Playing Cards

Playing cards are small, flat cards with numbers, pictures, and symbols on them. A standard deck has 52 cards in four suits. People use playing cards for hundreds of different games.

The History of Playing Cards

Playing cards were invented in China around the 800s. They spread along trade routes to the Middle East and then to Europe by the 1300s. Different countries created their own card designs.

The four suits we know today, hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades, come from France. The French design became the most popular around the world. Kings, queens, and jacks were based on famous figures from history.

Card Games for Everyone

There are hundreds of card games you can play. Go Fish, Crazy Eights, and War are fun games for kids. Poker, Bridge, and Rummy are popular with adults.

Card games are great because you only need a small deck of cards to play. You can take them anywhere, from a car trip to a camping site. Some people can also do amazing magic tricks with cards.

Fun Facts

• Playing cards were invented in China over 1,000 years ago.
• A standard deck has 52 cards, one for each week of the year.
• If you add up all the values of the cards in a deck, plus one for the joker, you get 365, the number of days in a year.

Did You Know?

During World War II, the United States sent special playing cards to prisoners of war. When soaked in water, the cards peeled apart to reveal hidden maps for escape routes.