Playing Cards Poker Guide

Have you ever heard about the playing card collection? Do you want to pursue it as a hobby but don’t know where to start?

Well! You don’t have to panic because, in this article, we will answer some of the frequently asked questions by newbies about playing card collections.

This article will be very useful, so don’t skip any part. It is a complete guide for you! We will discuss everything, from where to begin, what approach you should take, etc. Now, without any further due, let’s get into this article!

What Types Of Decks Are Better To Collect?

Playing cards have many different uses; if you want to use playing cards for playing card games, doing Cardistry, or playing card magic, you will have distinct needs. In this question, we will concentrate more on what a collector will search for when choosing a deck.

Maybe the main thing you should consider is purchasing only those cards you like. Stamp collectors can’t have every stamp in the world, so they mostly concentrate on some things, such as:

Collecting stamps with a picture of flowers or a car or collecting stamps only from a specific country. Something like this is correct while playing cards collecting, and you’ll have to specify your field of interest somehow. 

Playing cards show the same type of diversity and creativity that you seek in the field of design and artwork and are effectively small pieces of art. They are, therefore, wonderful examples of creativity, beauty, and imagination and are often of significant historical interest. You can concentrate on many areas of special interest just like other hobbies. 

Now here we will look at some areas that different playing card collectors concentrate on:

Playing Card Collection: Themes

Possible areas of concern include animals, comics, horses, railroads, cars, geography, wars, history, royalty, commemorations of events, pinups and other interests such as music.

Brands

Many playing cards collectors enjoy trying to collect the entire set of well-known brand-names playing cards, such as Virtuoso, Fontaines, Cherry Casino, Orbits, or the Organic series.

Creators

Famous creators that some collectors go in for include designers such as Alex Chin, Stockholm17, Giovanni Meroni, Jackson Robinson, Jody Eklund, Randy Butterfield, and Paul Carpenter.

Publishers

Some publishers have various decks that collect data; prominent of them are Ellusionist, Theory11, and Art of Play.

Locations

Some playing card collectors only have a collection of cards originating in Germany, Europe, France, the US, or any other part of the world.

You can also concentrate on collecting a particular kind of Deck of playing cards. Let’s discuss some of the Deck types:

Souvenir

Presenting scenes from various landmarks and landscapes that capture a specific place.

Advertising

Designed for promoting a company or a product such as Coca-Cola.

Reproduction

Reproducing historically important or rare decks from the past.

Transformation

Where the pips are artistically and creatively merged into a larger picture.

Standard

Traditional style faces, specifically the court cards, instead of the cards with customized designs.

Others

Other categories and themes cover, Fiction, Animals, Vintage, Military, Gilded, etc. 

Singles

Some people have a hobby of collecting a single card from a deck, concerning the unique card backs. Or they may have a binder loaded with all the Jokers with different artworks and from various decks. 

Some collectors pay special attention to collecting the Ace of Spades because of their complex design.

What Famous Playing Card Collection Should I Get To Know?

Most people have a hobby of collecting what is typically called “hype decks”. Due to their reputation, these have efficiently become a brand on their own. 

Almost every new edition sells out quickly, and it doesn’t take long for previous releases to sell for high prices on the secondary market because the collectors try to collect all of them. 

Some of the most prominent brands in this category are Orbits, Fontaines, Organic Playing Cards, Cherry Casino, Jerry’s Nugget, and Virtuoso. 

Daniel Schneider’s Black Roses series of decks also have enthusiastic collectors, such as the NOC decks, the Gemini Casino decks, Golden Nugget decks, and Theory11’s Monarchs. 

Vanda’s Planet series is also very famous. Some people just try to collect anything created by their favourite and well-known cardistry brands, such as Anyone Playing Cards. 

Many playing card companies and websites conduct annual awards ceremonies recognizing the best decks created in the last year. For instance, the 52 Plus Joker’s diamond award for the Deck of the year was awarded to the American Playing Cards Collector Club and the Deck of the Year from Cardistry Con and the United Cardist.

A look at former awards winner and other nominations for each award category are like looking at a collection of greatest hits musicals. It is a great way to figure out what the industry truly values and to recognize some of the cards that are top of their design and excellence.

