Korttijaot

Korttijaot is a term used to describe the process and result of distributing cards to players during a card game. In Finnish, it covers both the dealing procedure and the hands that players receive. The concept applies across many games, including bridge, poker, blackjack, rummy, and other trick-taking or draw-based games, though the specific rules for dealing vary by game.

Typical dealing methods involve shuffling the deck, and sometimes cutting the deck before dealing. Cards can be dealt one by one in a fixed order (often clockwise) or in packets, depending on the game. The number of cards dealt to each player is determined by the game’s rules; for example, poker hands commonly use five cards per player in many variants, while bridge uses thirteen cards per player. In many settings, the dealer position rotates among players, and in tournaments or cash games, blinds or antes may be structured around the deal. Some games also include a burn card or a discard to improve fairness and to prevent signaling.

Fair korttijaot relies on proper shuffling, adherence to the deal order, and compliance with game-specific rules to ensure random distribution and equal opportunities for players. In official play, dealing standards are often codified to maintain consistency and integrity of the game.

Etymology and usage: the word derives from Finnish kortti (card) and jaot (distributions, deals). In Finnish rulebooks and gaming contexts, korttijaot is used to describe both the act of dealing and the resulting set of hands.