The following is a glossary of terms used in card games. Besides the terms listed here, there are thousands of common and uncommon slang terms. Terms in this glossary should not be game-specific (e.g. specific to bridge, hearts, poker or rummy), but apply to a wide range of card games played with non-proprietary packs. It should not include terms solely related to casino or banking games. For glossaries that relate primarily to one game or family of similar games, see Game-specific glossaries.
A player who receives cards in the current deal (i.e. is not sitting out because there are more players than the game is designed for as in four-hand Skat or five-hand Schafkopf).[3]
A player who has not withdrawn from the current deal but elected to play on (as in Rams or Poker).[3]
adversary
Any opposing player, especially in two-hand games, or an opponent of the declarer. See defenders.[3]
adverse
Pertaining to an adversary or opponent e.g. an adverse lead is one made by an opponent; adverse trumps are those held by one's opponent(s).[3]
Often used in both senses of declaration. However, Dummett prefers to restrict 'announcement' for the intention to achieve certain feats in play, while preferring 'declaration' for a statement that one has a special combination of cards in one's hand.[5]
ante
A mandatory stake made before the game begins - usually by all players, sometimes by the dealer only.[4]
Chips required to be put into the pot before the deal.[6]
Phrase that describes sequences or runs that are built either side of the Ace e.g. Q K A 2 3 4 [7]
auction
The period of bidding.[8] The phase in some card games where players may bid to lead the game, or bid on a certain hand or privilege in that hand such as naming the trump suit. The player with the highest bid wins the auction and plays his chosen game or exercises his privilege. Often used in trick-taking games.[9]
Also called the house or the bank, the person responsible for distributing chips, keeping track of the buy-ins, and paying winners at the end of a banking game. A dealer against whom the punters bet.[11][3]
banking game
A less-skilled card game of the gambling type in which one or more punters play against a banker, who controls the game.[12]
base value
A constant factor in working out the value of a game e.g. Skat.[13]
A penalty payment in certain games for e.g. for failing to take the minimum number of tricks, or for a stake or money which a player has lost.[16]
A player who fails to takes a single trick in Mistigri.[17] Likewise in Mauscheln, if the declarer, or Mauschler, fails to win a trick, he is the Mauschlerbete.
the player who directs the play of his team or who has the final decision in certain partnershipgames.[26]
card money
The charge levied by an establishment on the playing of card games.[27]
card points
The scoring value of a card or cards in point-trick games.[4] Card points are used to determine the winner of a hand, based on the value of individual cards won. Not to be confused with game points. Sometimes called pips.
A token used in place of money; a counter; to put chips in the pot[29] Also jeton.
chosen suit
A suit characterised by a disturbed ranking and in which some cards have privileges over cards of the unchosen suits or special powers when led. Chosen suits are found in most games of the Karnöffel group. Sometimes called a selected suit. Often misnamed a trump suit.[30]
circle
A local group of card players who meet regularly to play a particular game.[lower-alpha 1]
claim
An action or statement by which a player indicates he believes he will take all the remaining tricks.[32]
To make such an action e.g. by laying one's hand down or saying "the rest are mine" in expectation that the opponents will concede.[32]
A short rectangular counter or chip used in some French card games and Danish Tarok that is worth a number of jetons or fiches, typically 100 jetons.[37]
counter
Object used to score. Token used in place of money; a chip.[29] Also jeton.
Unmatched cards remaining in the hand e.g. in Rummy.[42]
deal
Verb: To distribute cards to players in accordance with the rules of the card game being played.[44] In many games, this involves picking up all the cards, shuffling them, having them cut and redistributing them, but in other games (such as Patience games) it simply involves turning over the wastepile to act as a new stock.
