Playing cards are the most recognizable “interface” of games of chance: a single deck is enough to start dozens of disciplines from poker and blackjack to baccarat and variety formats like Three Card Poker. Behind the apparent simplicity lies a centuries-long evolution of materials, artwork, sizes, and rules. Let’s see where cards came from, how their suits and ranks took hold, how regional decks differ, and which standards are used in practice in both land-based and online casinos.
Hieroglyphs, Ganjifa and the Sultan's Court: Theories of the Deck's Birth
There is no single “birth point” for cards. Historians agree on just one thing: the paper deck we know today is the result of several traditions merging.
China. As early as the ninth century, sources mention games “with leaves.” The first “cards” looked more like narrow wooden or paper plaques, later becoming paper strips with numbers and symbols. China gave the world not only paper but also the idea that a set of flat signs could be a game in its own right. Nearby, mahjong took shape — a kindred draw-and-combine pastime, though it uses tiles instead of cards.
India. The oval Ganjifa cards were hand-painted: animals, flowers, weapons, and deities from the Hindu pantheon. The number of suits could exceed four — sets with eight and even twelve suits appeared; this shows there was no common standard yet.
The Middle East and Egypt. Cards likely reached Europe via Mamluk courts. Surviving examples show cups, swords, clubs/batons, and coins; the figures are faceless (religious restrictions on depicting people were bypassed with ornament and calligraphy). This symbolism is strikingly close to later Italo-Spanish suits.
From Bans to Salons: The European Journey of Cards
In the 14th century, cards confidently entered European cities — and the first bans arrived with them. Secular and religious authorities feared the “temptation” of gambling, yet bans paradoxically fueled the trend. Almost simultaneously, a production base emerged: the rise of engraving and printing lowered costs, and artwork shifted from elite taste to a mass product.
Europe’s evolution brought three core ideas without which the modern deck is unimaginable:
- Double-headed artwork — a symmetrical top/bottom figure that lets players read a card without flipping it and “flashing” their hand.
- Indices — corner abbreviations of rank and suit that make it quick to “read” the fan of cards in hand.
- Two-color suits — black and red pips (suit marks) make layouts clearer and speed up play.
Face, Back, Index: How the Card Standard Grew
The terms “face” (obverse) and “back” (reverse) are no accident. The face carries the rank (2–10, J, Q, K, A), the suit (♣ ♦ ♥ ♠), and the artwork. The back is the field for security and branding; casinos often print a logo and a pattern that complicates marking and peeking.
Indices. Today, the Latin system is common: A, K, Q, J. Local standards existed and still appear — from a Russian “T” for ace to an old French “R” (roi) for king. For tables viewed at a distance, jumbo or magnum index — enlarged corner indices — are used.
Materials. Paper laminated with plastic; semi-plastic; 100% plastic (often acetate/PVC). In casinos, 100% plastic is preferred: it is more durable, less prone to warping and moisture, and it holds the “cut” better during shuffling.
Sizes. Two standards — poker size (about 63×88 mm) and bridge size (about 57–58×88 mm). The narrow bridge format is easier to fan and less tiring for a dealer’s hand, which is why some disciplines (e.g., blackjack) favor it as much as poker size.
The Family of Suits: Regional Schools and Their Logic
Beyond the French-English template lives a whole ecosystem of decks:
- Italo-Spanish school. Suits — swords, cups, batons/clubs, coins. Play often uses a shortened 40-card deck (without 8s and 9s). Tarot decks also come from here — extended sets up to 78 cards with trumps.
- German school. Acorns, leaves, hearts, bells. Many places use 32 cards (for skat) or 36 — the tradition of “short” decks is strong.
- Swiss branch. Similar to the German school, but with shields/escutcheons instead of spades and acorns instead of clubs; roses and bells are also present.
- French-English line. Clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades. This is the modern global standard for casinos.
The variety does not change the essential point: everywhere there are four suits and a hierarchy that runs from number cards to court cards.
Kings, Queens and the 'Heavy' Ace: What Ranks Conceal
Court cards are a distillation of an era’s symbolism. Old French decks sometimes feature captions with the names of real or legendary figures: warrior-kings, knights, and biblical heroines. This isn’t mandated by the standard, but it is a typographic tradition — and it shows where associations come from.
Ace. In some games it is the lowest card (value “1”), in others it outranks the king. English history added a touch of myth: when a tax was levied on cards, the ace of spades often received a special mark. Hence the legends about its “ominous” nature — though casino rules contain no mysticism, only rank defined by each game’s rules.