What Playing Card Designers Should I Get To Know?

Many individual designers have created a solid reputation with collectors of modern decks. To view the work of some well-known and the best designers, you should check out the designs of creators such as:

Lorenzo Gaggiotti (Stockholm17 Playing Cards), Jackson Robinson (Kings Wild Project), Jody Eklund (Black Ink Playing Cards), Paul Carpenter (Encarded Playing Cards), Lee McKenzie (Kings & Crooks), Giovanni Meroni (Thirdway Industries), Randy Butterfield (Midnight Playing Cards), Alex Chin (Seasons Playing Cards), etc.

What Card Manufacturers Should I Get To Know?

All decks of playing cards are not made equal. Custom decks of playing cards have been used for centuries to promote tourism and have also been used as innovative products, and you won’t have to go far to get an inexpensive deck at a tourist attraction or your nearby store.

However, these custom decks are usually manufactured of thin card stock that won’t persist, and the cards will not shuffle or spread easily. Thankfully, some playing card manufacturers have developed a trustworthy reputation for making supreme quality playing cards. When you look at their names on a box, you can be sure that it will be a top-quality product.

A maker of a renowned bicycle brand, USPCC (The United States Playing Card Company), is the most famous name in this business. Since the 1800s, they have been working hard and are now the biggest manufacturers of custom playing cards.

They manufacture playing cards on a variety of cardstocks and finishes, but they mainly produce high-quality decks that look great and will be better than your average souvenir deck.

Cartamundi is Europe-based and has contributed to the custom playing cards market over the past few years. Their cards give a different look to the Deck manufactured by USPCC but also have premium quality.

Last year, Cartamundi incurred USPCC, so these well-known manufacturers are partners now, and there is a strong ground to believe that their strengths will be multiplied to manufacture even greater quality playing cards. 

Let’s come to the East. There are many publishers in Taiwan that print playing cards, some of them are Hanson Chien Playing Card Company, Legends Playing Card Company, and Expert Playing Card Company. They publish top-quality cards with a different look and feel.

Inland China is a great source of producing custom playing cards, but usually, the quality of cards printed here is not as good as cards made by Cartamundi, USPCC, and companies in Taiwan.

Companies such as WJPC lie in this category, but they excel because of doing small print runs. Collectors do not really care about the quality of playing cards created by China, but for magicians and cardists, it can make a huge difference.  

Playing Cards Background

Do you know how are playing cards made? Playing cards are instantly recognizable and are used for many card games of chance or skill.

Today’s pokers are made up of layered pasteboard, printed with the same image on the back and different images on the face. These cards are believed to have been developed during the twelfth century, based on divination practices, or as a game inspired by chess.

Nowadays, playing cards are produced with modern printing techniques: lithography or gravure. As technology progresses, it’s likely that the playing card manufacturing industry will adopt more digital methods, with the potential to significantly increase revenue.

History Of Playing Cards

The specific origin of playing cards is unknown, as they’ve existed for many centuries. The first written record of them comes from East Asia in the twelfth century.

They may have existed in China as early as the seventh century and may have been known in India around the same time, as early European poker cards feature Indian motifs that are associated with Hinduism.

Playing cards could have been developed in India as a derivative of chess, or in Egypt as a tool for fortune-telling and magic practices. They arrived in Europe, likely either Spain or Italy, from the Middle East in the thirteenth century, and then spread across the continent.

These early cards were quite similar to modern playing cards. Like our decks, they had 52 cards with four suits, though the suits were different: swords, coins, cups, and polo sticks. Each suit had cards numbered 1 through 10, along with a king, deputy king, and second deputy king for the face cards.

Once people in Europe began making their own cards, designs became less consistent, with many variations on suits and face cards. Then, in the late fifteenth century, European poker card games became more standardized, with the suits we recognize today—spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs—appearing in 1480s France.

Early decks of cards were hand-colored, making them very expensive to produce, and therefore they were predominantly owned by the wealthy. The cheaper versions that were produced likely would deteriorate quickly.

In fifteenth-century Germany, cards were produced with a new printing method that used wooden blocks as templates, and these new decks spread quickly throughout Europe. Copperplate engraving replaced hand-colored woodblock prints in the sixteenth century.

