List of definitions of terms and jargon used in card games
Hand of cards during a
game
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 [
edit ]
The ⚾️ card with one pip in a pack of cards. Usually the highest card of a suit,
ranking immediately above the ⚾️ King. May also occupy the lowest rank. Commonly refers to
the Deuce or Two in German-suited packs which don't have ⚾️ real Aces. Often the highest
card of a suit.
Suit of Acorns
Acorns One of the four suits in a German-suited pack ⚾️ of
cards. Symbol:
active
A card that is in play i.e. not sleeping. See active player.
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). A player who has not withdrawn from the current deal but elected to play on
⚾️ (as in Rams or Poker).
adversary Any opposing player, especially in two-hand games, or
an opponent of the declarer. See defenders.
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).
age Order of priority for leading, betting or bidding, starting
from the player next to the dealer. ⚾️ See eldest and youngest.
alliance A temporary
partnership that lasts only for the current deal or hand (e.g. Prop and Cop ⚾️ in Solo
Whist or the normal game in Schafkopf).
alone Playing without the help of a partner.
See declarer and soloist.
announce ⚾️ See declare.
announcement
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.
ante
A ⚾️ mandatory stake made
before the game begins - usually by all players, sometimes by the dealer only. Chips
required to ⚾️ be put into the pot before the deal. To put in such chips.
around the
corner Phrase that describes sequences or ⚾️ runs that are built either side of the Ace
e.g. Q K A 2 3 4
auction The period of bidding. ⚾️ 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]
B [ edit ]
The banking game of ⚾️ Faro (1895).
Suit of Bells
banker 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.
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.
base value A constant factor
in working out the value of a game e.g. Skat.
batch See packet.
Batons One of ⚾️ the four
suits in a Latin-suited pack of cards. Symbol:
beater Term used in games of the
Karnöffel family for quasi-trump ⚾️ cards able to beat those of lower rank or with no
powers at all.
belle The last game of the rubber.
Bells ⚾️ One of the four suits in a
German pack of cards. Symbol:
best Highest ranking.
best card Highest card of a suit
⚾️ not yet played. The commanding card, master card. Also king card.
bet
Any wager on the
outcome of a deal or game; ⚾️ any chips put in a pot; to put chips in a pot. The first bet
in a betting interval.
bête, bate, ⚾️ bete or beet.
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. Failure to ⚾️ make a contract. Conceding defeat without playing. Double
bête: a double penalty, usually for failing to make a contract after ⚾️ choosing to play
out the cards.
bettel or bettler Bid or contract to win no tricks. Also misère.
bid
An
offer to win ⚾️ a minimum or specified number of tricks or points or the privilege of
naming the trump suit or the game.[19] ⚾️ To make a bid.
bidder
Any player who makes a
bid. The player who makes the highest bid and plays out his ⚾️ announced
contract.
blank
In card-point games, a card that is worth no points. A non-counter. A
hand with no court cards, i.e. ⚾️ only pip cards. A card that is unguarded by other,
usually lower cards in the same suit: "I held the ⚾️ blank king of spades."[ citation
needed ] To discard in such a way as to leave a card unprotected: "She ⚾️ blanked the King
of Spades."[ citation needed ] To void a suit.
blank suit A suit of which one holds no
⚾️ cards. A void (suit). To blank a suit is to get rid of all the cards of that suit from
⚾️ one's hand.
blaze A hand consisting only of court cards.
blind
A dummy hand, for
example, in Cego. Cards dealt to the table ⚾️ as a skat or widow.
blocking Blocking a suit
is keeping a high card back so that the player with a ⚾️ number of smaller cards cannot
win tricks with them.
bluff
To attempt to deceive one's opponent(s) about the value of
cards in ⚾️ one's hand. To use various tactics to mislead one's opponent(s) about the
distribution of cards or one's strategy.
build To add ⚾️ cards to those already on the
table in order to extend a set or sequence.[9]
bonus An extra amount added to ⚾️ a
player's score for the game for holding or winning certain cards[9] or for achieving
certain goals, such as Schneider.
bring ⚾️ in a suit Make tricks in a plain suit after the
adverse trumps are exhausted.
bury a card To place a ⚾️ card in the middle of the pack or
discard pile so that it cannot be easily located.
buy
To receive a card ⚾️ from the
dealer, face down, in return for a stake e.g. in Twenty-One. To receive or draw the
spare hand, ⚾️ (skat or widow) in return for one's own hand and, possibly, a stake e.g. in
Newmarket. To receive or pick ⚾️ up a card or cards in return for a hand card or cards
e.g. in Préférence when the 2 talon ⚾️ cards are picked up and 2 discarded. To draw cards
from the stock or talon.
