This Is The Deal: Card Games For Dummies Quiz

Answer: Blackjack

In the western world, Blackjack is the name of the game as played in casinos. Blackjack is the world's most popular casino card game.

It is also known as "Pontoon" or "21", among other names.

The idea is simple, to get to 21 or closer to it than the dealer - when played in casinos. In this case an ace is worth 11 points and a king 10. Eleven plus ten is 21. This is the best possible hand to be dealt. Aces may also count as one and all face cards count as 10.

You can use as many low value cards as you like in reaching 21, but once you reach 22 or over, you are bust, my friend.

Answer: Baccarat

Baccarat and the related game of Chemin de Fer originated in French casinos in the 1830s.

Initially two cards are dealt. All cards have a numerical value. Aces count as one, numerical cards two to nine have face value. Tens and face cards are counted as zero. There is no ranking of suits.

The aim is to get close to eight or nine. Any two cards adding to those totals are known as "a natural". A hand adding to eight is known as "la petite" and adding to nine is "la grande". Nine will beat eight. Unless the dealer also has a natural, the player wins.

If the player's two dealt cards are not a natural" - queen and a five for example - he may ask to draw another card, or stick with his five, hoping that the dealer does not have a winning natural of his own and that he won't better five in drawing a third card.

There is a strict order of precedence when quantifying third cards.

Baccarat was a favourite game of James Bond, 007.

Answer: Bridge

Contract bridge - aka Bridge - is a game for four players, in teams of two. A player sits opposite his or her partner in what is known as a north, south, east, and west pattern.

The aim is for one pair to work together to score tricks, while the other pair tries to block them. Communication between team members is not allowed.

Bridge is a social game, but also a very competitive one. Bridge clubs exist in most countries. Noted Bridge players include Bill Gates and Warren Buffet and actor Omar Sharif. The most famous player ever?...Snoopy. He played with Woodstock in the long running "Peanuts" cartoon series.

Answer: Canasta

When they are allowed to be used in games such as Poker, jokers are seen as wild cards: they can stand in for any other.

In Canasta, not only is the joker wild, but so are the deuces. A joker counts as 50 points and a deuce (two) 20.

When they are allowed in Poker, and often in friendly games, they can substitute for another card. But if two hands are equal and one contains a joker, then the 'natural hand' wins.

Answer: Euchre

Four players in two pairs are involved. Each player sits opposite his partner. Communication is not permitted.

Five cards are dealt to each player and the remaining four are placed in the middle - the kitty. The top card on the kitty is turned face up, and it may be deemed the trump suit - or otherwise by agreement. The pairs attempt to win tricks to reach a predetermined tally. Each player must follow the suit of the player before him (or her) or lay down a trump card. The highest card in the suit led, or highest trump, wins the trick.

The game has several variations and American rules, above, differ from British rules. Some variations allow more than 24 cards to be used.

Answer: Royal Flush

A royal flush is the best hand you can get in Poker, it will beat anything else.

In Texas Hold'em it is impossible to have two royal flushes of different suits in the same game. That is true of any variety that uses community cards.

Before Texas Hold'em became so dominant, many people played seven-card stud, in which each player had to make a hand of four or five cards from seven that were exclusive to them. Theoretically it might be possible to have two royal flushes in this game, but the odds are just too astronomical to think about.

Answer: Snap

Snap is an old favourite among children.

The cards are divided out equally among the number of players and each takes a turn to throw down a card face up. The other look to see if they have a similar card and the first to throw it down on the pile and shout "snap" wins that round.

Doesn't every parent/adult lose when they play this game against youngsters?

Answer: One-eyed jacks

The jack of hearts and the jack of spades each have one eye showing, one looking left and the other right. The other two jacks in a standard deck have both eyes showing.

It is said that a one-eyed jack is someone who shows the good side of themselves but hides the other, which may be less open, honest or palatable.

In some games, two-eyed jacks may be deemed "wild cards".

Answer: Tarot

The exact origins of tarot cards are unknown.

Those origins probably date from mediaeval times. Tarot may best be known for use by fortune tellers. However, there are also games of chance that can be played using mixed decks of tarot and standard cards.

A usual tarot deck contains 78 cards. These are divided among the Major Arcana (greater secrets) and the Minor Arcana (lesser secrets). The most famous Tarot card of all is probably "Death", although practitioners of the fortune-telling art will say that does not literally mean a death, but an ending.

Answer: Solitaire

Solitaire, also known as Patience, is believed to have been first played in England in 1746.

The game is generally played by one person. There are, though, variations for two players. The aim is to draw cards blind and place them in columns to build into sequences. The version pictured is called "Beleaguered Castle".

Solitaire became so popular that it was frequently packaged as a free game on computers. Many games can be played on hand-held devices as well.