Noun: The play from the time the cards are dealt until they are redealt.[44] Also referred to as a hand
Announcement of melds or scoring combinations, as in Piquet.[42] Dummett prefers to restrict 'declaration' to this sense, while preferring 'announcement' for the intention to achieve certain feats in play i.e. the 2nd meaning below.[5]
Note: Dummett prefers to restrict 'announce' for the intention to achieve certain feats in play, while using 'declare' for a statement that one has a special combination of cards in one's hand.[5]
The two of any suit.[44] In German-suited packs, the deuce is nowadays usually called the ace despite having 2 suit symbols.[49] In Austria and Bavaria usually called the Sow (Sau).
To lay away cards, e.g. of high value or to void a suit, after picking up from the talon or skat.[42]
A card that is removed from the hand in either of those ways.[42]
discard pile
The pile of cards already rejected by players.[39] The common pile of discarded cards.[42] Also wastepile.
double, redouble
To increase the game value by a factor of 2. Redoubling effectively quadruples the original game value.
double-ended, double-figured, double-headed
Of a playing card, being designed to be read either way up by having indices at each end and, in the case of court cards, dividing the picture horizontally or diagonally and displaying only the upper part of the figure at each end. Also reversible. See single-ended.
This is the player to the left of the dealer in games that are played clockwise; or to the right of the dealer in those played anti-clockwise and who is usually first to bid or declare and play.[38] The first player to play in the round. Called forehand in many games.
empty card
In Tarock games, a card without a special point value, usually a pip card, but sometimes also an ordinary trump (i.e. not one of the Trull cards.[54]
With the denomination side of the card downwards and its back upwards.
faceup (US)
A card positioned so that it reveals its suit and value.[39] Also upcard.[56]
face value
The marked value of a card. Also pip value. Court cards are usually take to have a value of 10, the Ace 1 or 11.[9]
fall of the cards
The identity and order in which cards are played, especially as it gives an indication of the location of unplayed cards.[38]
fan
To spread cards fanwise.[57] To spread a hand or pack of cards, face up, in an arc so that they can be identified from their corner indices. Alternatively to spread them, face down, in order to enable players to 'draw lots' in order, for example, to choose teams or the first dealer.
An arc of cards so fanned. A spread of face-up cards.[57]
In Patience, a small number of cards laid in an overlapping row, so that only one is exposed.[58]
To compel a player to trump a trick in order to win it.[55] A player may 'force out' trumps by leading a long plain suit in which the opponent is void.
A compulsory round or deal in which all players must play and none may drop out. Also known in German games as a 'muss'. See Schafkopf.
Another term for eldest hand usually in card games originating from Europe. The player who is usually first to receive cards, bid and play. Sits to the left of the dealer in clockwise games and right of the dealer in anticlockwise games.
The player who has the right to lead to a trick or who is earlier in the order of play and therefore has positional priority. Also said to be in forehand.
In point-trick games, the score awarded to the players based on the outcome of a hand, the game value of a contract and any bonuses earned. Game points are accumulated (or deducted) to decide the overall winner. Not to be confused with card points.
A pack of cards with the four suits: acorns, leaves, hearts and bells. So-called because it originated in Germany. Such packs are common in Austria, Germany, north Italy, Hungary and several other countries in eastern Europe. Compare with French and Latin-suited pack.
good
Concession by a player that he or she accepts the bid and does not wish to bid against it. May be announced with "good."
go out
To finish playing in the current deal because a) you have got rid of all your cards (e.g. in Rummy or Domino or b) you have achieved the tricks or points needed to win (e.g. in Fipsen or Sixty-Six).
To play a higher card than any so far played to the trick.[64] Also head the trick or play over (but that can also mean to play a higher card of the same suit). Not to be confused with cover or overtake.
guard
One or more cards that protect a high card.[65] A high card may be singly guarded,[66] twice guarded, etc.[lower-alpha 2]
hand
The cards held by one player ("playing hand")
The player holding the cards, as in "Third hand bid 1♠."