Core Deck Formats: Which Sets Live on the Tables
The base set is 52 cards (13 ranks across four suits). Retail decks usually include two jokers — a total of 54; but casinos rarely use jokers and only under specific rules (for example, as wilds in some poker variants).
There are also shortened sets — mostly for “home” games, but they’re worth knowing:
- 36 cards (6–A) — common in Slavic games.
- 32 cards (7–A) — the classic for preference and skat.
- 24 cards (9–A) — a format for “Thousand” and related games.
Standards in casino disciplines are as follows:
- Poker (Texas Hold'em, Omaha) — a single 52-card deck without jokers.
- Blackjack — from one to eight decks; often 6–8, dealt from a shoe. Before the deal, the top card is “burned” (burn), and the cut is made with a cut-card.
- Baccarat — usually 6–8 decks in a shoe; the tempo is high and cards are often bent for the “squeeze,” so plastic is mandatory.
- Three Card Poker, Caribbean Stud, etc. — one 52-card deck; after each hand, a full collect and/or shuffle.
Security and Ergonomics: How a Casino Protects Its Deck
The gaming floor is not about the romance of “well-worn” cards. A deck is a consumable here, and strict requirements apply:
- Material and edge. Robust plastic, clean trimming, anti-glare surface. Any nick is grounds to replace the pack.
- Back design. Micro-patterns that make marking attempts visible. In VIP areas, backs can be branded individually.
- Shufflers. Continuous shuffling machines (CSM) and pre-shuffling devices shorten breaks and neutralize deck counting.
- Accounting and cycle. Decks are numbered, kept in sealed packs, and retired after a set number of deals; in live studios the cycle is even shorter due to camera oversight.
"Pips" on the Screen: Cards in Online Games
Online casinos run on a random number generator, but the visual language remains familiar: A-K-Q-J as “icons” on slots, court figures in bonus games; Video Poker (Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild) uses the full 52-card model. In live casinos, the dealer uses physical decks — the same standards for sizes, indices, and backs; cameras stand around the table, and a clear protocol governs deck replacement and hand logging.
Myths and Symbols: What Suits Really Mean
The “biblical suits” story is pretty but inaccurate: clubs as a cross, hearts as “the heart of Christ,” spades as a spear, diamonds as a sponge. The history of cards is far more pragmatic: suits are a convenient visual code. Their specific shapes are the legacy of regional traditions. French-derived clubs, spades, hearts, and diamonds prevailed thanks to ease of printing and readability.
For practical play, something else matters: suits are equivalent in rank (unless a specific game elevates one), and their contrast and geometry provide speed — the dealer makes fewer mistakes and the player orients faster.
Cards in the Dealer's Hands: Size, Grip, Gestures
Professional style is part of safety and aesthetics. A few nuances influence the choice of deck:
- Width. The narrow bridge format reduces wrist fatigue over hours of dealing and is ideal for the squeeze in baccarat.
- Indices. Jumbo marking speeds reading from a distance — important for high-seated tables and pit-boss oversight.
- Flexibility. 100% plastic tolerates the classic riffle shuffle better and doesn’t leave tactile kinks.
A Mini Glossary of Terms: Speak Like a Pro
- Suit — a family of symbols (♣ ♦ ♥ ♠); in English: clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades.
- Rank — the card’s value (2–10, J, Q, K, A).
- Pips — small suit marks on the face.
- Indices — corner abbreviations of rank and suit.
- Shoe — a tray for dealing from multiple decks.
- Burn — discarding the top card before the deal.
- Cut-card — a rigid plastic card used to cut the deck.
- CSM — continuous shuffling machine.
The Deck as a Cultural Artifact: What Cards Reveal About the Casino and Us
In every detail of a card you find pragmatism and style side by side. Double-headed figures and indices exist not for aesthetics but for speed and fairness. Plastic overtook paper because a gaming table means damp hands, spilled drinks, and thousands of microscopic bends. Two suit colors — red and black — are about contrast rather than symbolism; at high tempo, they cut down on mistakes.
And yet cards are more than a tool. The casino speaks to the player in this language — from the size of the court drawings to the timing of the cut in the shoe. Once you grasp the logic of the deck — the history of the suits, the role of indices, and the material and security requirements — it’s easier to read any game, whether brisk blackjack or contemplative poker. Which makes it easier to see the main thing: behind the glitter there is a system and an order in which every card has its place and its task.
