Sign Up

Search the website

Fun Facts About Playing Cards

Fun Facts About Playing Cards
Date: August 22, 2022 / Author: OKBET

Fun Facts About Playing Cards You Should Know

fun facts about playing cards

Playing cards have to be one of your favorite things if you enjoy playing card games. However, many individuals are unaware of several fascinating facts surrounding playing cards. Nowadays, playing cards with pals allows you to socialize and can even pay off financially if you play them online at casinos like OKBet. Have you ever observed their features closely and wondered about the patterns and details about to be revealed? Today, we’ll share some interesting card-playing facts with you.

What Are Playing Cards?

Origin and Evolution

Playing cards are believed to have originated in China during the Tang Dynasty in the ninth century. Remarkably, over a thousand years later, every home still has a deck of cards. Despite technological advancements, many individuals continue to use traditional playing cards to play card games and perform magic shows. The popularity of cards has led to the revival of time-honored card games like Solitaire, the development of new ones like Freecell, and the opportunity for players to try their luck at card games like poker or blackjack on online casino websites like OKBet online.

Types of Playing Cards

Cards Symbolize the Calendar

An intriguing explanation for why a deck of cards contains 52 cards is that the number of cards equals the number of weeks in a year. It gets stranger when you realize there are 12 court cards, which stand in for the 12 months of the year, and 13 cards in each suit, corresponding to the number of lunar cycles.

Many striking similarities between a deck of playing cards and a calendar have been noted, including:

  • Two colors: The colors red and black correspond to the daytime and nighttime portions of each day.
  • Four suits: The four suits correspond to spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
  • Thirteen values: The thirteen suits correspond to the thirteen weeks in each quarter and the thirteen lunar cycles.
  • Twelve courts: The twelve court cards equal the twelve months of the year.
  • Fifty-two cards: The 52 cards in a standard deck represent the 52 weeks in a year.

Is this symbolism strategic or just a lucky coincidence? Regardless, this is a fantastic story! There is also an incredible viral video of magician Justin Flom performing a slick routine to honor Veterans Day. In addition, he mentions and explains some of this symbolism as it appears in a deck of playing cards.

Joker Cards

The Joker card is a Trump card in the nineteenth-century Euchre game, which plays and invented by the Americans in the United States. Everyone knows that a trump card’s value is significantly greater than its face value. Additionally, it is believed that the joker card originated in Italy. Regardless, a deck of cards contains approximately 2-3 jokers and is still widely used.

Oldest Deck Of Cards

The reportedly rarest and oldest complete deck of playing cards is displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The remarkable condition of the hand-painted tarot deck from the mid-15th century Netherlands suggests they hardly used the cards. Included among the cards competing for the title of oldest and rarest is a deck of Mamluk cards at the Topkapu Museum in Istanbul.

Plastic-Card Casino Security

When it comes to OKBet casino card decks, you may notice that they have a distinct texture. They are made entirely of plastic. The plastic card permits more handling cards in games such as poker before the cards become worn, dirty, and dog-eared. It also makes it more difficult than paper for players to cheat and mark cards.

5 Amazing Facts About Playing Cards in OKBET Live Casino - OKBET card games

Fun Facts About Playing Cards

1. The World’s Oldest Playing Cards

The oldest surviving set of playing cards is believed to date back to the 15th century. Known as the Cloisters Playing Cards,” this deck is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Its intricate designs and craftsmanship provide a glimpse into the artistic and cultural influences of the time.

2. The Unlucky Number 13

The aversion to the number 13 is not exclusive to superstitions about Friday the 13th. In a standard deck of playing cards, there are 12 face cards (Jack, Queen, King) in each suit. Some theories suggest that early card makers avoided having 13 face cards to circumvent associations with bad luck.

3. The Bicycle Playing Card Company

Established in 1885, the United States Playing Card Company, commonly known as Bicycle, is one of the most well-known playing card manufacturers. The iconic Bicycle brand is recognized for its signature rider back design and has become synonymous with quality and durability in the world of playing cards.

