I totally agree that it's better to be a part of the group than a lurker who really doesn't make any contributions. However much praise I give for the people of this forum, I don't think it can be enough. I've looked around on other forums also, and whilst I do not want to trash them, they really cannot lace the boots of this place!

Sparkz: Thanks man! For what it's worth, I think your website is brilliant -- the photos of the individual decks and the cards are the best I've seen on any site. Awesome!

Don: Thanks a lot Don, for taking the welcome, and also for recommendations. I've been reading your posts since Paul from JP Playing Cards told me about this forum. Your knowledge and sense of humour is incredible!

I've built up a stash of Turner's gold standard bikes, because a few months ago I got told that no more are being printed, and so they will eventually run out. Whilst I do find the Turner Bees (even they have that gold circular sticker on the tuck box) to have superior handling, they're now impossible to find -- not even at extortionate prices! Therefore, the Turner gold standard bikes were my next best option. I agree that the CARC's Skull and Crossbones decks are also exceptional (I missed out on the Bicycle Professional decks -- If I was to have got them, I'd have gone for Air Cushion, because Ivory is not to my liking).

Seeing as card cheating is my primary interest, my favourite things to do with a deck of cards are bottom dealing, false shuffles... and so I tend to prefer all-over repeating back designs (regular Bee back without logos, Erdnase Smith back, etc) to bordered decks.

The Exquisite deck is something of an exception for me, because although it isn't borderless, the handling is phenomenal -- it table faros exceptionally well, and lasts longer than anything from the USPCC. Whilst most USPCC decks with the magic finish are too slippery for bottom dealing, the Exquisite cards have that almost-perfect balance where they have good slip and also good surface to be able to extract the card with ease.

I'd love it the Expert Card Company was to produce a borderless deck (something like the Erdnase Smith back) with Legends/Exquisite handling!

The fact that Bill Kalush has joined this forum is amazing! I've just checked out his thread, and it was a brilliant read! I'm hoping for many great things to come from the EPCC in 2014