C [ edit ]
Cavalier from a ⚾️ Tarock pack
call To declare, bid or
pass. Any such declaration
capture To pick up or take cards during play, often as ⚾️ part
of a trick.
captain the player who directs the play of his team or who has the final
decision in ⚾️ certain partnership games.
card money The charge levied by an establishment
on the playing of card games.[26]
card points The scoring value ⚾️ of a card or cards in
point-trick games. 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.
card value See card ⚾️ points.
carte blanche A hand with no court cards (see blank),
for example, in Piquet, Comet or Bezique; or with either ⚾️ no court cards or no pip cards
in Briscan[27]
case card The last remaining card of a denomination left in
play.
Cavalier ⚾️ The court card in certain card packs that usually ranks below the Queen
and above the Jack.
chicane A hand with ⚾️ no trumps.
chip A token used in place of money;
a counter; to put chips in the pot 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.[29]
circle A
local group of card players who meet regularly to play a particular game.[a]
claim
An
⚾️ action or statement by which a player indicates he believes he will take all the
remaining tricks.[31] 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.[31]
Suit of
Clubs
clear
Establish a card or suit by forcing out adverse higher cards or stoppers.
Having taken no penalty cards ⚾️ e.g. in Hearts.
close To bar further use of the talon by
turning the trump card over and placing it on ⚾️ the top in card games such as Sixty-Six
and Schnapsen.
Clubs One of the four suits in a French-suited or Spanish-suited ⚾️ pack of
cards.[9] Symbol:
coat card Original term for court card, now obsolete.
coffee housing
To talk and act in order to ⚾️ mislead one's opponents about one's cards.
7 of Coins
Coins
One of the four suits in a Latin-suited pack of cards. Symbol:
color, ⚾️ colour In
French-suited packs, this is the colour of the suit symbols, which is red for Hearts
and Diamonds and ⚾️ black for Clubs and Spades.
combination Two or more cards that score a
bonus when melded. Often called a meld.
command The ⚾️ best card of a suit, usually
applied to suits which the adversary is trying to establish. See best card, king ⚾️ card
and master card.
commanding card
compendium game A game in which a number of different
contracts is played in succession e.g. ⚾️ Barbu, Quodlibet and Poch.
contract An agreement
or obligation to play a certain type of game, to win a certain number ⚾️ of points or
tricks in a hand, round or game.[19]
contractor The highest bidder who then plays out
his contract.
contrat 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.[36]
counter
Object used to score. Token used in place of money; a chip. Also
jeton. Card ⚾️ with a point value. Also counting card.
counting card
A card that has an
intrinsic scoring value when taken in a trick. ⚾️ Also counter.
count out
During play, to
claim to have enough points for game, thus ending the play; to go out during ⚾️ the
play.
cover
To play a higher card of the same suit than any previously played to the
trick. See also overtake. ⚾️ To play a higher card than the highest so far played to the
trick. See also go over, head the ⚾️ trick and play over.
cross-ruff Two partners
alternately trumping a different suit.
Ace of Cups
cross-suit Suit of the opposite
colour.
Cups One of ⚾️ the four suits in a Latin-suited pack of cards. Symbol:
cut To
divide the deck into two parts; usually after shuffling. ⚾️ Cards may also be cut to
determine who deals or which suit is trumps.