A game played for 'hard score' – as opposed to those played for soft score – is one played for money. Coins may be used to stake; alternatively chips or counters with an agreed monetary value may be utilised.
head the trick
To play a better (i.e. higher) card than any already played to the trick.[64] Also go over or play over (but that can also mean to play a higher card of the same suit). Not to be confused with cover or overtake.
As an earlier bidder in the auction, to match a higher bid, thus retaining the right to play a contract.
hold up
To refrain from playing (a high card).[64] Also 'hold back'.
honour
A card attracting a bonus score or side payment, usually to the player or team for holding and declaring them, but sometimes for capturing them in play.[67] From the French honneur. See matador.
In Bridge, the Ace, King, Queen, Jack or Ten in a suit.[68]
The number or letter printed in the corner of a playing card, so that it may be read when held in a fan.[64]
in turn
A player, or an action, is said to be in turn if that player is expected to act next under the rules. Jerry said "check" while he was in turn, so he's not allowed to raise.
Wooden counters. Jetons are round, fiches are long and contrats are short and rectangular.
jan, jann
The equivalent of lurch or schneider in north German or Scandinavian games. It may mean losing without taking a trick, as in games of the Bruus family, or scoring less than 1/4 of the points, as in games of the Sjavs family.
A circular counter which forms the basic unit of scoring or payment, especially in French card games. Often used along with fiches and contrats which are worth more.[37] See also chip.
As the cutter, to tap the pack with a fist to indicate that you are satisfied with the shuffle and are happy not to cut the cards. Common informal practice in social or family circles in European countries.
The first card played to a trick. Sometimes called the leading card.
led suit
The suit of the first card played to a trick. The suit of the lead card.
lone hand, lone player
A player who chooses to play without the help of his partner's hand.[75]
long card
A card left in one's hand after all opponents are exhausted of that suit.[75] Similarly, long cards are the dregs of a suit which has been led several times and exhausted in the hands of other players.[69]
long suit
A suit containing more than four cards e.g. at Whist[69]
The suit with the most cards in a player's hand.[75]
A card of low value, especially in Tarot and Tarock games.[77]
lurch
A player is 'lurched' or 'in the lurch' in card games like Cribbage, Saunt or Cassino if they not only lose but fail to score a minimum number of points, typically half of a winning score. Being in the lurch typically costs double. Similar to schneider.[76][75]
march
Euchre term, from the German Marsch or Durchmarsch. To win every trick in a deal. The score for doing so. The same as slam.[75][76]
The highest card in play from a particular suit.[2]
matador
A top trump, sometimes with special privileges.[67] However, in some card games such as Skwitz, it is not a trump but a bonus-earning card. Any high trump.[75]
match
A card game session comprising a number of rounds after which scores are finalised and a winner declared.
To play a card of the same value of the card or cards on the table, for example in fishing games.
The normal hierarchical sequence of cards within a suit. In a 52-card, French-suited pack the natural order is from Ace (high) to Two (low) i.e. A > K > Q > J > 10 … 2. In a 36-card German-suited pack, it is from Deuce ("Ace") to Seven i.e. D (A) > K > O > U > 10 … 7. Many games do not follow the natural order, for example, in ace–ten games the ranking is A > 10 > K > Q > J... or D (A) > 10 > K > O > U...
natural suit
The suit that a card would naturally belong to if not designated as e.g. a trump
negative game
A negative game or negative contract is one in which the aim is to either:
To bid higher than an earlier bidder. May take the form of a suit overcall (bid a higher-value suit e.g. in Preference), majority overcall (bid to take a higher number of tricks e.g. in Fipsen) or value overcall (bid to win more card points e.g. in Binokel)[67] The name of such a bid.[79]
To play a trump higher than any previously played to the trick.[79]
pack
A complete set of cards. In English-speaking countries, a standard pack comprises 52 French-suited cards. In other countries, packs of 24, 32, 36, 40 or 48 cards are common as are German or Latin-suited packs. Also deck.
