A deck of playing cards is one of the most versatile gaming tools. Each card bears unique diagrams, letters, or numbers, which inspire their distinct meanings and the nicknames they get. One of the most distinctive is the suicide king card, also known as the King of Hearts.
The story behind this card’s name is fascinating. Today’s casino news will highlight some essential details you need to know about the suicide king card: which card exactly has the nickname, and why?
From the Heart of the Deck Emerges the Suicide King Card
If you have your cards close by, take a look at it. Both the king of spades and clubs feature a sword, but none holds it to the skull. The king of diamonds doesn’t even have a sword. The King of Hearts card, on the other hand, appears to have a self-inflicting dagger wound to the skull, hence the name—”suicide king.”
Simply, the Suicide King card is the nickname given to the King of Hearts card. Keep that in mind if you intend to play games based on this card later. Even if you play with one of the best table game odds, knowing the story and relevance of this card will change the way you look at it forever.
The Suicide King Card: A Symbol of Rebellion and Defiance in the Deck
The standard card deck we use in both online casino games and live games was created following the French card deck, the Rouen pattern, introduced in the 15th century. In this pattern, the King of Hearts is said to be King Charlemagne, armed with a combat axe and ready to fight. The king also had a mustache, as opposed to how the modern cards show him to be.
Tracing the history of easy card games and their decks, we find that the King of Hearts was initially meant to represent a king prepared for a fight with a weapon. He was in a defensive position, not a suicidal one.
Around 1870, the concept of the Suicide King card arose as Englishmen sought a smaller deck for one-handed gameplay. With the original card design, you can’t create the fan-shaped structure that is done today while holding cards.
After the size reduction, the next step was to make them two-headed. This was done to prevent opponents from successfully guessing cards. Suit symbols were also located on the left side. All of these factors contributed to the loss of some details that were originally in Rouen’s design. The axe was replaced with a sword, but it still couldn’t be placed perfectly. Hence, it seemed to have penetrated his head.
The truth, however, is that the card has nothing to do with suicide. The King of Hearts was intended to depict a warrior king holding his sword, not to imply self-harm. The French card’s significant features, such as the cloak, belt, and stance, are retained in the Suicide King card.
We mentioned earlier that there is a unique game created after this card. But, unlike the Pok Deng game, which originated in Thailand, this game has no traceable history as far as we know.
From a Deck of Kings and Queens
As unique as the Craps game is, the Suicide King card is one of the most unique in a standard deck of cards. Many still feel that there was a hidden motive behind the incomplete replication of the Rouen pattern. That, however, is not true. As card casino games became popular, the cards needed to be modified to fit into one’s pocket. People could have fun without stress in clubs and other small gatherings as it became more accessible.
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