D [ edit ]
dead card One that ⚾️ cannot be
used in the play.
deadwood Unmatched cards remaining in the hand e.g. in
Rummy.
deal
Verb: To distribute cards to players ⚾️ in accordance with the rules of the
card game being played. 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. Also referred
to as a hand
dealer The person whose turn and responsibility it is to deal ⚾️ the
cards.
deck May refer either to the pack or the stock / talon.
declaration
Announcement
of melds or scoring combinations, as in ⚾️ Piquet. 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. The game at which a deal is
played. A call or bid.
declare
To bid or ⚾️ to announce the trump. To announce; predict
schneider or schwarz. To meld or show. To count out.
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.
declarer In
a contract game, the highest bidder who then tries to achieve ⚾️ the announced
contract.
declaring side, declaring team The side that wins the auction.[45] The player
who made the highest bid and ⚾️ his or her partner who join forces to achieve the
announced contract.[46]
defenders The opponents of the declarer(s) in card games ⚾️ like
Bridge or Skat.[9] Originally those 'defending' the pool (see Pigott's Hoyle
(1800).).
denomination The rank of a card e.g. 2, ⚾️ 3, 4, etc.
Suit of Diamonds
Deuce The
Two of any suit. In German-suited packs, the Deuce is nowadays usually called the ⚾️ Ace
despite having 2 suit symbols. In Austria and Bavaria usually called the Sow
(Sau).
Diamonds One of the four suits ⚾️ in a French pack of cards.[9] Symbol:
discard
To
get rid of plain suit cards when unable to follow suit and unwilling ⚾️ or unable to
trump. To lay away cards, e.g. of high value or to void a suit, after picking up ⚾️ from
the talon or skat. A card that is removed from the hand in either of those
ways.
discard pile The ⚾️ pile of cards already rejected by players. The common pile of
discarded cards. 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.
doubleton Only two cards of the same suit in
the hand.
downcard A card lying face down.
draw To take a ⚾️ card from the stock (talon).
Also 'buy' e.g. in Rummy.[50]
draw lots To select e.g. the first dealer by letting
players ⚾️ choose a card at random from the fanned pack or by cutting the pack
draw pile
The stock or talon when ⚾️ it is specifically used for drawing cards during play.
dress
To
set up the layout required before play e.g. to set up ⚾️ the 4 cards in Newmarket and
place stakes on them To ante counters or stakes to a pot or pool ⚾️ at the start of a
hand.
drop, drop out
dummy, dummy hand A hand dealt to an imaginary extra player, and
often ⚾️ played out according to certain rules.
durch, durchmarsch See march.
E [ edit
]
elder
Sitting at the left (when the rotation is clockwise. ⚾️ Non-dealer in two-hand
play.
eldest
Of several players, the one nearest the dealer's left when the rotation is
clockwise. May not necessarily ⚾️ be eldest hand. Short for eldest hand.
eldest hand 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. 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.[53]
endhand See rearhand.
entrump To make a particular suit trumps.
establish To
make cards the best ⚾️ by forcing out adverse higher cards; to clear.
established suit A
suit is established if when you or your partner can ⚾️ take every trick in it, regardless
of who leads.
exit To relinquish the lead; force another player to win the trick.
F ⚾️ [
edit ]
face
The side of a card depicting its rank
To turn a card so that its rank is
visible and ⚾️ its back underneath
face down 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. Also upcard.
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.
fan
To ⚾️ spread cards fanwise. 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. In Patience, a small number of cards laid in an
overlapping row, so that only one is exposed.
fatten ⚾️ To discard counting cards to one's
partner's tricks. Also smear.
fat trick A trick that is rich in counting
cards.
favourite, favourite ⚾️ suit See preference suit.
fiche A long rectangular counter
used in some French card games and Danish Tarok that is worth ⚾️ a number of jetons,
typically 10 or 20. See also contrat.[36]
finesse An attempt to take a trick with a
card ⚾️ that is not the best of the suit.
Flush of Diamonds
first hand
The leader to a
trick. The first player to call. ⚾️ Eldest hand.
flush Cards of the same suit.
fold To
concede;[58] to withdraw or surrender the current hand or game,[9] for example ⚾️ in games
like Toepen, Watten and games of the Poker family.[59] Also drop or drop out.
follow
suit To play a ⚾️ card of the led suit.[19]
force
To compel a player to trump a trick in
order to win it. 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.
free card
A card with special
privileges when led ⚾️ to a trick e.g. the Sevens in Bruus or the Eights and Nines in
Knüffeln. A card that cannot be ⚾️ beaten because all the trumps have been exhausted. A
card that cannot be beaten because all the trumps and higher ⚾️ cards have been played.
