Bicycle StandardPrice: About $5, roughly. Waddingtons No. 1 · Winning Moves UKPrice: About $8, roughly.
The British classic
The pack found in British homes for generations. Paper cards with a linen finish that fan and shuffle smoothly.
- Good for
- Whist · Cribbage · Families
- Skip it if
- You want a deck that survives spilled drinks: go plastic.
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Our take
Waddingtons No. 1 is the pack many British households have owned for generations, and it has the look to prove it. The paper has a linen finish that fans and shuffles smoothly, and the courts are the classic English designs.
It is a natural choice for Whist and Cribbage, which have deep roots in British pubs and front rooms, and it adds a little nostalgia to any family game night.
It is paper, so it will not survive spills the way a plastic deck does. Treat it kindly and it lasts.
Test drive
Play one hand of Whist with North as your partner against West and East. The last card dealt sets trump; the others play by the rules, and nothing is saved.
Keep reading
- Buying guide
Choosing a deck
Plastic or paper, poker or bridge size, how many decks you need, and the deck we recommend for each of our games.
- Basics
Anatomy of a deck
Fifty-two cards, four suits, thirteen ranks and a couple of jokers. What everything is called, and a few details you have probably never noticed.
- Basics
How to shuffle and deal
Three ways to shuffle, how many shuffles you really need, and the small table manners of cutting and dealing.
Quick answers
- Paper or plastic?
Paper shuffles with more grip and costs less. Plastic lasts for years, shrugs off spills and feels a little slicker. If you play every week, or with drinks nearby, go plastic.
- What size do I need?
Poker size suits most games and most hands. Bridge size is narrower, which helps when you hold thirteen cards or more.
- How many decks do I need?
One for most games. Canasta, Spider and some Rummy variants need two with matching backs.