packet
A portion of a pack, less than the whole pack.[82]
Another player with whom one shares a common score, and with whom one therefore cooperates in bidding and play.[82]
partnership
Two or more players who play jointly and win or lose together. May be 'fixed', in which case the players play together for the entire session, or 'floating', in which case partners vary from deal to deal, sometimes called an alliance. Also called a side or team.[67]
A score awarded for common violations of the rules of the game. It can be awarded either negatively to the violating player/partnership, or positively to their opponent(s)
The stage of the game during which the players' hands are depleted by plays to tricks or to a common pile, etc.[82] The "rules of play" are the rules for playing tricks, etc. e.g. stating that players must follow suit if able, otherwise may play any card (as at Whist).
The priority a player has by virtue of his position in relation to the dealer and direction of play. Normally forehand or eldest hand has the highest priority, followed by the other players in the order of play. So, for example, in an auction if two players bid the same ranking contract and play is clockwise, the player nearest the dealer's left hand usually has priority.
A virapulla - traditional Swedish tin for holding gaming counters. The pot for gaming chips is in the reversible lid.
pot
A container into which money or chips are paid initially and during a game and from which the winnings are paid out.[90]
The contents of the pot. An accumulation of chips, antes, bets, forfeits, etc., to win which is the object of the game.[91]
Usually refers to the player who sits to the right of the dealer in a four-handed, clockwise game.[94] However, in a three-hand play, rearhand is the dealer; the last active player to receive cards. Also called endhand.[38]
The last player to the trick. Also said to be "in rearhand".
redeal
A new deal by the same dealer after an irregularity.[91]
A pack of cards comprising suits each distinguished by a suit sign and divided into numeral and court cards, as opposed to a Tarot pack that has additional cards known variously as tarots, tarocks or tarocchi and which do not have suit signs, numerals and courts.[95]
To exchange a hand card for the trump turn-up.[92]
To discard several cards in exchange for the remaining trumps in the pack.[92]
rotation
The direction of dealing, bidding and playing e.g. clockwise (to the left) is standard for American and English games. Anticlockwise (to the right) is common in traditional European games.[98]
round
The events between the eldest player's action, and the youngest player's action of the same type (i.e. deal, bid, play), inclusive. A phase of play in which everyone has the same opportunity to perform such an action.[90]
A series of hands in which each player has dealt only once.[54]
round game
One in which there are no partnerships and everyone plays for himself or herself.[92]
One playable by an indefinite number of players, typically 3 to 7.[90]
When a player or team wins over 3/4 of the available card points in point-trick games, thus scoring a bonus. Typical of the Skat and Schafkopf families. The team scoring less than 1/4 of the points is said to be schneidered or 'in schneider'. The successful player or team is said to have won schneider. See also lurch.
When a player or team wins every trick of the hand, thus scoring a bonus. The other side is said to be schwarzed. Common in games of the Skat and Schafkopf family.
seat
Position relative to the dealer: for example, in bridge, the dealer's left-hand opponent is said to be in second seat.
Three or more cards adjacent in rank. The adjectives ascending and descending may be applied (i.e. "building in ascending sequence" means "laying cards out so that each has the next highest rank to the previous one"). A sequence need not all be of the same suit. Also run.[101]
When players are primarily playing for the stakes in a pot, this is a separate payment directly from one player's pocket to another, for example to reward a bonus.
side pot
A pot that is separate from the main pot,[104] either for specific bonuses or used when the main pot reaches a certain limit.
side strength
A player with side strength has high cards in side suits.[104]
Any convention of play whereby the team members properly give each other information as allowed by the rules.[102][104]
Any permitted physical sign or gesture, such as winking or tapping the table when playing a card, that conveys information to one's partner(s).
single, singly
The basic, usually lowest, value of a game is described as 'single'. A game is won 'singly' if its value is not increased by bonus factors such as winning schneider which would double the score or winning schwarz which might quadruple it.[lower-alpha 5]
single-ended, single-figured, single-headed
Of a playing card, being designed so that it can only be properly read one way up. There are usually no indices and the courts depict full length figures. Today they have been largely replaced by double-ended or reversible cards.