G
[ edit ]
game
A pastime in general, usually involving some form of competing. A variant
of a ⚾️ basic game e.g. Gin Rummy or Wendish Schafkopf. A bid, declaration or contract. A
period in a session of play ⚾️ which results in a winner. The target number of points as
in "game is 100 points". Fulfilment of the declared ⚾️ contract as in "their team made
game". A style or system of play.
game points 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.
game value The ⚾️ amount a contract is worth in
points or hard score
German-suited pack 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).
go over
To bid higher; ⚾️ overcall. To play a higher
card than any so far played to the trick. 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. A high card may be singly
guarded,[65] twice ⚾️ guarded, etc.{{efn|For example, see Elwell (2024), p. 25.
H [
edit ]
hand
The cards held by one player ("playing hand") The player ⚾️ holding the cards,
as in "Third hand bid 1 ♠ ." Synonymous with the noun usage of deal.
hand card A ⚾️ card
held in the hand as opposed to one on the table.
hand game or handplay. A type of
contract in ⚾️ certain games in which the skat or widow is not used. See Hand game
(cards).
hard score 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. 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.
Suit of ⚾️ Hearts (Swedish-pattern pack)
hold 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). 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. From the French
honneur. See matador. In Bridge, the Ace, King, Queen, Jack or Ten in a suit.[67]
house
See ⚾️ banker.
I [ edit ]
index The number or letter printed in the corner of a playing
card, so that it may ⚾️ be read when held in a fan.
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.
invite To lead a small card
of the long suit.
J [ edit ]
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.
Jack The court card ranking, naturally, between the Queen ⚾️ and the Ten.
Also called the Knave or Valet in certain card games.
jeton 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.[36] See also chip.
Joker A card,
usually depicting a jester, used as the highest trump or as a wild card.
K ⚾️ [ edit
]
Four Kings (Spanish-suited pack)
kibitzer Onlooker at a card game.
kind See
rank.
King The highest court card, usually ranking between ⚾️ the Ace and the Queen.
king
card The best card remaining unplayed of the suit. Also best card, commanding card and
⚾️ master card.
kitty Additional cards dealt face down in some card games.
Knave The Jack
in certain card games. Also Valet.
knock 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.
L [ edit
]
lay ⚾️ away To discard after picking up the skat or widow.
lay down To meld a
combination.
lay off Especially in games of ⚾️ the Rummy family, to add a card to an
existing meld
lead
To play the first card of the trick.[9] The card ⚾️ played first to the
trick. The privilege of leading e.g. "A has the lead" or "A is on lead".
Suit of
⚾️ Leaves
Leaves One of the four suits in a German pack of cards. Symbol:
led card 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.
long card ⚾️ A card
left in one's hand after all opponents are exhausted of that suit. Similarly, long
cards are the dregs ⚾️ of a suit which has been led several times and exhausted in the
hands of other players.
long suit A suit ⚾️ containing more than four cards e.g. at Whist
or the suit with the most cards in a player's hand.
loser
A player ⚾️ who has lost a game.
A losing card.
losing card A card that is unlikely to win a trick.
low card
A card ⚾️ of
low rank A card of low value, especially in Tarot and Tarock games.
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.
M ⚾️ [ edit
]
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.
make
Fulfil a contract. Name the trump
suit or contract.
maker The player who names the ⚾️ contract. Also declarer or
contractor.
master, master card The best (i.e. highest) card left in a suit which has
been played. ⚾️ Also best card, commanding card or king card. The highest card in play
from a particular suit.
matador A top trump, ⚾️ sometimes with special privileges.
However, in some card games such as Skwitz, it is not a trump but a bonus-earning ⚾️ card.
Any high trump.
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.
matsch
A slam in certain
Austrian or Bavarian games. Failing to win at least a quarter of the points available
⚾️ in some German games. Equivalent to a schneider.
