Keymaster Games Premium Playing Cards Designed by Clark Orr and Made by USPCC for Magicians and Collectors Based on The hit Game Caper Europe

I want to preface this review by apologizing for the quality of the photos. I've had a viral infection all weekend and as a result I'm off my game. This is a gorgeous deck of cards and my photos don't do justice to the beautiful graphics and particularly the unique color palette. They're colors that you don't see often in playing cards but they work great here.I have a sizable collection of playing cards. I'm considered an expert on the casino gambling industry and make a living writing and consulting on it. I started off picking up casino playing cards on my travels, and a couple of years ago moved on to the booming market of premium playing cards designed primarily for collectors. I literally have 100s of decks of cards that I need to figure out some way to display. For now, they're stacked up on a shelf in my office.These are downright luxurious playing cards and extremely beautiful. I've talked about the colors already, but the graphics are very unique. The gold foiled backs are intricate and amazing and everything looks and feels first rate. This ranks among the most interesting and beautiful card decks I've ever seen and I've seen a bunch.A couple of small gripes--there was a big white label slapped onto the shrinkwrap. I keep a lot of my 'collectible' cards wrapped and sealed and having the sticker there really messes up the aesthetics. Even worse--it was one of those stickers that was an ordeal to remove. I wasn't planning to keep these sealed but had I been this sticker would have made me mad.Now a professional assessment--right out of the box, the cards are a touch too 'slick' for magic, fancy shuffles or even play in a casino. They'd probably 'wear in' quickly but there are plenty of cards that come right out of the box ready to go. In all fairness, this is something of a subjective judgement--I know magicians and poker players that like 'slicker' cards and vice versa--but in terms of construction that was the only thing I noticed that wasn't first rate.These are well made, high quality and downright beautiful cards. Definitely something for collectors to check out. I'd love to see more from this manufacturer and designer.

Mastermind Playing Cards Premium USPCC Deck for Magicians and Collectors Designed by Clark Orr and Keymaster GamesA pricey USPCC printed premium deck of cards that have been decked all out in the premium department. It uses their crushed Bicycle stock for soft snappy feel, lovely handling for all your fans and flourishing.If you have been paying close attention, 2022 has been a rather disappointing year when it comes to the quality of the Bicycle stock in general, with the standard air cushion finish, somehow the cards do not handle very smoothly, fans are not even and cards tend to clump up. Very disappointing. This deck however avoids all those performance issues. This can only mean that the crushed stock lives up to proper expectations, yet.This is a traditionally cut deck sporting custom everything, from custom fonts, pips, aces, courts, and colorway. Has a art deco-esque styling that I dig. The back is ornate, elegant, with rich symbolism that is far above my understanding. It is a true two way back, which is always a good thing for those that care. I personally do not mind a one way back, it makes sorting out the deck a piece of cake.The tuck box is equally ornate, gold foiled and embossed, inside and out. It is a supremely aesthetically pleasing design, a classic, something that I very much appreciate, and were it not for the high price tag, would be an easy recommend. For those who may want this for their collection, it is a great addition.

Mastermind playing cards are my kind of playing cards. They have a unique theme, a unique design but the faces of the cards are still easily recognizable, they are traditionally cut, and the cards are made by UPCC which means that they are incredibly easy to handle.The theme here is that the cards are 'the official cards of scoundrels and siwindlers worldwide.' The box design is simple, with a lot of prose, and harkens back to card boxes of the eary 1900s, with the exception, of course, that the box is done up in a beautiful gold foil. There is even gold leaf on thThe cards back is done in gold on dark gray. The artwork si a nice riff on classic aard back designs. Ther are two circles mirroring eachother. O nthe inside is a crow holding a key in its mouth. Underneath the crow is a hand holding a diamond.Card colors are black and gold instead of red. The number cards have redesigned indeces and pips. They are unique but completely recognizable and the arrangement of the pips is standard. This gives the cards a distinctive design but will not cause confusion if used in game play. To fit the scoundrel theme, the aces are all in some state of heist or disarray. The ace of diamonds is in a picture frame whose glass is smashed. The Ace of spades is being stolen away by a three pronged hook. The Ace of clubs is getting filched by a gripper, and the ace of hearts is being, well, shot in the heart.The court cards have very distinctive faces, which makes me think that they are actually portraits of actual people. Who the people are, I am not sure... Each court card is different and elaborate. They are done in gold, black, and pink and each holds either a weapon, an implement of theivery, a spying device, or a stolen object. They each have distinct personalities and are elaborately rendered. The jokers are dressed as court jesters, standing atop an open safe with an outpourring of gold coins in sort of a croise derrière ballet position. They both have a crow perched on their left hand and are identical other than one joker holding a 3 of clubs in the right hand and the other juggling 5 balls in his right hand.There is a single double backer.The cards have the wonderful USPCC linen feel. These are mid thickness cards (think Bicycle card standard) and feel good in the hands. The finish is the standard linen finish which makes it easy to handle the cards. They are traditionally cut (they faro easily from bottom to top). These cards are good for collecting, game play, cardistry, and magic purposes.All in all, this is my kind of deck. Perfect USPCC feel and a unique design that really pops. Recommended.