Playing cards came to the New World along with British, Dutch, and French settlers, and these early decks had the medieval motifs of the spade, club, diamond, and heart that we recognize today.

In the early seventeenth century, the development of color lithography revolutionized playing card production. Playing card manufacturing will continue to progress along with new developments in digital printing technology.

How Are Playing Cards Made?

Playing card design

A standard deck of playing cards is made up of 52 rectangular cards, about 2.5 x 3.5 in (63 x 88 mm), with rounded corners (R3.5). Cards are made of what’s called pasteboard: layers of paper adhered together.

Cardbacks in a deck are identical, with a specific pattern that indicates the manufacturer. Red and blue patterns are the most common, and the patterns are typically symmetrical so that the cards look the same from the back in either orientation. They may have a white border or the pattern may extend all the way to the edges of the cards.

Cardbacks can be printed with any color or design, and it’s possible to order custom decks of cards with a specific image, such as a logo or other design, and these are popular as promotional items.

Card faces have two colors, typically red and black, and four suits: hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. Each suit comprises 13 cards: three face cards, king, queen, and jack, plus cards numbered from 1 (ace) to 10. Face cards are double-ended, so they look the same in either orientation in a hand.

Most cards have their number and suit indicated in the upper left and bottom right corners, making them easy to read while held fanned out in a hand as they are commonly used in card games.

Most new decks of cards will also include two jokers, which are used in some games.

Classic parlor games like bridge, gin, and rummy may be the most common use of playing cards, but there is a huge variety of other games as well. Familiar gambling games like blackjack and poker use standard card decks, and there are lots of other games like spades, cribbage, and more.

Further, non-standard card decks are created for other card or board games. They may have suits and numbers like traditional cards, or they may have other information for the game, such as trivia, or specific symbols or text. Cards can also be used for teaching purposes.

Tarot cards are another traditional type of card deck. These are generally larger and heavier than standard playing cards, and they have 78 cards with different suits and images.

Magicians commonly use playing cards. Some magic tricks are done with unmodified cards, while others use trick cards. One style is marked cards, which have subtle markings on the back that let someone familiar with those marks identify the face cards. Other trick decks can have some cards that are slightly shortened or tapered, again to aid in identification.

There are also a variety of novelty card decks available that may have different shapes or sizes or are made of different materials.

Playing card materials

Playing cards can be made of paper or plastic. Paper cards are made out of layers of paper glued together to create the desired thickness and durability. Plastic polymers can be used to make more durable, higher-quality cards.

Cellulose acetate is a semisynthetic polymer that can be made into thin, paper-like sheets. These film sheets can be laminated in a stack similar to paper and made into long-lasting, durable cards.

Producing a deck of cards begins with printing the card faces and backs on the pasteboards, cutting the sheets into individual cards, and assembling and packaging the deck.

Printing the plates

Playing cards are typically printed with lithography. The first step is creating printing plates from the artwork that will be used for the cards, both front and back.

The images are divided into their individual colors, and a negative of each color is exposed on a flat light-sensitive plate. Once the plates are developed, the image portion is coated with an oily substance that attracts ink and repels water, while the non-image portion is coated with a substance that does the opposite.

The prepared plates are mounted onto the printing press cylinders. The plate passes under a roller that coats it with water, which only adheres to the non-image portions of the plate. The next roller applies ink, which only adheres to the image portions.

Next, a rubber roller picks up the ink from the printing plate and applies it to the pasteboard that will become a deck of playing cards. Repeat this process for each color.

Once the printing process is complete, a sheet will be printed front and back with the card images. At this point, it may be coated with a clear polymer that gives the cards a sheen and protects them from damage.

Cutting and stacking

Once the pasteboards have been printed, they’re ready to be cut. This is done with highly precise machines that are able to cut the cards identically. Then they’re organized into a stack as a complete deck.

The stack moves to the next phase of cutting, where the corners are rounded by going through two punching stations, one for each side of the deck.

Packaging

Finally, the stack of cards is ready for packaging. Boxes are created through a similar printing process and then folded into shape. The cards are put into the boxes on an assembly line, and then the boxes are closed and sealed, with a sticker to show that the box is new. The boxes are then individually shrink-wrapped, and then packaged and shipped to their next destination.

