Card Game Definitions

Definitions of some common items, procedures, and terms used in card games. 

Standard Deck of Playing Cards

The standard deck is composed of fifty-two playing cards, plus two Jokers.

Suit Rank

The cards are grouped into four suits, each designated by a red or black symbol/pip: 

• • • • Clubs (♣)

      • Diamonds (♦)

      • Hearts (♥)

      • Spades (♠).

In most games, the suits are of equal value: however, in the game of bridge, the suits are ranked, usually in alphabetical (lowest to highest) order. 

Card rank

Each suit contains thirteen cards:

• • • There are ten numeral or pip cards.  In at least two corners, each pip card displays the number of the card and a large pip. In the center of the card, a group of small pips is displayed that corresponds to the card number. For the one-pip card (called an Ace), the number is replaced by the letter "A."

    • There are three face (court) cards.  Each card is designated by a letter for the title (' J' for Jack, 'Q' for Queen (Q), and 'K' for King), in at least two corners, along with a large pip. In the center of each card, a reversible, double-headed image of the title is displayed 

    • Commonly the cards are ranked from low to high with the Ace being the highest card (2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 J Q K A); however, some games rank the Ace as the lowest card with a value of one.

Jokers

Usually, two Joker cards are included in the deck as some card games require these extra cards. 

• • • The Joker was created as a trump card for the game of Euchre, but it has since been adopted into many other card games. 

    • The Joker is not often used as a part of a game, but it may be used as a replacement card for a missing card.  

    • Jokers are distinguishable from one another by colors or designs, as in one with red designs and the other with black designs. 

    • Jokers do not have any standardized appearance but tend to be illustrated as jesters. 

    • There are usually two Jokers per deck, often noticeably different in appearance. 

    • Most decks provide the Joker with corner symbols such as a solid star or the "US" monogram used by Bicycle cards. It is also common for decks to simply display the word "JOKER" in the corners.

Round

A round (also called a hand) consists of dealing the prescribed number of cards and playing them until all the players have played all their cards and all the tricks have been completed.

Trick

• A trick (also called a book) consists of one lap around the group of players where each player plays one card onto a pile, usually following the suit of the lead card. This pile of cards is called a trick. 

• The number of tricks in, or remaining in, a round is the same as the number of cards each player has in their hands to play.

Trump

• • Trump (or trumps) is a card of a suit that is considered a higher rank than any card of any other suit.

  • Games may have specific ways of determining the trump suit.

Taking a Trick

• • • The player who played the highest-ranked card in the suit that led the trick takes the trick

    •  If a player cannot follow suit, they may play a trump card and take the trick. 

    • If several trump cards are played in a trick, the trump card with the highest value takes the trick. 

Over Tricks

Over tricks are tricks taken that exceed the bid. In some games you get points for them, in other games, you are penalized for them.

Suit

• • A suit is a group of cards that have the same color, pips/symbols, images, borders, backgrounds, etc. on their face that identifies them as being of the same group.

  • Each card in a suit is different in some way, such as having different numbers or images. 

Following Suit

• After a player leads a card, the remaining players MUST follow suit, which means each player must play the same suit card as that which was led, if they have one. 

• If they cannot follow suit, they may play any card in their hand, including a trump or any other special cards used in the game.

Leading

• • Leading is when a player starts a trick by playing the first card. 

  • The first player to the left of the dealer, called the eldest, starts a round by leading the first card.  

  • Thereafter, the player who takes a trick is the one that leads to the next trick.

Bidding

Sometimes, a card game uses bidding.

• After the players have been dealt their cards, they arrange the cards in their hands, usually by suit and in numerical order.

• Then they consider the suit and rank of the cards they hold, including those of the trump suit, and decide how many tricks they think they can take in the round

• Usually, a bid may range from 0 to the number of cards dealt for the round; however, some games may place limits on bidding such as allowing a player to pass on a bid or preventing certain bids.

Elder and Younger Hands

• • The elder hand is the first player to the dealer's left.

  • The younger hand is the first player to the dealer's right.

Cut

After the dealer shuffles the cards, the dealer sides the deck over to the younger hand who cuts the deck. The younger hand:

•  picks up several cards from the top of the deck,

• sets the cards down beside the deck,

• picks up the remaining cards of the deck and sets them on top of the cut cards,

• squares the deck, and 

• slides it back to the dealer.

Dealer 

The player who deals the cards to the players in a round.

Dealer selection

Each player draws one card from the deck; the lowest-rank card is the dealer. 

Dealing the cards

• • The dealer shuffles the deck.

  • The dealer slides the deck to the younger hand who cuts the deck.

  • The dealer then deals the required number of cards to all the players, individually, face down, beginning with the elder hand.