52card

52card is the term used to refer to the standard 52-card deck that underpins most Western playing-card games. It is defined by four suits—hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades—and 13 ranks within each suit, yielding a total of 52 cards. Jokers are not part of the standard deck, though they are commonly added for certain games or variations as wild cards or special cards.

Composition and ranking: Each suit contains Ace through King, for a complete set of 13 ranks. The arrangement and naming of the suits and ranks have become the basis for many traditional games, including those played in casinos and at home. Some games may assign different roles to the Ace (high or low) or have unique rules for specific cards, but the 52-card framework remains the common foundation.

History and development: The modern 52-card deck emerged in Europe during the 14th to 15th centuries, with the French-suited design (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades) becoming widely adopted in many regions. Jokers were introduced later in the 19th century for use in certain trick-taking games and have since become a common optional addition in many contexts.

Usage and variants: The 52-card deck is used in a broad range of games, including bridge, poker, blackjack, and many traditional trick-taking and shedding games. Some variations use reduced decks (for example, 24 or 48 cards) or add multiple Jokers. Specialty and customized decks also exist for magic, education, or cardistry.

See also: Deck of cards, French playing cards, Jokers.