Quality control

Quality control is an important part of the process from the sourcing of the raw materials through the entire printing and packaging process.

Paper is evaluated to make sure that its appearance, size, consistency, and other characteristics meet the required standards and are consistent. Inks are tested for consistency in color, solubility and viscosity.

Test prints are made to ensure the plates will perform correctly before the actual printing, and random sheets are checked during production for any errors. Finally, before the cutting process, any defective sheets are removed.

Inspectors along the production line ensure that everything is running smoothly and that each deck meets quality standards.

The Future

The market for playing cards is mature and fairly stable. This encourages card creators and card manufacturers to come up with new designs for playing cards, whether that’s simply new artwork or entirely new materials or shapes for cards, in attempts to increase sales through novelty.

Furthermore, new printing methods that take advantage of computerization will help speed production and even allow for accurate printing directly from digital images, eliminating the need for printing plates. This will also make it easier and more affordable to create customized decks of cards.

Most of us are familiar with playing cards—we’ve probably played some card games or tried to learn a magic trick at some point. We all recognize the four suits, the red and black colors, and the stylized images of royalty on the face cards.

However, there’s more to a deck of cards than meets the eye. These simple seeming cards are carefully designed and engineered, and they have a long and storied history. Here are 10 hidden secrets in playing cards that will turn these everyday objects into a fascination.

Hidden Secrets In Playing Cards – The Snap

Most people would probably say that playing cards have that distinctive “snap” because of their plastic coating, but that’s not actually the case. High-quality playing cards have that springy feeling because of the glue that holds layers of paper together to form the card.

This layered construction makes playing cards more durable, and the glue creates that springy quality that allows them to be easily shuffled and gently curved, perhaps to peek at your poker hand or do a fancy card trick, without being permanently bent.

But speaking of that plastic coating, did you know that it doesn’t actually cover the whole card? Playing cards are printed with all the cards on one large sheet, which is coated with a clear polymer before the individual cards are cut, so the edges expose the paper. That’s why you don’t want to let your cards get wet—those edges will absorb water just like ordinary paper.

What’s On The Playing Card Back?

You might think the back designs on playing cards aren’t as important as the faces, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. For those who use playing cards professionally, including casinos and magicians, the playing card back design is critical.

Casino operators are concerned with cheating, so they tend to favor more simple designs with perfect symmetry, making it easier to spot a marked card. Magicians, on the other hand, might prefer more complex designs that they can use to their advantage.

In any case, any creator of playing cards should consider the back image for their decks just as much as they do the fronts. After all, playing card front and back end up getting a lot of attention.

All About Edges

The edges of cards aren’t at a right angle to their flat surfaces—they’re actually cut at a slight angle. This also means that depending on the manufacturer, the cards have a slightly bigger front or back.

This may not seem like much, but the bevel actually affects how the cards feel to shuffle. The knife edge helps the cards weave together and slide back into position in the deck more easily. For those who do a lot of card shuffling and manipulation, like card trick aficionados, the direction of that bevel makes a difference, and decks designed for magic tricks will often feature a particular type of edge cut.

French Poker Origins

While playing cards can be tracked back to at least the twelfth century and have likely existed since much earlier, their exact origins are unknown. They likely originated in China, India, or the Middle East. By the fourteenth century they’d spread throughout Europe, and they varied in different countries, with different suits and designs. For example, french playing cards at this time had hearts, leaves, bells and acorns, while early Italian decks used cups, coins, swords, and cudgels.

The suits that we’re familiar with today, spades, hearts, clubs and diamonds originated in France. They stuck around because of their simple, geometric shapes that made them easy to read and to print. Those four symbols are now some of the most recognizable in the world.

Who is the “Suicide King”?

The traditional image of the King of Hearts shows him holding up a sword that appears to be going right into his head. This appearance led to the card being known as the “suicide king.” However, this is a misleading title.

The King of Hearts was based on art by Pierre Marechal in 1565 of King Charlemagne, who was depicted charging into battle with his sword up and ready to attack. But the space on a playing card is limited, and since it was common to align the crowns with the card borders, the sword ended up behind the king’s head, creating the impression that he was stabbing himself.

