Kártyapakli

Kártyapakli is the Hungarian term for a deck of playing cards, the standard set used in many card games around the world. A typical modern deck contains 52 cards divided into four suits, each with thirteen ranks. The ranks are commonly Ace through Ten, plus the face cards Jack, Queen, and King. In addition, many games use Jokers as wild cards, though Jokers are not always included or required.

Historically, playing cards appeared in Europe during the late Middle Ages, with the structure of suits and ranks becoming more standardized over time. The 52‑card deck most familiar today emerged in Europe, and Jokers were added in the 19th century for various games. There are many regional variants: some games use smaller decks, such as 32 or 40 cards, and tarot decks with a total of 78 cards are used for both gaming and divination in different traditions.

Uses and variations: The kártyapakli is employed in a wide range of games, including trick-taking, matching, shedding, and gambling, as well as in solitaire and magic tricks. Decks are produced in paper or plastic, and designs vary by country and manufacturer. In Hungarian contexts, the deck is a common tool for traditional and contemporary card games and is available in formats and styles that reflect local preferences and language.