kortspill

Kortspill, or card games, is a broad term for games played with playing cards or other card packs. They are played by two or more players and can be casual or competitive, with objectives ranging from winning tricks to melding sets or simply discarding cards. The rules and equipment vary widely by game.

Common families of kortspill include trick-taking games, shedding games, and rummy-type games. Trick-taking games form rounds called tricks, and players try to win the majority of them; examples include bridge, whist, skat, and spades. Shedding games aim to be the first to dispose of all cards, as in Crazy Eights or Uno, while rummy-type games involve forming sets or runs and scoring points, with Canasta and various regional variants as well-known examples. There are also solitaire variants played alone, and many games mix bidding, drafting, or partnership play.

Most kortspill use a standard 52-card deck with four suits, though some variants use 32 cards or a tarot deck. Some games incorporate special rules regarding dealing, trump suits, or scoring, and many have regional or house variations. The balance of luck and skill varies; strategy, memory, and cooperation (in partnerships) often influence outcome as much as chance.

Historically, playing cards spread through Europe from Asia and the Middle East in the late medieval period and diversified into many national and regional traditions. Today kortspill are a common pastime worldwide, featured in homes, clubs, and tournaments, with Norwegian households maintaining local variants and conventions.