The One-Eyed King

The One-Eyed King

The next king we’ll talk about is the King of Diamonds, who’s often called Caesar. Unlike the other kings, Caesar is pictured in profile, and he’s not holding his weapon, which is an axe instead of a sword. Why is this king different?

One story about this king is that he’s actually a god: Odin, of Norse mythology. Odin sacrificed his eye in order to gain a higher level of wisdom and understanding. He also doesn’t need to hold his weapon like the other kings—his powers enable him to strike from afar.

The Imperial Orb

Now we’ll look at one more king: the King of Clubs. Originally he was supposed to be holding an orb in his non-sword hand, but this is hard to see in modern designs—the orb often looks like some kind of insignia on the king’s robes, if it’s present at all.

The International Playing Card Society explains that both French and English playing card decks used four famous kings on their face cards: Charles (King of Hearts), David (King of Spades), Caesar (King of Diamonds), and Alexander (King of Clubs). These names were originally included on the cards, though this practice faded over time.

All About the Joker Playing Card

While playing cards have a long history spanning many centuries and countries, the Joker’s history stands out, as it’s the only card with an American origin. Many people may think that the Joker is a derivation of the Fool from tarot, but this isn’t actually the case.

One of the most popular card games in America in the 1800s was Euchre, a trick-taking game. In one version of this game, a blank card was used as a top trump card, or the “bower.” Eventually decks were printed specifically with a new card, the Joker, to be used as the top trump card in Euchre.

The card has since been incorporated into a variety of other card games, where it often serves as a “wild card” that can represent any card, or has other unique rules. Some decks designed for specific games come with multiple Jokers to suit the rules of the game.

While today, Jokers have a wide variety of designs, the classic design keeps with the royalty theme by depicting a court jester. Modern standard decks usually include two Jokers, and they’re often colored to match the deck, with one red and one black.

Why the Ace of Spades Playing Card Stands Out?

If you’re familiar with playing cards you may have found yourself wondering why the Ace of Spades seems special. Of course, all the Aces are a bit unique, as in some games they’re considered high cards, topping even the King, in others they’re simply a one, and in yet others they can be either. However, while other suits depict the Ace with a single pip, the Ace of Spades has a large, ornate symbol.

This wasn’t always the case—in fact, considering the history of playing cards, it’s a fairly new tradition. As the International Playing Card Society explains, this is when England began taxing playing cards that were sold both in England and in America. The Ace of Spades would be stamped on its front to confirm that the tax on that deck was paid.

This policy lasted almost a hundred years, until 1862, when the law was changed. Printers were able to print their own designs on the aces, and so they quickly started using the Ace of Spades as a brand icon, as the Dawsons explain in The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards. Some companies had a variety of designs they used in different decks, but the United States Playing Card Company (USPCC) stuck with their famous Lady Liberty design.

Cards of War

The association between cards and the military goes beyond the simple game of “War” that many of us played as children. A deck of playing cards is easy to carry, making it a common item carried by military personnel in the field to provide some entertainment for troops during downtimes.

Sometimes the cards themselves have played a part in wartime conflicts. During the Vietnam war, US troops used the Ace of Spades as psychological warfare. In fortune telling, the Ace of Spades was considered a symbol of death, and the Viet Cong was considered to be very superstitious, so the United States created decks made up of only the Ace of Spades, and troops scattered the cards throughout the Vietnam jungles, trying to scare their enemy.

In World War II, playing cards were used to smuggle maps to prisoners. When the cards got wet, the top layer could be peeled away, revealing a map that would help them escape safely.

More recently, in 2003 during the Iraq war, playing cards were used as a form of propaganda. The USPCC created cards with images of Iraqi leadership: Iraq’s 52 Most Wanted, and sent them to American troops.

The basic rules of poker date back at least 200 years. This popular pastime has rightly earned a reputation as one of the best card games in the world. 

An extremely inclusive game played by millions across the globe, players of all ages and genders can compete on a level playing field.

In this article, we’re going to learn how to play basic poker. So if you’re ready, let’s start learning playing cards!

Basic Poker Rules: How To Play Basic Poker

First of all, it’s important to point out that there are several different poker games to play. The term “Poker” encompasses a whole family of different games which share some common elements.

