Home Game- Poker Peek Cards

These were the cards that almost broke the 2007 World Series of Poker. Once the rumors came out that they were planning on implementing the new Poker Peek cards the buzz got started.

People thought "what a neat idea" to be able to see the suit and value of a card printing right there on the corner, but once put into play so many players complained about them they were yanked off the table and replaced with more traditional, non-peek cards. But should these innovative cards be dismissed so quickly? Could they find a use in your home poker game?

The Poker Peek certainly is a new idea, and it would be hard to argue that it was not an innovative one, but it turned out to not be a successful one, at least at the WSOP. Players were getting the sixes and nines confused, said that it was hard to read the value of some of the cards, and the unfamiliar look was throwing players off when trying to read the cards on the board. Much of the discomfort and confusion, however, might just be chalked up to having to deal with something unfamiliar while under the intense pressure of the WSOP.

If you want to get your hands on an official deck that was played in the first two days of the WSOP, you may have a hard time as they are becoming collector's items (partially because the first name of the WSOP commissioner is misspelled on these)—but you might not want to spend $25 or more just to test something at your home game, anyway. Fortunately the poker peek cards are sold for around $3, they just don't have the WSOP logo on the back.

Head to the US Playing Card Co's home on the web to learn more about where to buy these cards and give them a shot in your next home game.

(Editor's Note: Absolute Poker doesn't make you peek at your cards. They also now allow transferring of funds between AP and Ultimate Bet.)