Since the devastating fire at Phoenix's Main warehouse, Card-Shark and his Phoenix Brand has been fairly busy "rising back from the ashes" (literally). The Casino Quality Poker decks have kept up and added some new special decks and even added a "Large Index" line which is fantastic for close up magicians as the cards are the same faces we are all used to with the indexes being 50% larger. These cards can be seen at a greater distance (much like their now well known large aces).

Another aspect of the company was the Phoenix Parlor Decks that were great for both close up and Parlor. They are exactly 1/2" wider and 1/2" longer than standard Poker cards. I personally, can do just about every sleight I do, with either size deck. Aside from Palming (which I can do) most magicians should be able to do many, if not all the same sleights with some practice. They now come either marked or unmarked (the originals were all marked).

Here is the Hype:
Main features of the Parlour Deck:

*High visibility for Close-up, Parlour and Stage performances
*Cards still look like Poker sized cards to your audience
*All the features of the Phoenix Deck are also built into the Parlour design(ie: one way design on the backs and faces)
*All sleights that could be performed with Poker sized cards can be done with the Parlour size, so you will get used to the new size extremely fast
*NEW: The cards are produced on our Card-Shark stock matching the US playing card stock used for BEE Decks. The New Finish will blow your mind!
*NEW: Includes two special gimmicks to perform the classic 3-Card-Monte.
*Perfect as a training deck. If you train your sleights with the Parlour Deck, performing them with Poker sized cards is a breeze. It is as if you would perform Poker Deck sleights with a Bridge size deck.
*Many specialty decks and effects already exist in this Parlour size, including Double Deckers, Ultimate Brainwave, Get Sharky, etc.
*Available with UNMARKED red or blue Phoenix backs in the Parlour dimension (3 x 4" / 7,5 x 10 cm).

I did a side by side comparison with a couple old decks and can attest to the new finish making a difference. They look and feel great. They also Faro right out of the box (although you might need to get used to the size difference). I opened one marked and one unmarked from my order and did 8 perfect faro's with no problems on either (I have been using Parlor decks off and on for several years). I just want to state it is possible and they are cut well.

The Phoenix Casino Quality Poker Size cards, as well as the large index additions, are great on their own. Although I am very happy to see the "New and greatly improved" Parlor size decks back on the market. It is well worth giving them a try if you have not already.

See the entire lineup here - http://www.card-shark.de/index.cfm?lang=en

Got 'em already!!! Really nice. And the finish is amazing. They really glide.

Got the parlour size daredevil deck today, nice!

Wow, palm a parlor size card! As much as I hate to say it...that's impressive!

Did you have the old ones before? I really can tell the difference. This new finish rocks - and slides (rockslide?)


I was tempted during the pre-sale to grab one but I settled for a brick of unmarked and 5 marked (both minimums for first bulk discounts in addition to the sale price). I have the Poker Size DareDevil Deck and can read them well without my glasses. I would imagine if you know where to look they are like a rented billboard on the Parlors. How are they compared to the Poker Size?



It is just a matter of luck. If I measure the width of my hand from the outside edge of the very base of my first finger to the outer edge of the base of my pinky, it is 3 3/4". From the tip of my pinky down to the first line at the base of my palm (top of wrist) it measures 6 1/4". I wont sugar coat the fact I am your every day fat old man but I am fortunate that my fingers do not look like sausages, yet they have NO windows at all.

All that said though, I still cannot palm coins as well as I can cards. Probably because I was and am way more of a card guy than a coin guy but I have been working a lot harder on coins for the last 7 years or so.

Yes, I had the old ones. Big difference.

I was playing around with the monte gaffs (they match the poker size gaffs I have with the "Mark Elsdon" version I have).
http://www.card-shark.de/index.cfm?page=......rtID=109

I pulled out my Michael Skinner booklet and they too are the same cards needed but in Phoenix back (and the large center A/H pip). Nice to know that the "extra cards" will get a lot of use instead of just being ad cards or a standard DB and BF (which you can get full decks of if you need them)

Hi all, I just got some of the Parlour decks this week, and have just opened my first couple of packets. For the life of me I cannot get this to faro or weave at all. They simply refuse.

They seem to have some kind of vynil coating and are not the usual finish or feel Of the phoenix deck? I LOVE the phoenix regular decks, but these just don't seem to cut it.

Has anyone else found them impossible to faro?. Ive been trying for a hour now, and they just refuse. The deck is shot and split as a result. Im a smidgin dissapointed

Mine faro fine but it takes some practice. It is one of those things you have to re-learn a little because of the size but once you get it, they faro just fine. I have used Parlor Decks off and on for years and it did take a learning curve for me too, although, the new ones actually faro better than the old (probably due to the new finish).

I'm very happy with the parlour size daredevil deck

I'd be willing to bet Mr Magoo could read those without his glasses. I got the Poker size one when it came out and use it from time to time. Does it stick out? Yes, once you see it you kind of cannot unsee it but the same can be said for many (if not almost all) marked decks on the market. The "best one" I remember ever seeing was a deck that each back had those 3D designs that you have to stare at, then they pop out. I wish I would have bought it just to have as I am one of those people who have the ability to see those quickly. I think it's called 3D stereo-graph art or something similar.

Also back a couple posts about not faroing well, I wanted to add that I did mess up a couple decks over the years from doing a lot of faro shuffles, they do have a tendency to not faro as well (and even split a little) moreso than regular decks (which also split and quit faroing well after time. The new finish has helped in my opinion but I think the thickness adds to the difficulty. Practice "gently" and do not faro them all the time. With parlors I tend to only faro when setting from NDO to Si Stebbins, Mnmonica, Stay Stack, Memorandum and Redford. Also the occasional effect that requires a faro during the procedural part of it.

On the other hand, I faro Phoenix (or any brand) Poker size cards almost exclusively. This probably sounds kind of weird (in a surprisingly good accidental way). When I was young and played cards (a lot) with friends and family as I grew up, I noticed by accident if you pushed them together just right, they weaved every other one and bridged beautifully so I just did it all the time. I consider myself lucky in that respect. Also, My ex-wife who knows nothing of magic could do a perfect "Charlier cut" as well as a "one handed swivel cut", both of which I learned before taking magic seriously.

Not seeing ultra mental/invisible deck in parlour?

The feel and finish on the new Parlor decks are superior vs the old.

Whatever happened to Preston? Jaizon.

I’ve been wondering the same thing recently. He used to post frequently and then seemed to suddenly disappear.
Anyone know if he is okay?

Preston, are you out there?

Some people just step away from magic for whatever their reason is. Some go to other forums under a different screen name (a magic do-over) and unfortunately, there are those that just pass (although we often hear from someone who knows them via Facebook or other social media if not in person). Hopefully, life is just happening and keeping them away for a bit and they will just pop back on one day like nothing happened.