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A deck of cards is a collection of cards with different ranks and suits. The standard Anglo-American deck consists of 4 suits, 13 ranks, and 2 jokers. 52 cards in total.

Evolution[]

  • 9th century: cards were invented in China.
  • 14th century: cards were brought to Europe.
  • 14th and 15th centuries: Decks had two offices of different ranks, and a King. You can still see it in the national European deck. It was in France where Queens took place in the deck and it was the French deck which became what we now know as the standard deck.
  • 15th century: For centuries, court cards were drawn in full-length. In the 18th century, in France, reversible court cards appeared. It was very practical as you didn't have to turn your picture cards right way up when playing.
  • 18th century: For centuries, court cards were drawn in full-length. In the 18th century, in France, reversible court cards appeared. It was very practical as you didn't have to turn your picture cards right way up when playing.
  • 19th century: Americans added the Joker as a trump card for the game of Euchre. During the Civil War (1861-1865), there was Joker which probably came from the German word Luckas P which is the German spelling for euchre contrary to popular belief, Joker has nothing to do with the tarot card fool, which is more like an upgraded Jack.
  • 20th century: The Jack which was known as the knave in 1863 or past, represents a soldier. The abbreviation KN could easily be confused with the King's K. It was renamed the Jack in 1864. The word Jack was taken from an old English game, All Fours for it was used for the word trumps. In 1944, there were often no Queens.

Origins[]

  • Jack: The Jack which was known as the knave in 1863 or past, represents a soldier. The abbreviation KN could easily be confused with the King's K. It was renamed the Jack in 1864. The word Jack was taken from an old English game, All Fours for it was used for the word trumps.
  • Queen: Decks had two offices of different ranks, and a King. You can still see it in the national European deck. It was in France where Queens took place in the deck and it was the French deck which became what we now know as the standard deck.
  • King: It was the highest card since it started. In France, it represented people in the French history.
    • Spades: King David
    • Clubs: Alexander the Great's
    • Hearts: Charlemagne
    • Diamonds: Julius Caeser
  • Ace: Historically, ace had a low value and in many European decks, there was no ace but simply a 1 which already, in the Middle Ages, with a special card in some card games. This trend became especially popular in the 18th century during the French Revolution when people didn't really royalty that much and didn't really want King to be the highest card, so lot of card games began played with Ace being the highest card. In the 18th century, the British government required card printers to put a stem on the ace of spades as a sign that the special tax has been paid. This is why the ace of spades stands out from all of the other cards' designs and manufacture's name on it.
  • Joker: Americans added the Joker as a trump card for the game of Euchre. During the Civil War (1861-1865), there was Joker which probably came from the German word Luckas P which is the German spelling for euchre contrary to popular belief, Joker has nothing to do with the tarot card fool, which is more like an upgraded Jack.
  • Suits: European suits, which were known as coins, cups, clubs, and swords. Swiss Germans introduced their own suit around 1450 which were roses, bells, acorns, and shields. They replaced their roses with hearts, and shields with leads. The French created the suits we know today, hearts, clubs, spades, and diamonds.
  • Court Cards: For centuries, court cards were drawn in full-length. In the 18th century, in France, reversible court cards appeared. It was very practical as you didn't have to turn your picture cards right way up when playing.
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