Widow; extra cards dealt to the table which may be used for exchanging later. Also blind.[102]
Note that, in German, 'skat' can also mean void i.e. lacking any cards of a given suit and therefore 'seeking the skat' means looking for an opponent's void suit.[106]
A game played for 'soft score' – as opposed to hard score is one played for anything other than money, usually points. The score may be chalked on a slate, recorded with pencil and paper. Equally, counters, tokens or chips or even matches may be used.
A pile of cards, face down, which are left over after setting up the rest of the game (i.e. dealing hands, setting up other layout areas) and will be used in the rest of the game.[110] Also talon.
stop, stop card
A card which, when played, ends a sequence of cards on the table or a card that is undealt whose absence prevents the completion of a sequence. Gives its name to the Stops family of games.[107]
An additional stake anted to the pot in Poker to encourage players to stay in the game.[112]
A small bet in Poker not meant to cause an opponent to fold but to build up the pot.[113]
An agreed amount that everyone pays into the pot following an auction in which all passed e.g. in Schafkopf. The pot goes to the next player to win a bid.[114]
sweep
In fishing games to clear the table by capturing all the table cards upon it at that time. Usually earns a bonus.
The undealt portion of the pack which will be used in the rest of the game.[110] Also stock.[109]
Hand of Tarock cards
tariff
The scale of values, either in units or money, on which payments are based for the various contracts in a game. For example, if the tariff is 10 cents; winning double would earn 20 cents and winning triple 30 cents. Games like Schafkopf have a double or triple tariff, e.g. a tariff of 10/50 means that the normal game earns 10 cents from each opponent and a soloist game earns 50 cents.
A combination of high cards not in sequence. Major tenace: A-Q (or K-C in Tarock games); minor tenace: K-J (or Q-J in Tarock games); double tenace: A-Q-10 (or K-C-10/A in Tarock games).[115]
throw in
To return cards to the dealer if, for example, no-one makes a bid or if the cards are misdealt.
To throw up one's cards is to discard them to the table either because you believe the game is decided or nullified, or you wish to drop out of the current hand.
A privileged suit in which, in the current deal, all its cards rank higher than any plain (=non-trump) card.[115]
turn the corner
Said of a sequence of cards when the top card (typically the Ace or King) is preceded by high cards on one side and low cards on the other e.g. 3-2-A-K-Q-J.
Winning the last trick with the lowest trump[117] or, sometimes, with a King.
unchosen suit
In games of the Karnöffel Group, a suit, usually ranking in the natural order, most of all of whose cards have no special privileges, in contrast to the chosen suits. Sometimes called an unselected suit.[30]
underforce or under-force
To answer a card with one of the same suit, but inferior value to those remaining in hand; e.g. putting the nine of clubs on the ten, having the ace in hand.[118] Also under-force, under-play or sous-forcer.[119]
underlead
To lead a low card when holding the top card or cards in a suit.[lower-alpha 6]
American term for a blind or skat.[122] Hand of cards dealt face down on the table at the start of play that may subsequently be used by players to exchange cards.[109]
The term is frequently used, for example, by David Parlett in this sense e.g. "...details of play vary from circle to circle...", "Some circles play with winking...", "Many circles proscribe jokers in initial melds..", "One of the most popular of the 'fancy' games in domestic circles...", "Bridge-playing circles", "Poker circles".[31]
For example, see Elwell (2020), p. 25.
This is the sense in which McLeod uses it at pagat.com.
For example, see Medley (2019), Learn to Play Bridge, "to underlead the ace means you have the ace in your hand, but you lead a lower-ranking card of the same suit."
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