- Card design
- International deck
- Special design elements
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In fact, British domino players often call dominoes 'cards,' mah-jongg may itself be the ancestor of card games of the rummy family, and in China there is no clear-cut dividing line between cards and dominoes, the latter being made of lacquered paper. Hayes earned many nicknames during his playing days, such as 'The Judge' and his self-proclaimed 'Jedi' alias for his pre-Super Bowl XVIII quotes stating he was 'The only true Jedi in the NFL.
Card Names In Poker
Join Britannica's Publishing Partner Program and our community of experts to gain a global audience for your work! David ParlettPlaying cards, set of cards that are numbered or illustrated (or both) and are used for playing games, for education, for divination, and for conjuring.
Traditionally, Western playing cards are made of rectangular layers of paper or thin cardboard pasted together to form a flat, semirigid material. They are uniform in shape and size and small enough for several to be held together in one hand, frequently fanned out so that the identifying marks on each card can be seen. One side of each card—its front, or face—is marked so as to render it identifiable and distinguishable from its fellows, while the back, or reverse, is either blank or bears a pattern common to all. The corners are usually slightly rounded to prevent fraying. In the second half of the 20th century, it became common to add a plastic coating to resist wear and even to produce all-plastic cards.
Card games typically exploit the fact that each player can identify only the cards he holds, not those of his opponents. This same characteristic also applies to dominoes and to the gaming tiles of mah-jongg. In fact, British domino players often call dominoes 'cards,' mah-jongg may itself be the ancestor of card games of the rummy family, and in China there is no clear-cut dividing line between cards and dominoes, the latter being made of lacquered paper.
Origin and spread
The earliest reference to playing cards or dominoes—the same word designates both—occurs in Chinese literature of the 10th century but with no indication of their markings or the games played with them.
Playing cards first appeared in Europe in the 1370s, probably in Italy or Spain and certainly as imports or possessions of merchants from the Islamic Mamlūkdynasty centred in Egypt. Like their originals, the first European cards were hand-painted, making them luxury goods for the rich. The account book of King Charles VI of France (now lost) is said to have noted a payment of 56 sols parisiens to Jacquemin Gringonneur for painting a deck of cards 'pour le divertissement du roy' ('for the amusement of the king'). Cards gradually spread along the inland European trade routes during the 15th century as a favoured pastime of the upper classes.
The German invention of wood-block printing in the early 15th century significantly reduced the cost of production, which was further reduced in France in the 1480s by painting through stencils, a practice resulting in the distinctively simplified design of suitmarks technically designated French but now generally called international because of their worldwide popularity: pique, coeur, carreau, trèfle—known in English as spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs—which are symbolized below.
Cost reductions further expanded the social appeal of card games and enhanced their inherent advantages over traditional indoor games. In particular, cards lent themselves to the development of games suitable for different numbers of players—hitherto the choice was between two-player board games like chess and multiplayer gambling games played with dice—and for different mentalities and temperaments, from unskilled dicelike gambling games to the more refined and intellectually demanding trick-taking games—albeit still played for money; the practice of playing games of skill strictly for fun is historically recent. Crucially, playing cards held more appeal for women, and associations between card play and seduction became widespread throughout European literature and painting. This factor, together with the proliferation of gambling card games, resulted in frequent denunciations of card playing by church authorities and prohibitions of specific games by civic authorities.
The associations of cards with gambling also led many a government to seek a piece of the action. In 17th-century France, King Louis XIV's finance minister Cardinal Mazarin nourished the royal purse by virtually turning the Palace of Versailles into one vast card-playing casino. Some countries made card manufacture a state monopoly under pain of fine, imprisonment, and even death to forgers. Others contented themselves with charging a tax on manufacture. The elaborate design of the ace of spades in British decks of cards recalls the (now defunct) 18th-century convention of applying the tax authorization stamp to this particular card (seeStamp Act).
Despite advances in printing and manufacture and the never-diminishing popularity of games, playing-card manufacture remains a highly specialized and competitive market. In the 20th century many traditional suppliers went out of business or were absorbed into larger companies.
Card design
International deck
The most successful and universally recognized deck of cards is that based on a complement of 52, divided into four suits, each containing 13 ranks, so that each card is uniquely identifiable by suit and rank.
Suits
The suitmarks of the international, or standard, deck indicate two black and two red suits—namely spades, clubs, hearts, and diamonds. The word spade probably represents the Old Spanish spado ('sword'), while club is a direct translation of basto, implying that Spanish suits were used in England before the French ones were invented (about 1490).
