playing cards questions??

[sloeddie]

Why only four suits not three or five ??
Why thirteen cards in a suit not more or less ??
Why spades clubs diamonds and hearts ??

Why red and black and not green and yellow ??
Why jack queen king not 11 12 13 ??
Any one have answers or ideas??

[freeringo]

I goes too far back to make any sense.
I got a full boat, 12's full of 13's.
That does not sound romantic.

Your question is by far the worst question ever followed by the worst answer ever.

[eejit101]

The earliest documented use of playing card (http://everything2.com/title/card)s was in eastern Asia (http://everything2.com/title/Asia) and used in the game of dominos (http://everything2.com/title/dominos). Instead of mixing up the dominos and allowing the players to choose them, the paper dominos were simply shuffled (http://everything2.com/title/shuffled) and dealt (http://everything2.com/title/dealt). The use of decks (http://everything2.com/title/decks) with four suits (http://everything2.com/title/suits) is believed to have started in the Middle East (http://everything2.com/title/Middle%2520East) (coins (http://everything2.com/title/coins), cups (http://everything2.com/title/cups), swords (http://everything2.com/title/swords), and sticks (http://everything2.com/title/sticks)), and later imported to Europe (http://everything2.com/title/Europe) in the late 14th century (http://everything2.com/title/14th%2520century). The Middle Eastern (http://everything2.com/title/Middle%2520Eastern) coins became diamonds, the cups (a symbol (http://everything2.com/title/symbol) for love (http://everything2.com/title/love)) became hearts, swords became spades, and sticks/staves (http://everything2.com/title/staves) became clubs. At this time, all cards were hand painted and owned only by the most wealthy. With the invention of woodcut (http://everything2.com/title/woodcut)s, playing cards were able to be mass produced (http://everything2.com/title/mass%2520produced).
France provided the concepts behind today's deck of cards (http://everything2.com/title/deck%2520of%2520cards). The use of simple shapes and colors allowed for increased popularity of various games. The original face card (http://everything2.com/title/face%2520card)s actually represented historical figures (see below). France exported their popular playing cards (http://everything2.com/title/cards) throughout the world, with shipments eventually making it to the American colonies (http://everything2.com/title/American%2520colonies).
Additional practical improvements were made to the deck (http://everything2.com/title/deck) in America (http://everything2.com/title/America) including the use of double headed court card (http://everything2.com/title/court%2520card)s (so you wouldn't have to flip your cards over to view the pictures), varnished surfaces for easy shuffling and dealing, card marking (http://everything2.com/title/cheating), and rounded corners. Some sources state that the Joker was also introduced in America, while other sources say that is was part of the original French deck. Strangely enough, American sources attribute the Joker to the French, and French sources attribute it to the Americans. No one seems to want to claim it.
Other Interesting Cards
The Joker
Not belonging to any suit the joker (http://everything2.com/title/the%2520joker) is most assuredly a card imported through the influence of Tarot (http://everything2.com/title/Tarot)'s The Fool (http://everything2.com/title/The%2520Fool). The Joker (http://everything2.com/title/Joker) is most commonly used as a wild card (http://everything2.com/title/wild%2520card) or as a trump card (http://everything2.com/title/trump%2520card). While it is not part of the standard deck of cards, it has uses in numerous games and therefore in included by most manufacturers. It is the most commonly collect (http://everything2.com/title/collect)ed card by those who... well, collect cards.
Ace of Spades
Ever wonder why the Ace of Spades (http://everything2.com/title/Ace%2520of%2520Spades) is different than the rest of the Aces (http://everything2.com/title/Aces)? It's actually a tradition held over from when there was an actual reason for the distinguishing mark. Cards were seen by Kings and Queens as a source of income for their kingdom. As a result, consumers were required to pay a tax (http://everything2.com/title/tax) for each deck of cards purchased. Because the Aces (http://everything2.com/title/Aces) have the most "white space (http://everything2.com/title/white%2520space)", it was relatively easy to stamp the card with the seal indicating the proper fees had been paid. Over time, it simply became customary to stamp the Ace of Spades. The mark is still on our cards today simply out of tradition (http://everything2.com/title/tradition) (plus it gives the card manufacturers a place to put their name and trademark (http://everything2.com/title/trademark) information). Probably the most common playing card manufacturer (at least in the US) is the United States Playing Card Company (http://everything2.com/title/United%2520States%2520Playing%2520Card%2520Company ). This company is the maker of Bicycle (http://everything2.com/title/Bicycle) brand (aka Rider Back (http://everything2.com/title/Rider%2520Back)) cards, Bee (http://everything2.com/title/Bee) brand cards, and Aviator (http://everything2.com/title/Aviator) brand cards. Because of the pattern on the back of the cards, Bees and Aviators are well known by magicians (http://everything2.com/title/magicians) and those that cheat (http://everything2.com/title/cheat) at card game (http://everything2.com/title/card%2520game)s because they can easily bottom deal (http://everything2.com/title/bottom%2520deal) and perform other slight of hand (http://everything2.com/title/slight%2520of%2520hand) tricks without the viewer/player noticing.

