Q 01/05

Playing cards were most likely invented in which country?

A) China

B) Persia

C) India

D) Egypt

Answer · why

A) China

China. The usual story starts with a 'leaf game' at the Tang court in the 9th century, though it may not have used cards at all; the first firm record...

Q 02/05

Cards probably reached Europe via which Egyptian dynasty's decks?

A) The Ayyubids

B) The Mamluks

C) The Fatimids

D) The Ptolemies

Answer · why

B) The Mamluks

The Mamluks. Once their cards crossed the Mediterranean the craze moved fast: Europe's first mention comes from Spain in 1371, and by 1380 cards were ...

Q 03/05

The playing-card suit name 'spades' probably comes from an Italian or Spanish word for what?

A) Cups

B) Coins

C) Swords

D) Batons

Answer · why

C) Swords

Swords. English players seem to have met the older Italian and Spanish packs first and kept their names when today's suit signs arrived around 1480, w...

Q 04/05

The joker was added to American packs in the mid-19th century as a top trump for which game?

A) Rummy

B) Bridge

C) Euchre

D) Poker

Answer · why

C) Euchre

Euchre. Its highest cards are the two jacks of the trump colour, the bowers, so card makers printed a spare 'Best Bower' to beat them both; poker play...

Q 05/05

Why does the ace of spades traditionally carry such an ornate design?

A) It topped the first tarot packs

B) It bore the official tax stamp

C) Sailors decorated it for luck

D) It showed the reigning monarch

Answer · why

B) It bore the official tax stamp

It bore the official tax stamp. From 1765 Britain's tax office printed every ace of spades itself to show duty had been paid, and forging one was a ha...