Kings in a Deck of Cards: Symbolism and Significance
The kings in a deck of cards are often the highest-ranking; even when not, they’re still usually powerful. In a single-deck blackjack game, getting the king first means you have a near 30% chance of scoring a 20 and a roughly 8% chance of hitting a blackjack. In poker, it’s second only to the ace. But what’s the history of this intricately designed card, who does the king depict, and why is it such a high-ranking card?
History of Kings in a Deck of Cards
The king is one of the three picture cards in a standard deck. It is the oldest of all the picture cards and was used on the very first decks that arrived in Europe from Egypt over 600 years ago.
The king is usually depicted sitting on his throne, but that wasn’t always the case.
From China to Turkey and Egypt
Modern playing cards are thought to have been influenced by game tiles in China. Whether these were made of paper is unknown, but by the 14th century, traders from North Africa purchased and carried them into Egypt.
The oldest known deck of playing cards with designs reminiscent of modern cards was discovered in Istanbul in the 15th century. These cards didn’t depict royalty and merely used ranks, but it’s thought this was due to religious prohibition. It’s unknown if this deck, the Topkapi, accurately represents the decks used at the time.
Before long, playing cards had spread from the Mamluk and Moor empires into Spain, France, Germany and Italy.
It’s in Spain where we see the first depictions of kings.
European Kings
In the 15th century, French card designers began assigning the names of mythological figures, kings, and generals to their king cards, including King David, Alexander the Great, Charlemagne, and Caesar. However, this was not standard practice across Europe, and the king playing cards predated using historical figures.
The Suicide King
If you look closely at your playing cards, you may notice that the king of hearts seems to be stabbing himself in the head with a dagger. It’s a curious depiction and looks like an ancient easter egg. In reality, it likely originated due to over-copying and printing mistakes.
Early playing cards depicted the king with an axe drawn, ready for battle. But like a game of telephone, the more it was copied, the more its original intent was lost. Early designs likely omitted the axe head, only for the weapon to transform into a dagger. Thus, the image of a king swinging an axe/dagger behind his head morphed into one of a king stabbing himself.
The King in Spanish Decks
Early Spanish cards used clubs, coins, cups, and swords as suits. The king of clubs wielded a club, the king of coins carried an axe, while the kings of cups and swords had a spear and sword, respectively. Various designs were also produced in Catalan and Castilian patterns that used identical suits with different patterns and weapons. All of these cards showed the king standing.
Deck of Cards Names
The playing cards you have at home and those you’ll see in casinos and card rooms across the country are so ubiquitous that you would be forgiven for thinking they all look like this. But there are many types of cards. Some of these are just varied designs adopted by different countries and cultures, but others are specific to certain kinds of games.
Some of the most common types of cards include:
French-Suited Playing Cards
Most Westerners are familiar with these cards, as this design is used in games like blackjack and poker in casinos and card rooms worldwide. The blackjack cards worth ten include aces, kings, queens, and jacks, and in poker, kings and other picture cards form part of a Royal Flush, the highest-ranked poker hand.
See our guide to what is double-deck blackjack to learn more about these cards and their worth.
German-Suited Playing Cards
A deck of four suits (acorns, bells, hearts, and leaves) with 36 cards. This deck is standard in parts of southern Germany.
Spanish-Suited Playing Cards
Spanish cards are used in Spanish-speaking countries. They use swords, cups, coins, and clubs with 12 ranks and a total of 48 cards.
Italian-Suited Playing Cards
In parts of northern Italy, a 52-card deck with 13 ranks and suits of batons, cups, coins, and swords is used.
Ganjifa Playing Cards
Used in parts of India and the Middle East, these cards vary wildly in suits and ranks. They are round and colorful, and many versions feature hand-painted designs.
Hanafuda Playing Cards
These cards are smaller than the ones used in the West and depict animals, plants, and other objects. They are used in Japan and Korea to play games like Go-stop and Koi-Koi.
Summary: Understanding the Kings in a Deck of Cards
The king is a significant card, especially in poker, blackjack, and kings card game rules, with the latter often used as a drinking game. It has a long history, from being associated with history’s most outstanding leaders to morphing into a suicidal royal. So, the next time you settle down to play a game of cards, whether at home or in a casino, pay special attention to this royal — there are 600 years behind those wise old eyes!
Poker Common Queries
How many cards are in a deck of cards?
Excluding the jokers, a deck has 52 cards, with 13 in each suit. It’s often said that the suits represent the seasons, and the number of cards represents the weeks of the year.
How many spades are in a deck of cards?
There are 13 spades in a standard deck of cards.
How many aces are in a deck of cards?
Each deck has four aces, one for each suit.
How many red cards are in a deck?
There are 26 reds: 13 hearts and 13 diamonds.
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