Pagat

Pagat is the nickname and namesake of a long-running online reference resource for card games. The site, hosted at pagat.com, provides rules, terminology, variations, and historical notes for traditional and regional card games from around the world. It emphasizes descriptive information and cross-references rather than instructional strategy.

Content and scope include hundreds of games, organized by family such as trick-taking, matching, shedding, rummy, and others. Each entry typically covers the objective, required equipment, setup, play sequence, scoring, and regional variations. Many pages include historical context, alternate names, and bibliographic references, along with a glossary and links to related games to aid comparison and study.

History and use: Pagat has become a widely used starting point for players, clubs, librarians, and researchers seeking reliable information on traditional card games. Its multilingual presentation and broad coverage have contributed to its recognition as a standard reference in the card gaming community.

Governance and community: The site relies on contributions from visitors and ongoing editorial curation to maintain accuracy and coherence across diverse traditions. Updates reflect changes in rules, new regional variants, and clarifications arising from user input, with an emphasis on neutral, descriptive presentation rather than advocacy for particular games.

Significance and scope: Pagat is considered a key resource for documenting card games and their terminology. It supports academic and hobbyist interest in game rules and histories and is frequently cited in discussions of traditional and regional gaming cultures. Related topics include lists of card games and comparative rule studies.