Any scoring combination of cards
announced, shown or played, e.g. three of a ⚾️ kind or a sequence of three or more cards.
A declaration of such a combination. To make a meld.
misère A ⚾️ contract or undertaking
to lose every trick. Also bettel, bettler or null.
To make a mistake made in dealing
cards e.g. ⚾️ dealing too few or many or facing a card during the deal A mistake so
made.
mord A slam in certain ⚾️ Austrian or German games.
multipliers Factors by which the
base value of a declaration (and sometimes any bonuses) are multiplied to ⚾️ determine the
value of a game.
N [ edit ]
natural Without the use of a wild.
natural card A card that
is ⚾️ not wild
natural order, natural ranking 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) > 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: Avoid taking tricks Lose every trick (as ⚾️ in Bettel
or misère) Avoid taking the highest number of points (for example in a Räuber in Cego
or a ⚾️ Ramsch in Skat or Schafkopf).
next, next suit
The suit of the same colour as the
trump suit e.g. in Euchre.[79][80] The ⚾️ suit paired with the trump suit e.g. in
Schlauch. For this purpose Acorns are usually paired with Leaves and Hearts ⚾️ with
Bells.
non-counter A card which is not a counter i.e. has no scoring value.
null, null
game
In games of the Skat ⚾️ family, a contract in which the declarer undertakes to lose
every trick. In Swedish Whist, a game in which both ⚾️ sides aim to take the fewest number
of tricks.
numeral A card for which the rank is a number (Ace usually ⚾️ counts as 1 in
this case), as opposed to the court cards. Also pip. See also Pip (counting).
O [ edit
⚾️ ]
Four Obers
open
To make the first bid, declaration or move. To make the first bet. To
make the first lead of ⚾️ a suit. "It was correct to open Diamonds..."
opening lead The
first lead of a deal.
order See rank.
outbid To bid higher ⚾️ than an earlier bidder. Same
as overcall, but distinct from overbid.
ouvert(e) A contract played with the player's
hand of cards ⚾️ spread out face up on the table so it is visible to the other
players
overbid
A bid of more than the ⚾️ value of the game. Overcall. An unduly
optimistic bid.
overcall 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) The name of such ⚾️ a bid.
overs Excess points in e.g.
Cassino.
overshoot point In point-trick games, a point in excess of the minimum needed
to ⚾️ win the deal.
overtake
To play a higher card than any previously played to the
trick.[b] See also cover, go over, head ⚾️ the trick or play over. In Bridge, to play a
card higher than the winning card played by your partner, ⚾️ unnecessary to win the trick
but necessary to gain the lead.[82]
overtrick
To take more tricks than bid or
contracted. A trick ⚾️ exceeding the bid.
overruff, overtrump To play a trump higher than
any previously played to the trick.
P [ edit ]
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.
pair royal
Three cards of the same denomination (rank). Also called a 'prial' or 'triplet'. ⚾️ See
set.
partie A game which requires a specified number of deals to decide it, especially
at Piquet. See also rubber.
partner ⚾️ Another player with whom one shares a common score,
and with whom one therefore cooperates in bidding and play.
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.
pass
In bidding games, to make no bid. Usually called by saying "pass". In vying
games ⚾️ to pass the privilege of betting first.
penalty 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)
penalty card A card
that incurs a ⚾️ penalty, usually a minus score, e.g. the Queen of Spades and all hearts
in Black Lady.
penny ante A game played ⚾️ for insignificant stakes.
picture card Usually
the same as court card, but can include the Aces as well.[85]
pile A set of ⚾️ cards
placed on a surface so that they partially or completely overlap. Also stack.
pip card
See numeral.
pip value The numerical, ⚾️ index or face value of a card.
pitch In some
games the All Fours family, to lead to the first trick, ⚾️ establishing the trump suit in
doing so.
pitcher A player who establishes trumps in leading to the first trick
plain
card a ⚾️ card other than a court card.
plain suit Any suit that is not a trump
suit.
play
To contribute a card to a ⚾️ trick. To move a card to a place on the table
(either from the players hand, or from elsewhere on ⚾️ the table), in Patience games. The
card played or the move made. The stage of the game during which the ⚾️ players' hands are
depleted by plays to tricks or to a common pile, etc. 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). Betting in general.
play over To play a higher card.
