Many mysteries lie hidden in the pack of playing cards, which has been with us since the 14th century. Why three court cards and the remainder pips? What do the oldest surviving cards look like? An enormous diversity of playing cards styles, formats and designs has seen the light of day. The cardboard courts, brightly coloured, are more than just a game. They have been a focus for design, advertising or propaganda, reflecting past eras and ways of life... a little encyclopædia of social history!

You can explore about playing cards, their long history, and see many different types and styles of cards from around the world. Some are educational, others are political. You will discover something interesting here... from what the earliest playing cards looked like to how to make your own hand-made pack or buy an unusual deck to add to your collection.

Texas holdem is the most popular poker game in online poker rooms across North America and Europe.

Over 600 years of technical innovation and fashion have left their mark on the design, manufacture and style of playing cards. Whether we consider them as a game or an artefact, as merchandise or something which unites people, there is a fascination in the imagery, the tactile pleasure, neat symmetries and quirky symbols. Do you know the origin of the Joker?

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