A suit is a category in which playing cards are sorted in order to differentiate them from other cards of the same rank. A standard 52-card French deck divides the cards into four suits: clubs ♣, diamonds ♦, hearts ♥, and spades ♠. In games such as blackjack and baccarat, the card’s suit plays no significance to the gameplay. In games like poker, on the other hand, the card’s suit is important for creating certain powerful card combinations (see flush).
Being a recent American invention and not counted one of the 52 cards of a deck, Jokers are the only cards not to have a suit. Instead, they just have a color (red or black).
Tarot decks typically have an additional fifth suit, trumps.
Regional Differences in Card Suits
Italian playing cards divide the cards into the following suits: cups, coins, clubs, and swords.
Spanish cards divide the cards into cups, coins, clubs, and swords.
German decks have hearts, bells, acorns, and leaves.
Swiss decks divide the cards into roses, bells, acorns, and shields.
Playing card suit:
- Category in which playing cards are sorted in order to differentiate them from cards of the same rank.
- Suits differ depending on the style of deck that is being played.
- In a typical French deck: clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades.