To cover i.e. play a higher card of the ⚾️ same suit. Not to be confused with go over,
head the trick or overtake.
pone US term for non-dealer in some ⚾️ two-player card games
e.g. Colonel[50] or the player on the dealer's right, who cuts the cards.[c]
pool See
pot.
positional priority 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. The contents of the pot. An accumulation of
chips, antes, bets, forfeits, etc., to win ⚾️ which is the object of the game.
preference
A bid in the preferred suit.
preferred suit, preference suit A suit that has ⚾️ bidding
preference over the rest, as in Boston, Préférence or Fipsen.
prial A 'pair royal'. A
set of three cards of ⚾️ the same rank.[9]
protection. Cards that guard others, normally
of higher rank.
punter Person who lays bets in a banking game.
Q [ ⚾️ edit ]
Four
Queens
quart A sequence of four cards of the same suit.
quart major The Ace, King,
Queen and Jack of ⚾️ one suit.
quinte or quint A sequence of five cards of the same
suit.
quinte major or quint major The Ace, King, ⚾️ Queen, Jack and Ten of one
suit.
quinte minor or quint minor The King, Queen, Jack, Ten and Nine of one
⚾️ suit.
quitted trick A trick that has been taken and turned face down.
R [ edit
]
raise
To name a higher contract than ⚾️ one has called previously because one has been
overcalled To increase one's stake To increase the game value
rank The position ⚾️ of a
card relative to others in the same suit. The order of the ranks depends on the game
being ⚾️ played.
Usually refers to the player who sits to the right of the dealer in a
four-handed, clockwise game.[93] However, in ⚾️ a three-hand play, rearhand is the dealer;
the last active player to receive cards. Also called endhand. The last player ⚾️ to the
trick. Also said to be "in rearhand".
redeal
A new deal by the same dealer after an
irregularity. A new ⚾️ deal of some of the cards, e.g. the wastepile in Patience games.
The action of dealing again.
redouble To double, again, ⚾️ a bid that has already been
doubled once.
reduce To shed one's hand of deadwood e.g. in Rummy.
regular pack 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.
renege
To revoke. This is the most common usage. To legally play a card of a
suit other ⚾️ than the led suit. To legally withhold a high trump when a lower trump is
led.
renounce
To fail to follow suit ⚾️ legally because one is void; a void. This is the
most common usage. Of a suit, void. Having none of ⚾️ the suit led.[95] To play a card of
a different suit from the led suit. May be legal or not, ⚾️ depending on the rules.
return
To lead back, usually the suit that partner led.
reverse game A point-trick game in
which the ⚾️ aim is to lose points rather than win them.[96]
reversible See
double-ended.
revoke
To fail to follow suit when able to do so ⚾️ and the rules require
it. Normally incurs a penalty.[95] To breach the rules of following suit, trumping,
heading or going ⚾️ over.
rob
To exchange a hand card for the trump turn-up. To discard
several cards in exchange for the remaining trumps in ⚾️ the pack.
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.
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. A series of hands in which
each player has dealt only once.[53]
round game
One ⚾️ in which there are no partnerships
and everyone plays for himself or herself. One playable by an indefinite number of
⚾️ players, typically 3 to 7.
royal card See court card.
rubber A match consisting of a
number of games, typically three or ⚾️ five.[98]
To trump a suit i.e. when a non-trump was
led. An instance of ruffing. Historically, to rob the trump turnup.
run ⚾️ A combination
of three or more playing cards with consecutive rank values. Also called a sequence.
S
[ edit ]
sandbag To ⚾️ withhold an action on a good hand in order to trap an opponent into
greater loss.
scat See skat.
schmear See smear.
schneider ⚾️ 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.
schwarz 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.
second hand The second player in turn to call or play.
second ⚾️ turn The turning
over of the second card of the skat for trump, e.g. in Reunion or Skat.
see, seeing To
⚾️ hold a higher bet in a vying game.
see saw See cross-ruff.
selected suit See chosen
suit.
