Some playing cards have common nicknames. Some are generic while some are specific to certain card games; others are specific to patterns, such as the court cards of the Paris pattern and the Tell pattern for example, which often bear traditional names. This list does not contain names that are specific to poker or in schafkopf as it would overwhelm the list and make it difficult to identify non-poker names. Poker nicknames are listed separately here. Schafkopf nicknames are listed separately here.
Single cards The following is a list of nicknames used for individual playing cards of the French-suited standard 52-card pack. Sometimes games require the revealing or announcement of cards, at which point appropriate nicknames may be used if allowed under the rules or local game culture.
Card Any suit Clubs Spades Diamonds Hearts King (K) Cowboy, Monarch Alexander David Julius Caesar, Man with the Axe, One-Eyed King Charlemagne, Charles, Suicide King Queen (Q) Stenographer Argine Black Lady, Black Maria, Calamity Jane, Pallas Athena, Molly Hogan Rachel Helen of Troy, Judith Jack (J) Boy, Bower,From Euchre Fishhook, Jackson, Jake, Johnny, Knave, Valet, Nibs or HeelsLancelot, PamOgierHector, Roland, Laughing BoyLa Hire Ten (10) Big Cassino Nine (9) Neener, Nina Ross, Niner, Pothook Curse of Scotland, Scourge of Scotland Eight (8) Pusher, Snowman Seven (7): Fishhook, Salmon Beer card Six (6) Sax Grace's Card Five (5) Fever, Nickel, Pedro Four (4) Sharp Top, Sore Spot, Sailboat Devil's Bedpost Three (3) Crab, Trey Two (2) Deuce, Duck Little Cassino, The Curse of Mexico Ace (A) Bull, Bullet, Rocket, One Spot, Seed, Sharp Top Basto, Clover, Puppy Foot Death Card, Spadille, Tax Card Pig's Eye Joker (★) Best Bower
Nicknames also exist for cards not from the standard 52-card pack:
King (K): King of Hearts (): MaxiFrom Watten (card game) Ober (O): Ober of Hearts (): Hermann Gessler Ober of Bells (): Stüssi d. Flurschütz Ober of Leaves (): Ulrich v. Rudenz Ober of Acorns (): Wilhelm Tell Unter (U): Unter of Hearts (): Kuoni d. Hirt Unter of Bells (): Itell Reding Unter of Leaves (): Walter Fürst Unter of Acorns (): Rudolf Harras Seven (7): Seven of Acorns (): Spitz ("Point") Seven of Coins (7): Sette Bello ("beautiful seven") Seven or Six of Bells ( or ): Weli Deuce (A): Ace, Sau ("sow")
Collective names King, Queen, Jack: Coat Card, Court Card, Face Card, Figure, Rembrandt, Royal Card Ace, King, Queen, Jack: Honour 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace: Pip card, Spot card, Numeral, Spotter King of Diamonds, Jack of Spades, and Jack of Hearts (): One-Eyed Royals Jack of Spades and Jack of Hearts (): One-Eyed Jacks Jack of Clubs and Jack of Diamonds (): Two-Eyed Jacks King, Queen (same suit): Marriage Two cards same suit in sequence for Patience (game): Marriage
See also Glossary of card game terms Glossary of poker terms List of poker playing card nicknames Schafkopf language
Notes The Six of Hearts is known as loyalty at the risk of death or Grace's Card. This is because in 1689 emissaries of William of Orange called on John Grace, Baron of Courtstown, with an invitation to join the army of the usurper. On a playing-card lying on the table beside him he scrawled a contemptuous refusal: "Tell your master I despise his offer, and that honor and conscience are dearer to a gentleman than all the wealth and titles a prince can bestow". Baron Grace was loyal to King James II of England, and risked being shot or hanged for his refusal to give up. One hundred years later, in Kilkenny, the six of hearts was still known as ‘Grace's Card’.
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