4. The Largest Deck of Cards

The largest deck of playing cards ever created was unveiled in 2010 in celebration of Macau’s status as the world’s gambling capital. This colossal deck included 6,536 cards, each measuring 3.5 by 2.5 feet. While impractical for actual gameplay, this oversized deck set a Guinness World Record for its sheer size.

5. The Longest Poker Game

In 1881, a poker game lasting an astonishing eight years, five months, and three days took place in a theater in Arizona. The game was part of a bet between two wealthy men, and it continued uninterrupted until one of the players passed away. This marathon poker session remains a legendary tale in the history of card games.

Playing Cards in Culture and Entertainment

6. The World Series of Poker

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is one of the most prestigious poker tournaments globally, attracting professional players and enthusiasts alike. The inaugural WSOP took place in 1970, and the main event featured seven players competing for cash prizes and a silver cup. Today, the WSOP has evolved into a series of events with millions of dollars in prize money.

7. The Ace of Spades in Warfare

During the Vietnam War, the Ace of Spades gained a reputation as a symbol of death and terror. American soldiers would leave a single Ace of Spades card on the bodies of Viet Cong soldiers to instill fear and superstition. The psychological impact of the “Death Card” was believed to demoralize the enemy.

8. The Mathematical Complexity of Shuffling

The mathematics of shuffling a deck of cards is surprisingly complex. The number of possible ways to arrange a standard 52-card deck is astronomically large—approximately 8×10^67. This number is so immense that every time a deck is shuffled, it is likely that the resulting order has never existed before in the history of the universe.

9. The Connection Between Playing Cards and Astronomy

The four suits in a standard deck of playing cards have interesting connections to the four seasons and celestial bodies. Hearts are associated with summer and represent the Holy Grail, diamonds symbolize spring and are linked to the wealthy class, clubs are tied to autumn and signify the peasant class, and spades represent winter and are connected to the warrior class.

Card Games Beyond Borders

10. Cardistry: The Art of Card Flourishing

Cardistry is a contemporary performance art that involves creating intricate and visually appealing card manipulations. Unlike magic, cardistry focuses on the aesthetics and skill of handling playing cards. Enthusiasts, known as cardists, develop unique routines and displays, often sharing their creations through social media platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Where did playing cards originate?

Playing cards are believed to have originated in China during the Tang Dynasty in the ninth century.

2. How many cards are there in a standard deck, and why?

A standard deck contains 52 cards, symbolizing the number of weeks in a year. The 12 court cards represent the months, and the 13 cards in each suit correspond to the lunar cycles.

3. What is the significance of the Joker card?

The Joker card originated in the nineteenth-century Euchre game and is considered a trump card. It is believed to have originated in Italy and is still included in decks today.

4. What is the oldest complete deck of playing cards?

The rarest and oldest complete deck is displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, dating back to the mid-15th century Netherlands.

5. Why are some casino card decks made of plastic?

Casino card decks, like those at OKBet, are made of plastic for durability and security. Plastic cards last longer, resist wear, and are more challenging to mark or cheat with compared to paper cards.

6. Are there superstitions related to playing cards?

Yes, superstitions exist, such as the aversion to the number 13 and the Ace of Spades being considered a symbol of death during wartime.

7. What is the World Series of Poker (WSOP)?

The WSOP is a prestigious poker tournament that began in 1970, attracting professional players and offering significant cash prizes.

8. How complex is the mathematics of shuffling a deck of cards?

The number of possible ways to arrange a standard 52-card deck is astronomically large, approximately 8×10^67, ensuring each shuffle creates a unique order.

9. What is cardistry?

Cardistry is a contemporary art form involving intricate and visually appealing card manipulations, focusing on the aesthetics and skill of handling playing cards.

10. How has technology impacted card games, especially with online casinos like OKBet?

Technology has revolutionized card games with the rise of online casinos like OKBet, providing players with convenient access, a variety of games, and innovative features, shaping the future of online card gaming.

 

Want to learn more about cards? We have This Live Casinos are Become Popular in OKBet Online Casino