All poker games use the standard deck of 52 playing cards, for instance. Some variations also include jokers, but most standard poker games do not.

In order to form a poker hand, you must always use five cards. Some poker games offer you more than five cards to build your hand. But no matter how many are available, your final hand must always feature five cards.

Poker Hand Rankings

Another key component of all types of poker games is the hand ranking system. No matter what the game, this hierarchy applies.

• Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
• Four of a Kind: Four of the same value plus any other card.
• Full House: A combination of three of a kind plus one pair.
• Flush: Five of the same suit in any order.
• Straight: Five consecutive cards, such as 9-8-7-6-5, of different suits.
• Three of a Kind: Three of the same value with two unpaired cards.
• Two Pair: Two pairs and a random fifth card, such as 9-9-5-5-K.
• One Pair: Any pair, with three unconnected cards, for example Q-Q-A-5-2.
• High Card: Take the highest card in the hand if it doesn’t fit any other category.

An ace high straight flush is the best possible poker hand, known as a Royal Flush.

No Limit Texas Hold’em

When most beginners talk about poker, they are thinking of Texas Hold’em. This is one of the best adult card games as it’s extremely popular with gamblers and is frequently seen on television. A majority of the highest profile tournaments are No Limit Texas Hold’em events. 

All players receive two cards each, called “hole cards”, which are face down and remain private at all times. As the hand progresses, five shared cards are placed face up on the table. 

These “community cards” may be used by all players, giving a total of seven. Remember that a poker hand always consists of five cards, so two will remain unused.

• Flop: The first three cards, all turned up at the same time.
• Turn: A fourth card, revealed after the flop betting is complete.
• River: The fifth and final card.

Betting

Among the poker basics you need to master are the betting rounds. In No Limit Hold’em as the name implies, there is no maximum bet. You can wager all of the chips in front of you if you wish.

When there is no bet in front of you, your options are as follows:

• Check: Stay in the hand but decline to put money into the pot.
• Bet: Make a wager and force others to pay if they wish to continue.

If you are faced with a bet, your options are:

• Call: Continue in the hand by matching the bet in front of you.
• Raise: Increase the amount required for opponents to continue by betting further.

Blinds

Before the cards are dealt, the two players immediately to the dealer’s left are forced to pay a bet. These “blinds” are what ensures there’s always something worth playing for. These move around one seat every hand, to ensure all players pay their share.

The “Big Blind” is twice the size of the “Small Blind” and is what dictates the minimum raise size. For instance, if the Big Blind is $1 and you wish to raise, you must raise at least $1 for a total bet of $2. 

It’s legal to raise to a total of $2.50, for instance. But it’s not allowed to make it $1.50 to play, as that’s a raise of just $0.50.

Streets

There are four betting rounds in Texas Hold’em, known as streets. The first round of betting takes place after you receive your initial two cards and before we see any community cards.

After the pre-flop betting has closed, the dealer reveals the three “flop” cards and a new round of betting occurs. Once finished, we see the “turn” card and bet again, before the final “river” card is dealt. 

This round of betting is the last. If more than one player remains at the end, we reveal the hole cards and determine a winner.

Poker Games List

Here are just a handful of the many different poker games which exist:

• Texas Hold’em
• Omaha
• Five Card Draw
• Seven Card Stud
• Razz
• Omaha High/Low Split
• Chinese Poker
• Badugi

Poker Tournaments and Associations

There are dozens of poker associations around the world, all of which offer various tournaments. Perhaps the most famous is the World Series of Poker, which hosts a collection of events every summer in Las Vegas, including the $10,000 Main Event.

The World Poker Tour is possibly the biggest rival to the WSOP. Though many regional associations also exist, such as the Asia Pacific Poker Tour. 

At a local level, most cities around the world have casinos and poker clubs with tournaments. Here you can hone your skills before progressing to the bigger events.

Buy From Best Playing Cards Printer

If you’re learning how to play poker, then a good deck of playing cards is absolutely essential. 

As tempting as it might be to purchase a cheap pack of cards, it’s a false economy. The poor quality cardboard bends and tears after just a few uses, while a spillage can be terminal.

The best playing cards are made from polymers like cellulose acetate or PVC. They are extremely hard-wearing, difficult to mark and you can even wipe them clean. Care for them well and they can quite literally last for a lifetime.