Sequence from Ace to Five
sequence 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.
set Three or
more cards of the same rank.
shed To discard.
short deck See short ⚾️ pack.
short game Any
game in which not all the cards of a pack are put into play, e.g. kurzer or ⚾️ short
Schafkopf which is played with 24 cards.
short suit A suit with less than four cards,
two cards or fewer ⚾️ than the average cards for the suit.
short pack, shortened pack A
set of cards that has been reduced in size ⚾️ from a full pack (normally of 52 cards) by
the removal of a certain card or cards.
shuffle Rearrange (a deck ⚾️ of cards) by sliding
the cards over each other quickly.(verb) An act of shuffling a deck of cards.
(noun)
shut out ⚾️ Defeated without a single point.
side See partnership.
side card A card
of a side suit; a non-trump.
side money A bet in ⚾️ a side pot.
side payment 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, 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.
side suit A suit that is not the trump suit; plain suit.
signal
Any
⚾️ convention of play whereby the team members properly give each other information as
allowed by the rules. 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.[d]
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.
singleton Only one card of a suit.[19]
skat or
scat
Widow; extra cards dealt to the table which ⚾️ may be used for exchanging later. Also
blind. 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.
slam Winning every trick. ⚾️ Sometimes called a 'grand slam', with a 'little slam'
being every trick bar one. Also called a march (e.g. Euchre), ⚾️ mord (e.g. Brandle and
Grasobern), durch or durchmarsch, (e.g. Skat and Schafkopf), matsch, tout or
vole.
sleeping Said of cards that ⚾️ are not in play because e.g. they are in the unused
part of the pack. See active.
sluff or slough To ⚾️ discard. To play a card of little or
no value.[107]
smear or schmear To play a high-scoring card to a trick ⚾️ if it is likely
to be won by one's partner, especially in Schafkopf or Sheepshead. Also fatten.
sneak
Lead a singleton ⚾️ in order to be able to trump (ruff) the second round of the suit.
soft
score 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.
solo
A hand contract i.e. one played without the aid of the skat or widow. A
contract played alone against the ⚾️ combined efforts of all other players.
soloist Player
who plays a solo.
sous-forcer See underforce.
Suit of Spades (French-pattern pack,
Écarté ranking)
Spades One ⚾️ of the four suits in a French pack of cards.[9] Symbol:
spot
card See numeral
squeeze In trick-taking game, a player is ⚾️ 'squeezed' if he has to
weaken himself in either of 2 suits, but has no way of deciding which.
stack A ⚾️ pile of
cards, less than the whole pack, placed on top of each other and usually face
down.
stake
The money, counters ⚾️ or chips that a player places during a game. The agreed
monetary amount to be paid for each point, game ⚾️ or rubber.
staking board A board with
compartments, cards or marked areas on which stakes are laid during a game as ⚾️ in
Newmarket or Poch.
staking layout A marked-out area on the table or a set of face-up
cards on which stakes ⚾️ are placed.
stand
Refuse to draw additional cards. Accept the
turn-up as trump. Remain in the current deal or pot, as opposed ⚾️ to drop.
stay
Remain in
the current deal or pot, as opposed to drop. Refuse to draw additional cards. Also
stick.
stick Stand ⚾️ fast and refuse to draw additional cards.
stock 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. 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.
Stops family, Stops group A family or group of
matching games in which cards must be played in ⚾️ ascending sequence and usually in suit.
The aim is to be first to shed all one's cards. The cards out ⚾️ of play or which
terminate the sequence are called stops. Examples include Comet, Pope Joan, Michigan,
Newmarket and Yellow Dwarf.[110]
straw ⚾️ man, strawman A dummy hand.
subgame, sub-game An
individual contract or deal within a compendium game.
Trey of Swords
sweetener
An
additional stake anted ⚾️ to the pot in Poker to encourage players to stay in the game. A
small bet in Poker not meant ⚾️ to cause an opponent to fold but to build up the pot.[112]
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.
sweep
In
fishing games to clear the table by capturing all the table cards upon it at that time.
