Interesting nuances of playing cards

Mythology attributes the invention of a set of objects for gambling to the ancient Egyptian god Thoth. He also invented writing, the calendar and the counting of time.

In the twelfth century in China, the thick cardboard cards were replaced by ivory dominoes to make the production of sets cheaper. And already in the 15th century they reached Europe.

There are several versions about the origin of suits. Back in the Middle Ages, numerologists ascribed mystical meanings to them: 

• diamonds – salamanders or spirits of fire; 
• hearts – sylphs and wind spirits; 
• clubs – watermen, undines and mermaids; 
• spades – underground gnomes.

In the French version from 1480 the interpretation is more prosaic: 

• hearts – clergy, 
• spades – nobility, 
• diamonds – merchant class, 
• clubs – peasants and artisans of low origin.

There is a version that from the 16th century the cards with pictures depicted famous images, which have survived almost unchanged to this day. The king of spades is awarded the image of David, the king of hearts is Charles the Great, the king of diamonds is Julius Caesar, and the king of clubs is the great Alexander the Great himself. More minor merits remained mythological characters: the jack of diamonds is Hector, and the queen of spades is the goddess Athena Pallada.

Rating of the most popular and interesting card games

Card games, each with its own rules and features, are numerous and varied. Identify the most interesting and popular is very difficult – the choice depends on the region, social status and wealth of the participants. For some, the best card game will be seka, while others would prefer a preference for preference or complex puzzles. But the widespread culture of online and physical casinos has arranged everything in its place, determining the top five.

At the head of the corner is a card game of poker, or, more specifically, Texas Hold’em, as the most popular variety. It was invented exactly in the early 20th century in Robstown, Texas. And only 60 years later it conquered the gambling establishments of Las Vegas. At one table can sit from two to ten people. Everyone is dealt two cards, and five more are laid out in three openings on the table. During the opening of the next cards, the stakes are raised. In addition to gathering a certain combination, the participants face the task of competently raising the bets to stay in line until the last dealt card, but without losing money in an unsuccessful scenario. There are certain subtleties in the order of the bets, but they are difficult to describe in a concise form.

The bridge card game is also very popular, and we give it second place. Bridge is difficult to call a fast or easy, but it is this fact allows him to maintain its position for decades. Modern bridge is a direct descendant of whist with a slight eastern flavor. The last edition of the rules occurred in 1948 and is still in force today. Saying the rules in two words does not work – they are considered one of the most difficult in the industry gambling. The main points: there are four people sitting at the table, which periodically change places, and one of the goals is to predict and record further moves and payoffs.

Solitaire is the most common and popular solitaire game. Became popular not least because of the presence of simple emulation in the standard set of entertainment for Windows. Solitaire inventor believe Paul Olfill, who took the rules of the two older solitaire games, added the alternation of suits and made his version of the long and exciting “kill time.

Whist, the oldest and most honorable game on this list, was invented back in the sixteenth century. Whist is known for its widespread popularity in Britain, from where it spread throughout the civilized world. It is based on the confrontation between two pairs of players, the aim of which is to score as many points per game as possible. The bribe is taken by whoever laid the highest card.

Blackjack is very similar to the card game “point”, but differs from it in nuances in the rules. Blackjack was first introduced in 19th century France and gradually gained recognition around the world due to its simple rules, ease of play and unobtrusive dynamics. The difference with the traditional “point” is the concept of raising the stakes after the cards are dealt. On the third card the participant can double the bet, on the fourth even triple it. In many versions of the rules, there are special insurance bets against the dealer receiving a combination of an ace and a ten. Some casinos even allow you to surrender without a demonstration of combinations with the loss of half the bet – this is the so-called Blackjack Surrender.

Many varieties of card games have acquired their own nuances, becoming the so-called “Russian”. So in the game of Russian poker involves only the croupier and the player, dealt five cards at a time with the possibility of replacement. Exchange of cards and the disclosure of combinations out of turn is paid for a separate rate.

Gambling and Cards – Fun Facts

There are many funny and surprising cases associated with card games. We propose to get acquainted with some of them:

• Miners never took a deck with them to the mine, as it was considered a bad omen. Thieves were of the same opinion, never taking them away from a robbed house. And on seagoing ships, card games were forbidden at all, so the sailors, barely leaving the ship, managed to lose their savings in a matter of hours, hungry for thrills.

• In 1998, in New Mexico, candidate James Farringon simply won a government post at the poker table. According to local law, with an equal number of electoral votes, everything was decided by poker or dice. The dice fell in favor of poker, after which a mini-tournament took place with a smashing score in favor of Mr. Farrington.

• In poker, there has been a separate unspoken AK combination consisting of a king and an ace as of late. It was invented as an irony for the famous model and tennis player Anna Kournikova, who did not win a single adult tournament in her career. The combination of the same name differs in the same way – there’s no way to break the bank with it.

• The classic deck contains a reference to the calculus of time. The two colors of suits are day and night, and the 52 cards are similar to the same number of weeks in a year. Four different suits coincide with the four seasons. If you continue counting the value of the cards after ten as Jack – 11, Queen – 12, King – 13, you get the number of days in the year, and with the joker – even a leap year.

Online card games – you can take risks for free

The popularity of card games spurred the industry online casinos, where at first you can try your hand for free, and practiced make a deposit and fight for real money. The most common card games at online casinos are poker, blackjack and baccarat in all their varieties.

Online gambling is carried out by the same rules as the traditional ones. One difference – the participant does not have to go to the casino and pass the “face control”. He, using a special program, chooses a pastime to his liking and can both risk their finances, and indefinitely indulge “for fun.