Bicycle Playing Cards: Poker Face Optional
Written: Jan 07 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Sturdy, plastic coated, and inexpensive; hundreds of game variations available
Cons: None - these are classic cards and the best we've tried
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| conradd's Full Review: Bicycle Playing Cards Bonus Pack |
My son has unwrapped a new Bicycle each Christmas since he was 5 years old. This year, he was happy to receive two, one red and one blue. Small enough to tuck into a Christmas stocking, these Bicycles are inexpensive and can be played with in an infinite variety of ways. And, while tearing off the wrapping paper doesn't result in quite the same level of glee that a two-wheeler would elicit, Bicycle Playing Cards have something to offer almost anyone.
This year, Shane's stocking contained the Bicycle Playing Cards Bonus Pack which held two packs of cards and 5 dice. Each pack contains the standard 4 suits of 13 cards each, plus two jokers. Standard poker size, they are sturdy enough to stand up to energetic shuffling, dealing, holding, and folding. Spilled pop isn't a problem since the cards are plastic coated and can be wiped clean. The down side of this is that several of my nieces and nephews discovered that bean dip makes an effective temporary glue for building card houses. While the cards were easily cleaned, Grandma was less than thrilled with a newly constructed two-story house on her freshly mopped kitchen floor. I cleaned the cards and the kids and dog took care of the floor.
The five dice were immediately put to use by two of the older kids who wanted to play Yahtzee but had forgotten to bring the game. Grandma had a Yahtzee scoring pad and a marathon Yahtzee session involved most of the kids at one time or another. It was a great way to keep the younger generation entertained while the middle-aged kids swapped stories and ate just one more piece of pie.
What are the cards good for? A complete set of rules for hundreds of card games can be found at http://www.pagat.com/index.html. Bicycle Playing Cards are a great way to help your child develop game playing, logical thinking, and turn-taking skills. As my son has grown, we've played a wide variety of games and found uses not suggested in the manufacturer's instructions:
Age 5:
We played Old Maid and Go Fish. Shane had several childrens versions of these card games, but I preferred carrying only one deck in my purse. The deck saved the day several times while waiting for a restaurant meal, a doctor's appointment, or for my number to be called at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Sometimes there would be another bored child in the same area who joined the game, and I think that's how Shane caught chicken pox. I also taught him how to play 52 Card Pickup but he caught on quickly.
Age 7:
Shane became interested in card tricks after we attended a local magician's show at our public library. Guests in our home were instructed to "pick a card, any card" for months afterwards. He did master a few rudimentary tricks that now amaze his younger cousins.
Age 9:
Since I was deeply immersed in a time-consuming graduate program, Shane taught himself several solitaire games. Freecell, Patience, and Pyramid occupied him for hours as he sat on the floor of my university office. These games provided excellent training in logical thinking, probability, and strategy.
Age 11:
We played game after game of Cheat, the British name for an American game commonly known as Bullsh*t. His rascally uncle taught him the game and he was a bit disappointed to be restricted to the King's English when playing with Mom at Home. We also learned to play Gin Rummy and he beat me with unbridled glee in game after game.
Age 13:
Shane celebrated turning into a teenager by throwing an all-night poker party with his 3 closest friends. I supplied rolls of pennies and nickles, bottles of Henry Weinhard's Root Beer, and plenty of food, then went to bed and let the kids have the house. The boys had a wonderful time and they still recall that glorious night occasionally. 5 Card Draw, Spit in the Ocean, and Blackjack kept them going (with occasional Nintendo breaks) until 5:00 a.m. I knew the party was an unqualified success when I found a note from my son that read: Mom, you rule. I still have that note. It almost made up for forgetting to remind the kids that even though I gave each one their own half gallon of ice cream, it wasn't okay to leave it out on the counter to soften for milk shakes.
Age 15:
By now, the Bicycle Playing Cards have become a Christmas tradition. Shane spent his most recent Christmas afternoon playing variations of Stud Poker with his uncles. It was both bittersweet and rewarding to see him interacting on an adult level after so many years of childish fun.
Thirteen packs of cards later, I can say that Bicycle Playing Cards are an unqualified hit in our home. Packs that contain bent or damaged cards are thrown in a shoe box and brought out when there is enough space on his bedroom floor to build a house of cards. If our dog doesn't help, he can build a several storied mansion . . . without the help of bean dip.
Recommended:
Yes
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conradd
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Member: Deborah Conrad
Location: Coos Bay, OR
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