CARD GAME TERMINOLOGY, GLOSSARY, TERMS
CARD GAME TERMINOLOGY, GLOSSARY, TERMS
CARD GAME TERMINOLOGY, GLOSSARY, TERMS
Contract: An agreement to win a certain number of
tricks or points in a game or round.
Cutthroat: Each player playing on his or her own.
Deal: The act of portioning out the cards to the
players; also, the period of play in the game between one deal and the next.
Declaration: A statement to fulfill a contract.
Deuce: A card of the rank of two; also called a
two-spot.
Draw trumps: To lead high trumps in order to deplete
opponent's hand of trumps.
Draw: To take a new card or cards.
Face card: A king, queen, or jack.
Face value: The numerical value of a card.
Flush: A set of cards all of the same suit.
Follow suit: To play a card of the suit led.
Foundation: In solitaire, a starting card on which
other specific cards are played.
Game: A total number of points to achieve; also,
what constitutes winning or ending a game.
Going out: Playing, melding, or discarding your
final card.
Hand: The cards dealt to a player; also, the period
of play in the game between one deal and the next.
Kitty: A common chip pool; also (in a few games)
cards available for exchange.
Lay off: To play one or more cards according to
allowable plays.
Lead: To play the first card to a trick.
Maker: A player who takes on a specific obligation,
such as to take a certain number of points or tricks, often along with the
right to choose the trump suit.
Marriage: A meld consisting of the king and queen.
Match: To equate by being of the same rank (or by
another criterion).
Meld: A combination of cards with scoring value,
generally three or more cards in sequence in one suit or all of the same rank;
also, to show or play such a combination.
No-trump: The condition when no suit is trumps in a
trick-taking game.
Pass: A spoken declaration not to make a bid; in
Hearts, three hidden cards exchanged among the players.
Plain card: Any 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or ace.
Pot: A pile of chips or counters to be collected by
the winner.
Reserve: In solitaire, a group of cards available to
be played.
Sequence: Two or more cards in consecutive order.
Singleton: A holding of only one card in a suit.
Stock: The undealt cards available for future use.
Table: The playing area; also, to lay down a meld on
the playing area.
Tableau: In solitaire, the layout of cards on the
playing surface, not including the foundations.
Talon: A portion of the pack reserved for later use
during the deal.
Trey: A card of the rank of three, also called a
three-spot.
Trick: A round of cards played, one from each
player's hand.
Trump: A suit designated to be higher ranking than
any other suit; any card in that suit. Also, to play a trump card on a trick.
Upcard: The first card turned up after a deal, often
to begin play or initiate a discard pile.
Void: A lack of a suit in a player's hand.
Wild card: A card or cards, established before the
game begins, that can be designated by the holder to stand for any other card.