[eejit101]

Historical Figures in the Deck
The original French cards actually were actually named and designed after popular historical figures. It should be noted that today's cards no longer hold any strong relation to these people. Representations have changed due to copying, differing artist renditions, and company branding that little remains linking them to this history.

♥ Hearts

King of Hearts (http://everything2.com/title/King%2520of%2520Hearts) - Charlemagne (http://everything2.com/title/Charlemagne)
Queen of Hearts (http://everything2.com/title/Queen%2520of%2520Hearts) - Judith (http://everything2.com/title/Judith) (from the Apocryphal (http://everything2.com/title/Apocryphal)Book of Judith (http://everything2.com/title/Book%2520of%2520Judith))
Jack of Hearts (http://everything2.com/title/Jack%2520of%2520Hearts) - La Hire (http://everything2.com/title/La%2520Hire) (common name given to Etienne de Vignoles (http://everything2.com/title/Etienne%2520de%2520Vignoles), a famous French warrior (http://everything2.com/title/warrior))
♦ Diamonds

King of Diamonds (http://everything2.com/title/King%2520of%2520Diamonds) - Julius Caesar (http://everything2.com/title/Julius%2520Caesar)
Queen of Diamonds (http://everything2.com/title/Queen%2520of%2520Diamonds) - Rachel (http://everything2.com/title/Rachel) (from the Old Testament (http://everything2.com/title/Old%2520Testament))
Jack of Diamonds (http://everything2.com/title/Jack%2520of%2520Diamonds) - Hector of Troy (http://everything2.com/title/Hector%2520of%2520Troy) (alternately Roland of France (http://everything2.com/title/Roland%2520of%2520France) - Hector (http://everything2.com/title/Hector) may also be a reference to Sir Hector (http://everything2.com/title/Sir%2520Hector) from the King Arthur (http://everything2.com/title/King%2520Arthur) legends)
♣ Clubs

King of Clubs (http://everything2.com/title/King%2520of%2520Clubs) - Alexander the Great (http://everything2.com/title/Alexander%2520the%2520Great)
Queen of Clubs (http://everything2.com/title/Queen%2520of%2520Clubs) - Argine (http://everything2.com/title/Argine) - The only unknown of the group. Since Argine is not a historical figure, it is suggested that it is simply an anagram (http://everything2.com/title/anagram) for Regina (http://everything2.com/title/Regina) which is Latin (http://everything2.com/title/Latin) for "queen (http://everything2.com/title/queen)"
Jack of Clubs (http://everything2.com/title/Jack%2520of%2520Clubs) - Lancelot (http://everything2.com/title/Lancelot)
♠ Spades

King of Spades (http://everything2.com/title/King%2520of%2520Spades) - King David (http://everything2.com/title/King%2520David) (did you read your Bible (http://everything2.com/title/Reading%2520the%2520Holy%2520Bible)?)
Queen of Spades (http://everything2.com/title/Queen%2520of%2520Spades) - Pallas (http://everything2.com/title/Pallas) (aka Minerva (http://everything2.com/title/Minerva) or Athena (http://everything2.com/title/Athena), the goddess (http://everything2.com/title/goddess) of war (http://everything2.com/title/war) and reason (http://everything2.com/title/reason))
Jack of Spades (http://everything2.com/title/Jack%2520of%2520Spades) - Hogier the Dane (http://everything2.com/title/Hogier%2520the%2520Dane) (a paladin (http://everything2.com/title/paladin) of Charlemagne)

[freeringo]