Usually ⚾️ earns a bonus. The cards so captured.
swing
Lead the master card of a suit. One
of an unbroken sequence of cards ⚾️ from the top of the suit downwards.
T [ edit ]
talon
The undealt portion of the pack which will be used ⚾️ in the rest of the game. Also
stock.
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.
Tarock A trump card in tarot games of Austrian or German origin. Also Tarot or
Tarocchi in games ⚾️ from other countries. Also spelt Taroc or Tarok.
team See
partnership.
tenace 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).
throw in To return cards to the dealer if, for example,
no-one makes a bid or if the cards ⚾️ are misdealt.
throw off To discard or smear.
throw
up 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.
touching
⚾️ Said of cards that are adjacent in rank.
tout Winning all the tricks in European games.
Also durch, durchmarsch, march, matsch, ⚾️ slam or vole.
Trey The Three of any suit. Also
'three-spot'.[19]
trick See Trick-taking game. A set of cards played by each ⚾️ player in
turn, during the play of a hand.
triplet Three of a kind.
tripleton Three cards of a
suit in the ⚾️ hand.
trump suit A privileged suit in which, in the current deal, all its
cards rank higher than any plain (=non-trump) ⚾️ card.
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.
turn-up, turnup A card turned up at
⚾️ the start of a game to determine the trump suit.
U [ edit ]
ultimo Winning the last
trick with the lowest ⚾️ trump 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.[29]
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. Also under-force, under-play or ⚾️ sous-forcer.
underlead
To lead a low card when holding the top card or cards in a suit.[e]
underplay or
under-play
To lead or ⚾️ follow suit with a lower card when holding a higher one; hold up;
refuse to cover. See underforce.
undershoot point In ⚾️ point-trick games, a point shy of
the minimum needed to win the deal.
undertrick
To fall short of the declared number of
⚾️ tricks. A trick short of the bid.
unguarded Unprotected by another, usually lower, card
of the same suit. See also blank.
unload ⚾️ To get rid of dangerous cards from one's
hand.
Four Unters
unselected suit See unchosen suit.
Unter The court card usually
ranking between ⚾️ the Ober and the Ten in a German-suited pack. The equivalent of the
Jack in a French-suited pack. Formerly also ⚾️ Untermann ("underling").
upcard
A card laid
on the table face-up. The top card of a pile, turned face up.
V [ edit ]
Valet ⚾️ The Jack
in certain card games. Also Knave.
value See card points
variant A game version whose
aim, mechanism of play, equipment ⚾️ or tactics are sufficiently different for it to be
viewed as a separate, albeit related, game.
variation
A game version in which ⚾️ there are
minor rule differences, but in which the aim, mechanism of play and tactics remain the
same. A minor ⚾️ rule difference.
vie, vying To claim you have, or will have, the best
hand and stake money on it. Vying includes ⚾️ an element of bluffing.
void Having no card
of a given suit. Also blank suit. To discard all cards of a ⚾️ given suit.
vole Winning
all the tricks in some English and European games. Also durch, durchmarsch, march,
matsch, slam or tout.
W ⚾️ [ edit ]
wastepile or waste-pile A pile of discards or cards
that a player is unable to play. Also discard ⚾️ pile.
whitewashed Losing without scoring
a point. See also schwarz.
widow American term for a blind or skat. Hand of cards dealt
⚾️ face down on the table at the start of play that may subsequently be used by players to
exchange cards.
wild ⚾️ card A card that may be designated by the owner to represent any
other card. A Joker is often used ⚾️ as a wild card, but can also have other uses.
Y [
edit ]
youngest The last player to play before the ⚾️ eldest player's second turn. Some
family games will use eldest and youngest to refer to the players' actual
ages.
Game-specific glossaries ⚾️ [ edit ]
A few games or families of games have enough of
their own specific terminology to warrant their own ⚾️ glossaries:
^ 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". ^ This is the sense in
which McLeod uses ⚾️ it at pagat ^ Play being assumed to be left to right ^ See e.g.
Parlett (2008). ^ For example, ⚾️ see Medley (2024), 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."
References [ edit ]
