Cards For Centuries: How Cards Have Enchanted Our Hearts
Ever picked up a humble pack of cards and wondered about the history behind these incredible little bits of paper – just how far back they stretch and where did they come from? What civilization was responsible for inventing them, and how many card games exist in the world? We can’t actually answer all of those questions (the last is very dependent on how you categorize different game variants, of course, but there could be as many as 10,000!)
And as to their invention? It’s usually dated back to China, pre-AD1000, so we’re really talking a long, long history here. They had quite different symbols on them then, and came to Europe from Egypt, with various words and concepts appearing on them at different times and in different places. You might have seen gold coins, batons, goblets, staves, swords, and more (and you’d still see those in certain countries). Some cards were very fancy indeed, and there was a lot of variety across the different countries.
Gradually, the shapes associated with the suits became more simplified so that they could be stenciled on, and cards could be mass-produced. This would have increased the availability of cards, making them cheaper and more accessible – which is bound to have increased the number of people playing, and the number of card games being created.
So, what makes the humble card so determined to last, and how has it crept into every country on the planet? Well, there’s a simple answer… the casino.
Cards In Casinos
The idea of a casino without cards is pretty hard to imagine – it’s simply not a thing. Sure, slots are one of the most important earners on the casino floor, but just how many casino games involve cards? Well, we’ve got the all-important poker, blackjack, baccarat, and a million-and-one other options and variants to choose from. Casinos get through deck after deck each year (just thinking about counting them makes my head spin), and card games are unquestionably the bread-and-butter for many of these establishments… but why? And why are there so many card-based games?
There are a few reasons, with versatility and portability being particularly key! Got a deck of cards in your pocket? You’ve got almost endless opportunities for fun. There are simple options, complex options, and everything in between. Fancy whist? No problem. Rather play bridge? Simple! You can even play games alone, with options like solitaire, or with a bunch of friends.
Cards are almost unlimited when it comes to games, therefore, and casinos make the most of this, ensuring they capture the imagination of millions of players globally. If you’ve ever checked out the offerings at a casino (digital or brick-and-mortar), you’ll know just how varied your options tend to be – and if you haven’t, you can get some idea here https://thunderpick.io/casino. It’s definitely impressive just how much you can play; it’s pretty hard to get bored with this plethora of options! And there are thousands of variants for even your favorites (try Texas Hold’em if you’re a poker fan, for example), so you can play to your heart’s content.
Why Do We Love Cards?
It’s not just the fact that you can slip a pack in your pocket and the thousands of game varieties that have us enchanted, though – what else has fixed cards in our hearts? One of the biggest aspects is unquestionably the social aspect. Sure, we all enjoy a bit of solitaire (or spider solitaire or Freecell, depending on your preferences!), but one of the best things about cards is the fact that we play them together.
Card games leave plenty of opportunity for us to socialize as we play, chat and make the most of a little friendly competition (well, mostly friendly). We can play games on a ferry, on a tour bus, or in the lobby while we wait our turn! And card games are known to offer significant mental health benefits, combating feelings of loneliness, reducing stress, and building friendships (as well as neurons). Playing card games with kids can be a great way for them to build their social skills, too – so it’s a really nice family activity in many cases.
They’re also great for people who want to enhance their mental sharpness, providing opportunities to practice skills like bluffing, strategizing, short-term recall, and more. Memorizing cards that have been played is often an aspect, as is reading other players’ reactions and calculating probability. In short, there are a lot of skills to be practiced in the various card games, and this is a key aspect of their popularity!
Most people love the combination of luck and skill that many (though not all) card games require. It’s possible to do well even when you’re a beginner in a lot of cases, but practice makes perfect, as they say, and you can get really good at certain card games if you take the right approach.