Ranks
Ranks are indicated by numerals from 1 to 10 on 'spot cards.' In addition, three court cards designated jack (formerly knave), queen, and king are notionally equivalent to 11, 12, and 13, respectively, though actually marked J, Q, and K.
In most Western card games, the numeral 1 is designated ace and marked A accordingly. In games based on the superiority of one rank over another, such as most trick-taking games, the ace counts highest, outranking even the king. In games based on numerical value, the ace normally counts 1, as in cribbage, or 11, as an option in blackjack. In games based on arranging cards into ordered series, such as rummy, it may count either high or low or even both (as in a 'round-the-corner' sequence such as Q-K-A-2-3).
Jokers
Standard decks normally contain two or more additional cards, designated jokers, each depicting a traditional court jester. Few games employ them, and those that do use them in different ways. In rummy games, such as canasta, they are 'wild' and may be used to represent any desired 'natural' card. The joker was originally invented (though not under that name) to serve as the highest trump in the game of euchre and is, in effect, a glorified jack. (It is not, as sometimes claimed, a descendant of the card designated the fool in tarot decks.)
- related topics
Playing cards have a rich history spanning hundreds of years. This has given us enough time to come up with sayings and nicknames for practically every card in the deck. There's the Suicide King, the Axe-Man and the notorious Ace of Spades – and, anyone heard of the Beer Card? Here's a little delve into some cool card superstitions.
King of Hearts
The King of Hearts is sometimes also referred to as The Suicide King. Of course, it might have something to do with the fact that he is the only royal in the deck who appears to be killing himself – horribly, and with swords. There are many stories about why, but the most common one seems to be due to a misprint: originally, he was holding an axe, but the printing errors eradicated part of the axe, making it look like the sword was straight through.
Sometimes, the King of Hearts is identified with Charlemagne.
And if you noticed anything about his moustache, his lack thereof is also attributed by many to a printing error.
King of Diamonds
In modern card decks, the King of Diamonds appears to be the only one of the Kings holding an axe – and this has earned him the name of the Axe-Man (sometimes the Man with the Axe instead).
King of Spades
Some believe that the King of Spades signifies the Biblical King David. Interestingly, confederate soldier Robert E. Lee was called the 'King of Spades' because of his order to have trenches dug – and the soldiers' hate for him as a result.
Queen of Hearts
The Queen of Hearts is said to be associated with the biblical figure Judith (sometimes Judic) in early card decks. Later English-printed decks would sometimes change the royal-references depending on who was relevant at the time.
Queen of Spades
The Queen of Spades is sometimes associated with Pallas – that's the Goddess Athena to everyone else. In old-school poker games, you'll sometimes hear her referred to as Calamity Jane, a famous frontierswoman.
Queen of Clubs
In the card game Find the Lady, the Queen of Clubs is the card known as the Lady – alternatively, the Black Widow or the Black Maria. Of course, the Queen of Clubs is also referred to as Argine. (Also the nickname for the AI system powering Funbridge!). An answer on Funtrivia.com mentions that Argine is an acronym of Regina – Latin for Queen.
Other Cards and the Scottish Curse
Seven of Diamonds: The Beer Card
The Beer Card has been around for a long time – in bridge, it says that you're owed a beer by your partner if a last trick is won with a seven of diamonds from your hand. (We guess Youth Bridge players might have to call this one the soda card until 21!)
Nine of Diamonds: The Scottish Curse
Basically, we know that the Nine of Diamonds makes some superstitious card players nervous, and has been so for a few hundred years.
The Scottish Curse card has a few origin stories. One states that it originates from the Duke of Cumberland, who supposedly wrote an execution order on a playing card – any guesses which one?
Four of Clubs: The Devil's Bedpost
Also called The Devil's Four-Poster or The Devil's Bedstead, the Four of Clubs is considered by some to be a very unlucky card to hold – so unlucky that it can affect the rest of your hand and make you lose the game. According to the International Playing Card Society, it could be linked to cartomancy (the use of cards for divination), where the Four of Clubs is a bad omen:
Despite advances in printing and manufacture and the never-diminishing popularity of games, playing-card manufacture remains a highly specialized and competitive market. In the 20th century many traditional suppliers went out of business or were absorbed into larger companies.
Card design
International deck
The most successful and universally recognized deck of cards is that based on a complement of 52, divided into four suits, each containing 13 ranks, so that each card is uniquely identifiable by suit and rank.
