Downcards

Downcards are a term used in various card games to refer to the cards that are not visible to the other players. The term is most commonly used in poker, where it specifically refers to the two cards dealt to each player at the beginning of a hand that are not shown to the other players. These cards are kept hidden from the opponents until the player chooses to reveal them, typically during the showdown phase of the game.

In other card games, the term "downcards" can have different meanings. For example, in bridge, downcards refer to the cards that are not part of the dummy's hand, which is the hand that is played by the partner of the declarer. In trick-taking games, downcards can refer to the cards that are not part of the current trick or the cards that are not yet played.

The concept of downcards is important in card games because it adds an element of strategy and bluffing. Players must use their knowledge of the game's rules and their opponents' playing styles to make decisions about when to reveal their downcards and when to keep them hidden. In poker, for example, a player may choose to reveal their downcards if they have a strong hand or to bluff their opponents if they have a weak hand.