History of Playing Cards

Chinese heritage with advanced modernistic appeal

Many household across the globe have certain things in common, and one of things is a regular deck of 52 playing cards. This highly popular game sees multiple players being able to enjoy many numerous gaming types with just a simple pack of cards. This has proven why it has become such a successful pastime for so many, with the 2 main factors involved in the entertainment of the game being both skill and of course, a bit of luck.

Originating from Ancient China soon after the invention of paper in 150 BC, the basic Ancient Chinese Money Cards consisted of 4 suits, namely coins, strings of coins, myriads of strings and tens of myriads. It is a likely assumption that these playing cards could have possibly been a form of paper currency that performed in dual part as a tool for gaming, with the real stakes played for. The journey to fame for playing cards in Europe is unclear, as the how’s and why’s are undocumented. A popular theory however revolves around the Mamelukes of Egypt (which were the military caste comprised of Turkish slaves) were the first to bring the game of playing cards to the European regions in the late 1300’s. Like the modern version, the Mameluke deck of cards also included 52 cards with four suits in the pack, namely polo stick, coins, swords and cups.

This original version consisted of 10 spot cards in a suit or 3 face cards and cards with number values. These exquisitely designed cards all features hand-painted techniques, and appealed to royalty, as they were the only people that with the monetary resources to access these cards at the time. On these cards of the 2 faces were designs of a malik (king), naib malik (deputy king) and the thani naib (second deputy).

Throughout Europe, modification and verification began on all the designs of the cards. Instances of this occurred with figures of European royalty and their attendants being featured on the cards. During the 15th Century, a standard deck of cards comprised of 56 cards including a King, a Queen, a knight, and a valet. A tradition that still thrives today is the German decks of cards, also from the 15th century, which consisted of hearts, leaves, bells and acorns. The Italian and Spanish versions from the same era made use of images of swords, cups, batons and coins. A popular belief is that the Tarot deck of cards also originated from Italy at this time. The standard classification of card (Diamonds, Hearts, Clubs and Spades) that resonates in today’s society and is found in online card games at Platinum Play Online Casino, finds its origins in France towards the end of the 15th century.

In the modern standard deck of cards, the Ace card has the highest value a card can have, but in its early origins, the King card had this honour. The Jack card that we know today evolved from the original Knave card. The Joker card is an interesting one as is finds its origins in America and not in Europe like the rest of the cards.

Cards being shuffled.

All the facts and titbits you need to know about playing cards

Platinum Play Online Casino invites players to share in all the online casino action directly from the comfort of home while basking in the nonstop casino action. Learning more about the interesting facts about playing cards will definitely benefit you when it comes to understanding the origins and so much more about all your favourite card games, which includes Poker, Blackjack and Baccarat.

The Italian deck of playing cards

Containing a generic approximate of 40 cards in the deck, the Italian deck has varying design depictions according the certain provinces within Italy. The 4 suits in the deck consist of coins, cups, swords and clubs. The coins can also be substituted for suns or sunbursts, and the clubs substituted for batons. The face cards in the deck are Kings, Knights and Jacks. In the Italian deck, there are no numbers featured on the cards to classify them. Players are required to distinguish face cards with reference to the image portrayed on the specific card, as well as total the number of characters on the suits to classify the card numbers.

The Spanish deck of playing cards

The Spanish flare and finesse is evident in these beautifully-crafted cards which consist of copas (cups), bastos (batons), oros (coins), and espadas (swords). Each suit has different borders outlining the cards for even easier identification.

Indian Deck

The very original Indian creativity in the decks of cards that are played there is evident through the decks that count as many as 10 suits, with each suit mirroring departmental structures as seen by an Indian Rajah’s court or Vishnu’s incarnations.

An Ace in the Spade family

The Ace of Spades generally has the design and logo of the production company appearing on it. The big elaborately drawn spade, which is also known by the name “death card” is also quite frequently utilised as a trump card.

Jacks of the heart as well as the spade

The Jack card can also be identified by most as the “one-eyed jack”. The reason for this is that together with the King card, Jacks are the only cards which show only 1 singular eye in the profile of the image.

King of Hearts

Take note of the King of Hearts, who has a sword directly behind him. Through this image, it has lead to him being nicknamed, the “suicide king”. The King of Hearts is also in fact the only King that does not have a moustache.

King of Diamonds with Axe

Occasionally identified as the “man with the axe”, The King of Diamonds has the image of an axe imbedded in the card unlike the other kings who have a sword.

Image of Queen of Spades

Holding a Scepter, the Queen of Spades is occasionally identified as the “bedpost queen”.

Solitaire excitement

• Many games have found their names stemming from ones that Napoleon used to call them. After his exiling in 1816 A.D. to St. Helena, he frequently participated in the game of Patience to pass time, and counted solitaire as a popular activity.
• Spider Solitaire became one of Franklin D. Roosevelt most popular games to play.
• Many great literary works including War and Peace, as well as Great Expectations cite solitaire within the contents of the novel.