Suits
The suitmarks of the international, or standard, deck indicate two black and two red suits—namely spades, clubs, hearts, and diamonds. The word spade probably represents the Old Spanish spado ('sword'), while club is a direct translation of basto, implying that Spanish suits were used in England before the French ones were invented (about 1490).
Ranks
Ranks are indicated by numerals from 1 to 10 on 'spot cards.' In addition, three court cards designated jack (formerly knave), queen, and king are notionally equivalent to 11, 12, and 13, respectively, though actually marked J, Q, and K.
In most Western card games, the numeral 1 is designated ace and marked A accordingly. In games based on the superiority of one rank over another, such as most trick-taking games, the ace counts highest, outranking even the king. In games based on numerical value, the ace normally counts 1, as in cribbage, or 11, as an option in blackjack. In games based on arranging cards into ordered series, such as rummy, it may count either high or low or even both (as in a 'round-the-corner' sequence such as Q-K-A-2-3).
Jokers
Standard decks normally contain two or more additional cards, designated jokers, each depicting a traditional court jester. Few games employ them, and those that do use them in different ways. In rummy games, such as canasta, they are 'wild' and may be used to represent any desired 'natural' card. The joker was originally invented (though not under that name) to serve as the highest trump in the game of euchre and is, in effect, a glorified jack. (It is not, as sometimes claimed, a descendant of the card designated the fool in tarot decks.)
- related topics
Playing cards have a rich history spanning hundreds of years. This has given us enough time to come up with sayings and nicknames for practically every card in the deck. There's the Suicide King, the Axe-Man and the notorious Ace of Spades – and, anyone heard of the Beer Card? Here's a little delve into some cool card superstitions.
King of Hearts
The King of Hearts is sometimes also referred to as The Suicide King. Of course, it might have something to do with the fact that he is the only royal in the deck who appears to be killing himself – horribly, and with swords. There are many stories about why, but the most common one seems to be due to a misprint: originally, he was holding an axe, but the printing errors eradicated part of the axe, making it look like the sword was straight through.
Sometimes, the King of Hearts is identified with Charlemagne.
And if you noticed anything about his moustache, his lack thereof is also attributed by many to a printing error.
King of Diamonds
In modern card decks, the King of Diamonds appears to be the only one of the Kings holding an axe – and this has earned him the name of the Axe-Man (sometimes the Man with the Axe instead).
King of Spades
Some believe that the King of Spades signifies the Biblical King David. Interestingly, confederate soldier Robert E. Lee was called the 'King of Spades' because of his order to have trenches dug – and the soldiers' hate for him as a result.
Queen of Hearts
The Queen of Hearts is said to be associated with the biblical figure Judith (sometimes Judic) in early card decks. Later English-printed decks would sometimes change the royal-references depending on who was relevant at the time.
Queen of Spades
The Queen of Spades is sometimes associated with Pallas – that's the Goddess Athena to everyone else. In old-school poker games, you'll sometimes hear her referred to as Calamity Jane, a famous frontierswoman.
Queen of Clubs
In the card game Find the Lady, the Queen of Clubs is the card known as the Lady – alternatively, the Black Widow or the Black Maria. Of course, the Queen of Clubs is also referred to as Argine. (Also the nickname for the AI system powering Funbridge!). An answer on Funtrivia.com mentions that Argine is an acronym of Regina – Latin for Queen.
Other Cards and the Scottish Curse
Seven of Diamonds: The Beer Card
The Beer Card has been around for a long time – in bridge, it says that you're owed a beer by your partner if a last trick is won with a seven of diamonds from your hand. (We guess Youth Bridge players might have to call this one the soda card until 21!)
Nine of Diamonds: The Scottish Curse
Basically, we know that the Nine of Diamonds makes some superstitious card players nervous, and has been so for a few hundred years.
The Scottish Curse card has a few origin stories. One states that it originates from the Duke of Cumberland, who supposedly wrote an execution order on a playing card – any guesses which one?
Four of Clubs: The Devil's Bedpost
Also called The Devil's Four-Poster or The Devil's Bedstead, the Four of Clubs is considered by some to be a very unlucky card to hold – so unlucky that it can affect the rest of your hand and make you lose the game. According to the International Playing Card Society, it could be linked to cartomancy (the use of cards for divination), where the Four of Clubs is a bad omen:
This card warns of a major setback, an unexpected set of circumstances that must be prepared for. It is also said that this card can be thought of as 'Murphy's Law' when used in readings.
Nicknames For Cards
By Alex J. Coyne
Funny Card Game Sayings
Image from Wikimedia in the public domain