| Playing cards are known for their various | | | | From Egypt,the deck of cards moved farther |
| games of skill and chance including poker, | | | | West, into Europe. |
| blackjack, solitaire, bridge, and many other | | | | |
| games. Playing cards are used in gambling, | | | | In the 13th century, The French invented the |
| magic, solitary games, card houses, and other | | | | red and black deck with simple symbols that |
| various forms of entertainment. A deck of | | | | became the basis for the current common deck |
| cards can be found everywhere, in dollar | | | | of cards. |
| stores, in grocery stores, on the Internet, | | | | |
| etc. Because playing cards are taken for | | | | Early cards had no Queens. This reflected the |
| granted, few people know the history of the | | | | fact that there were no women in the Royal |
| cards that they play with. | | | | courts. Even today, the French deck of cards |
| | | | have no Queens. |
| Historians believe that playing cards were | | | | |
| invented first by the Persians. From there, | | | | The games of skill and chance that could be |
| They moved East to China and West to Egypt. | | | | played with a deck of cards bred the use of |
| | | | the playing cards as a gambling tool and |
| The Chinese were the fist to invent the suit, | | | | gambling quickly became a favorite pastime |
| Coins. This is a recurring suit throughout | | | | among card players. So much of a favorite |
| history. It is known ad both Coins and | | | | pastime that in the 14th century, the church |
| Diamonds today. | | | | began to try to limit the sale of playing |
| | | | cards due to the fact that people began |
| Egypt was where the four suits concept was | | | | spending more time and money gambling than |
| first invented. These four suits were called | | | | going to and giving to the church. The church |
| Swords, Sticks, Cups, and Coins. These suits | | | | won out on their battle and the playing cards |
| are still used in the 78 card Tarot deck. | | | | were banned throughout most of Europe. |
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