Marion Pro Playing Cards Review

These playing cards are a variant of the Royal playing cards reviewed here (Review of Royal Playing Cards). They have the same overall graphics and ace design and both are made in Taiwan. I was pleasantly surprised when I opened a deck of Marion Pro playing cards. I was expecting to find a playing card almost exactly like the Royal's, but with slightly different designs. I was surprised to discover that the Marion Pro's have a totally different texture than the Royals.

The Royal cards are much slicker than the Marion Pro's. The Marion Pro has a much more papery feel - it has a bit of a pattern in the coating of the card whereas the Royal's are perfectly smooth. Keep in mind that I mean 'papery' from a plastic playing card perspective, but the Marion Pro's have a feel that more closely resembles a Copag/Modiano/Dal Negro card than a Royal playing card. The texture of the Marion Pro's is good, but not quite up to the overall quality of a Copag/Modiano/Dal Negro.

The Royal cards are much shinier than the Marion Pro's. The Royal's reflect light very easily, making it more difficult to view the cards lying under bright overhead lights. The Marion Pro's do not have the same mirror finish as the Royal's and reflect much less light. The reflection off a Marion Pro is equivalent to the reflection off a Copag/Modiano/Dal Negro card.

The colors of the Marion Pro cards are slightly less deep than the Royal's, but they are acceptable, and much deeper than a Copag. The white background is a bit whiter and brighter than a Copag/Modiano/Dal Negro, but not quite as bright as a Royal.

The Marion Pro cards are much thicker than the Royal's. I have reviewed two decks of Royal cards and two decks of Marion Pro cards. Fifty-two Royal cards were 13.77mm and 13.78mm thick but the Marion Pro cards were 16.44mm and 16.64mm thick. That's quite a big difference in thickness of the cards. The Royal cards also weighed much less at 1.80 and 1.93 grams per bridge size card compared to the Marion Pro bridge size card at 2.28 grams.

Marion Pro's might be best suited for large tournaments when you need numerous decks of playing cards at an inexpensive price but don't want to go as cheap as the Royal's. For the price of about $7 per deck, these are fairly good cards.

Marion Pro Clover Playing Cards

Playing card

Marion Pro Clover Playing Cards Review

These Clover brand cards are bridge size, regular index, 2-pip playing cards.

There are 52 cards and two jokers in this deck. A setup of two decks comes in a black plastic box with a clear lid that does not stay closed unless you use a rubber band. There is no divider between the two sides of the box so the playing cards will flop back and forth a bit even with the lid firmly closed.

The cost is about $14 per setup of two decks (red/blue). March 2013

Marion Pro Poker Jumbo Index Playing Cards

Playing card

Marion Pro Poker Jumbo Index Playing Cards Review

The poker size cards, jumbo index, 2-pip cards have a bit more flair than the Clover brand reviewed above. They have a very square look and feel and feel quite substantial when held.

There are 52 cards and two jokers in each black or red deck. They are sold in single boxes that are similar to the Royal playing cards. It is a black plastic box with a clear lid that will not stay closed without using an elastic band.

This poker size card is available in either standard or jumbo index. They cost about $7 per deck. March 2013