I’m curious as to how many use Bridge size cards versus Poker size? I get majority, if not all, gaffed cards at the retails will be based upon poker. However, for those who struggle with manipulation of the poker size cards, do you find it easier to use bridge size?

I for one have nerve damage and arthritis in my right hand and arm, but also have smaller hands. I think bridge cards may help with manipulation a little bit.

What’s your thoughts?

This is something I have strong opinions on, imagine that! But seriously, I have written about this in the past and I do have some (hopefully) helpful comments to offer.

I could sum my opinion up by saying you should use whatever cards allow you to perform to your best ability. But to flesh it out a little, consider this. Many magicians in the past used the narrower cards. And by the way, the difference is in the width only, the length tends to be identical. The width of so-called bridge cards is 1/4" less than the poker alternative. The reasoning was apparently to allow a person to hold more cards in their hand, fanned, in order to see the indices. This happens not only in bridge, but in many other card games.

One of the magicians who favored bridge-sized cards was Jerry Andrus. I saw him lecture live once and didn't even pay attention to the cards. The magic was so strong that the size of cards was the last thing on my mind.

I wonder how folks who say to not use bridge cards justify the statement. They seem to have the opinion that magicians should only use poker-sized cards and they should be Bicycle Rider Back design. The way I see it, if someone was a fan of magic and saw a number of magicians all using the exact same cards would that cause me to assume they were "normal", or would that maybe cause me to wonder what's so special about the cards that all magicians seem to need them. Personally I think it is unnecessary. I've seen magicians using Copags, Walgreen's Studs, Piatniks and Fourniers and I don't think the audience cared a whit.

Something else that I've often wondered about is the apparent belief that somehow Bicycle Rider Backs cannot be gimmicked. In other words, sure, they are a common back design, but so what? Just because they are familiar doesn't preclude gaffing them. I just think the whole thing is ridiculous.

It used to be the opposite at one time and many gaffed cards were actually in bridge size only. I'm remembering the Fox Lake and such, and most every Emerson and West packet trick was bridge-sized. Didn't hurt sales. Didn't cause audiences to complain or to even question.

If smaller cards help you, because of health issues, use them! They also make palming easier, passes easier, etc. Just use them.

Don't worry about what other magicians do or think. Focus on your audience. Make yourself and them happy and that's enough.