The earliest documented use of playing card (http://everything2.com/title/card)s was in eastern Asia (http://everything2.com/title/Asia) and used in the game of dominos (http://everything2.com/title/dominos). Instead of mixing up the dominos and allowing the players to choose them, the paper dominos were simply shuffled (http://everything2.com/title/shuffled) and dealt (http://everything2.com/title/dealt). The use of decks (http://everything2.com/title/decks) with four suits (http://everything2.com/title/suits) is believed to have started in the Middle East (http://everything2.com/title/Middle%2520East) (coins (http://everything2.com/title/coins), cups (http://everything2.com/title/cups), swords (http://everything2.com/title/swords), and sticks (http://everything2.com/title/sticks)), and later imported to Europe (http://everything2.com/title/Europe) in the late 14th century (http://everything2.com/title/14th%2520century). The Middle Eastern (http://everything2.com/title/Middle%2520Eastern) coins became diamonds, the cups (a symbol (http://everything2.com/title/symbol) for love (http://everything2.com/title/love)) became hearts, swords became spades, and sticks/staves (http://everything2.com/title/staves) became clubs. At this time, all cards were hand painted and owned only by the most wealthy. With the invention of woodcut (http://everything2.com/title/woodcut)s, playing cards were able to be mass produced (http://everything2.com/title/mass%2520produced).
France provided the concepts behind today's deck of cards (http://everything2.com/title/deck%2520of%2520cards). The use of simple shapes and colors allowed for increased popularity of various games. The original face card (http://everything2.com/title/face%2520card)s actually represented historical figures (see below). France exported their popular playing cards (http://everything2.com/title/cards) throughout the world, with shipments eventually making it to the American colonies (http://everything2.com/title/American%2520colonies).
Additional practical improvements were made to the deck (http://everything2.com/title/deck) in America (http://everything2.com/title/America) including the use of double headed court card (http://everything2.com/title/court%2520card)s (so you wouldn't have to flip your cards over to view the pictures), varnished surfaces for easy shuffling and dealing, card marking (http://everything2.com/title/cheating), and rounded corners. Some sources state that the Joker was also introduced in America, while other sources say that is was part of the original French deck. Strangely enough, American sources attribute the Joker to the French, and French sources attribute it to the Americans. No one seems to want to claim it.
Other Interesting Cards
The Joker
Not belonging to any suit the joker (http://everything2.com/title/the%2520joker) is most assuredly a card imported through the influence of Tarot (http://everything2.com/title/Tarot)'s The Fool (http://everything2.com/title/The%2520Fool). The Joker (http://everything2.com/title/Joker) is most commonly used as a wild card (http://everything2.com/title/wild%2520card) or as a trump card (http://everything2.com/title/trump%2520card). While it is not part of the standard deck of cards, it has uses in numerous games and therefore in included by most manufacturers. It is the most commonly collect (http://everything2.com/title/collect)ed card by those who... well, collect cards.
Ace of Spades
Ever wonder why the Ace of Spades (http://everything2.com/title/Ace%2520of%2520Spades) is different than the rest of the Aces (http://everything2.com/title/Aces)? It's actually a tradition held over from when there was an actual reason for the distinguishing mark. Cards were seen by Kings and Queens as a source of income for their kingdom. As a result, consumers were required to pay a tax (http://everything2.com/title/tax) for each deck of cards purchased. Because the Aces (http://everything2.com/title/Aces) have the most "white space (http://everything2.com/title/white%2520space)", it was relatively easy to stamp the card with the seal indicating the proper fees had been paid. Over time, it simply became customary to stamp the Ace of Spades. The mark is still on our cards today simply out of tradition (http://everything2.com/title/tradition) (plus it gives the card manufacturers a place to put their name and trademark (http://everything2.com/title/trademark) information). Probably the most common playing card manufacturer (at least in the US) is the United States Playing Card Company (http://everything2.com/title/United%2520States%2520Playing%2520Card%2520Company ). This company is the maker of Bicycle (http://everything2.com/title/Bicycle) brand (aka Rider Back (http://everything2.com/title/Rider%2520Back)) cards, Bee (http://everything2.com/title/Bee) brand cards, and Aviator (http://everything2.com/title/Aviator) brand cards. Because of the pattern on the back of the cards, Bees and Aviators are well known by magicians (http://everything2.com/title/magicians) and those that cheat (http://everything2.com/title/cheat) at card game (http://everything2.com/title/card%2520game)s because they can easily bottom deal (http://everything2.com/title/bottom%2520deal) and perform other slight of hand (http://everything2.com/title/slight%2520of%2520hand) tricks without the viewer/player noticing.

NDN would have banned me for spamming this thread like that.:shock:

[eejit101]

He knows ive quoted it, and i didnt have to quote the source as its not a published work, and i believe im the last person who would spam for chips here.

I just expect a deduction of 120 chips at some point.

And would you rather i posted it? Or posted a link to a site that less people will click on at its more work!

And as for you getting banned - its long overdue

[navuta]

I knew I was missing something about poker.

[freeringo]

He knows ive quoted it, and i didnt have to quote the source as its not a published work, and i believe im the last person who would spam for chips here.

I just expect a deduction of 120 chips at some point.

And would you rather i posted it? Or posted a link to a site that less people will click on at its more work!

And as for you getting banned - its long overdue

LMAO again

NDN says I almost crossed the line a few times
so I said I will kick dirt over his line like Billy Martin.
I would just love a balance sheet of your chip movement for 1 month.

[eejit101]

I can show you one, it looks life this

Mon + 600 posting, +1400 poker, -2000 casino
Tue +400 posting, +3500 poker, -3900 casino
Wed, +800 posting, -800 poker

Repeat to fade

[sloeddie]

by chance are you two blood relation with all the quipes back and forth??

[eejit101]

No, i wasnt born in a cave:)

[KaciBlakely]

I didn't invent the game so I have no clue besides they felt like making it like this. If I were more curious I might research it but I'm not.

Good questions for those that are curious though.