The Most Popular Card Games in Different Countries and Their Peculiarities

A standard 52-card deck provides endless fun. The possibilities are enormous, from simple children’s games to high-stakes casino skill games. Card games have earned their place in humanity, whether as a way to add fun to a party, keep the mind busy, or even win some money.

Today, playing card games online is a convenient and accessible way to enjoy these classics from the comfort of your home. If you’re not sure where to start, many casinos offer no deposit promotions that allow you to try out games, including slots, without any financial commitment. These promotions let you explore different platforms, test the games, and find the best casino that suits your style, all while minimizing any risk. Once you’ve found your preferred site, you can dive deeper into card games and other exciting options.

Brief Global History of Card Games

Historians traced the earliest evidence of playing cards to ancient China towards the end of the first millennium. Princess Tongchang from the Tang dynasty played a leaf game in the 9th century AD. The cards, known in Chinese as ‘yezi ge’, also played by emperor Muzong of the Dynasty in the 14th century on New Year’s Eve, were thin pieces of paper with tiny dots. The ones that resembled the type we play now appeared 100 years later during Emperor Mu-Tsung’s rule.

Card first appeared in Europe in 1377, as discovered in writings in Switzerland. Several historical accounts credit the spread of playing cards close to the current form to Spain after its invasion by the Mamluks of Egypt.

Thanks to European merchants, the popularity grew all around Europe and many regions. Card playing went through several evolutions, giving birth to games tailored to different cultures. Want to try out some new games from other countries? Check out these popular games from different countries.

Racing Demon – England

Though first played by Americans who called it Netz or Pounce, Racing Demon became popular in 20th-century England. The fast-paced multiplayer card game needs at least two players, each using 52-deck cards with a distinguishable back design. 13 cards (the demon pile) are dealt from the shuffled pack: 12 facing down and the 13th facing up. Each player is dealt another 4 face-up cards (the work pile) and will pick 3 cards at once when needed.

The participants create a communal grid in which any revealed ace becomes the foundation. From there, they start building from their pile by matching the face-up card with another of the same suit in the communal grid, in ascending order, until a player reaches the King. The race is to discard the demon pile faster than the others. Points are always based on how fast each player finishes.

Belote – France

Belote is a 32-deck trick-taking card game similar to Klaberjass. It first appeared at the start of the 20th century and is now considered by many as the most popular card game of French origin.

It is played by four players, split into two teams. The deck contains four suits of 7s, 8s, 9s and 10s as listed below:

• 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A of clubs
• 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A of spades
• 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A of diamonds
• 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A of hearts

All players get an initial five cards each at the start of the game. A face-up card is placed in the middle to determine the trump suit. Each team can accept or reject the trump card. If no one accepts, the cards are redistributed. The team that accepts the trump suit gets a hand of eight.

The players follow suit in turn as much as possible or play a trump card or other cards. Cards in the trump suit carry more points, but the team committed to the suit must meet its bid, or its points get slashed, and the opposing team gets more points. The team that hits the target points (often 501 or 1,000) first wins.

Indian Rummy – India

When most people hear rummy, the Indian version comes to mind. Theories place the ancestry of rummy in general to the Mexicans or Chinese. Indian Rummy, also Papplu, is a blend of gin rummy and rummy 50. It is a 52-card deck with up to 2 jokers, requiring 2 to 6 players.

Each player gets 13 face-down cards and a face-up card in the middle. The player then takes turns drawing and discarding cards until the predetermined rules are met. The player who finishes with 0 points wins. Understanding the sequence is a crucial part of the game.

Types of Sequences in Indian Rummy

This table outlines the different types of sequences in Indian Rummy, highlighting their characteristics and the role of jokers:

Indian Rummy Rules	Description
Pure Sequence	3 or more of the same suit cards in a consecutive order with no joker
Impure sequence	3 or more cards of the same suit with a joker card of original value
Impure sequence with a joker	Combinations of 3 or more similar suit cards in ascending order with either a printed or wild joker card
Face card sequence	A combination of Jack, Queen and King
Low card sequence	Combination of 2 -5 low-value similar suit cards in an order
High card sequence	Combination of similar suit cards of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 with Jack and Queen

Pişti – Turkey

Pişti is a Turkish national card game that originated in Greece and shares similarities with Bastra. The objective when playing this partnership game is for the players to match their cards with one card with the world on top of the discarded pile. It is played as an individual or team game.

After shuffling the 52-card deck, one of the players cuts and reveals the bottom card, which can be any card except Jack. The dealer then distributes four face-down cards to each player. Players take turns from the left.

Anyone who matches that face-up card or plays the Jack captures and takes the pile. That continues until all players exhaust their cards, and the last player to capture clears the floor. The cards are scored as follows:

• Ace – 1 point
• Jack – 1 point 
• 2 of the clubs – 2 points
• 10 of diamonds – 3 points
• The player with the most cards gets 3 points unless there is a tie.

The first team to hit 151 points wins.

Durak – Eastern European Countries

The history of Durak, which means “fool” in some Slavic languages, dates back to the 18th century. It is a shedding and trick-taking card game that mixes unpredictability with strategy. The 32-card deck, with low-value cards from 2 to 5 removed, can be played by 2 to 6 players. Players compete to get rid of their cards and avoid being the “fool.”

Each player receives six cards to start the game (and after every turn), with one card from the bottom of the stock revealed face up. The suit of this card becomes the trump suit. The player holding the trump card becomes the first attacker, and the next player becomes the defender.

The attacker plays a card, which the defender must beat with a higher card or one of the trump suit. If the defender succeeds, the attacker may play another card of the same rank. The player who loses the round must collect all the cards in the middle.

Conclusion

Playing card games is a universal and historical way of unwinding. Apart from sharing good moments with loved ones, people have connected with just a pack of cards. Card games also present an opportunity to learn about different cultures and their histories.

Each country has its gaming preferences, influenced by its history and tradition. Their popular card games often reflect that. The standard 52 decks are the same everywhere. So, pick one and shuffle through the popular games from other countries to find one offering a different adventure.