WJPC is a professional playing card manufacturer and has manufactured many quality playing cards.They are not only highly durable, but also make fantastic gifts.

Also, they are suitable for all of the best family card games, but also drinking games and even magic card tricks.

Other Games To Play With a Deck of Cards

Hopefully, our guide on how to play basic poker has helped you to understand the game. But if not, don’t worry. There are many other enjoyable playing card games which might be more suitable for you. 

Why not read up on the rules of some of the following instead?

• Crazy Eights
• Rummy
• Hearts
• Spades
• Go Fish
• Cribbage

Summary

Poker is a game that’s simple to learn, but that can take a lifetime to master. A perfect blend of risk, psychology and memory, it can be extremely good fun to play. 

Hopefully, thanks to our guide to the basic poker rules, you’re now well on your way to getting started.

Learning is one of the most common uses of flash cards. Whether it’s home education, school & institutional education for kids and students, or corporate training and other purposes for adults, you’ll see them.

It is suitable for various scenarios, for example: abc flash cards, alphabet flash cards, Spanish flashcards, boom learning cards, math flashcards, number flashcards, letter flashcards, sight words flash cards, etc.

As you can see, the flashcards are exactly the method for memorizing those fragmented and complicated tiny knowledge points. Firstly, it solves the problem of wasting energy by grouping all the knowledge points together and not differentiating the difficulty level; secondly, it helps you overcome the difficult points without realizing it by consolidating the wrong knowledge points until you remember them successfully.

Moreover, the quiz format of “draw and recognize” is actually giving ourselves a positive feedback incentive constantly. With more and more successful cards, we will gain a sense of achievement just like passing level after level when playing a game.

Here we will highlight why flashcards are so useful and how to make flashcards. You can choose from hand-made, online-made or even print-made methods to implement your flash card-making ideas. All of these methods are equally effective, so you just need to decide which medium you prefer.

Why Do Flashcards Work?

The flashcards require you to use active recall. You must guess or recall the correct answer, not just look at your textbook, notes, or a video on the topic. Active recall tests memory and gives you the opportunity to “remember” the answer rather than relying on notes or other media to “provide” the answer. When your brain and memory are actively working, you can retain information longer than just passively encountering them.

Reading flashcards also involves metacognition – the awareness of your own thoughts and processes. This happens when you guess the answer and flip the card over to see if you are correct. When you look at the answers, you are self-assessing your skills; if you answer incorrectly, you will self-correct. This process can help you improve your own learning skills and master the topic more quickly.

In addition, flash cards involve a learning technique – spaced repetition. Constant interaction with the same subject matter makes it easier for your brain to recall information. Spaced repetition works best when flashcards are organized into groups of information and difficulty levels. In this practice, new or more difficult topics should be reviewed more frequently than easy topics, thus helping to reinforce spaced learning.

How To Make Flash Cards By Hand?

Handwritten flashcards may help improve recall more than printable flashcards. By writing the information with a pen, you can learn and process it more effectively, memorizing the spelling of words, rather than typing them into an electronic document.

Another benefit is that some people who are located in the role of teaching can easily bring them to class. Since many schools and institutions have bans or restrictions on electronic devices, you may not be able to use flashcards online in class.

1. Prepare the place and materials

To start any project, you need a suitable area and all materials and tools ready for you to concentrate on your work.

For materials, you can collect signature pens, markers, highlighters, and any other writing instruments you wish to use. Usually, the paper used for making flash cards by hand is an index card. It is a common type of cardstock that typically measures 76.2×127 mm (3×5 inches) and does not fold or tear easily.

In addition to making flash cards or other visual aids, an index card is also commonly used to record and store recipes, shopping lists, contact information, presentation notes, and more. If you don’t have an index card, you can also cut a plain sheet of white cardstock to the desired size.

2. Highlight the focus

1) Clarify the scenario

You need to be clear about the people and scenarios for which the flashcards will be used. If you are making it for yourself, then you need to consider your own learning behavior and habits before identifying important information in your notes and textbooks. If you are making it for others, such as young children, foreigners, beginners, etc., then you need to consider aspects such as their knowledge level and memory capacity.

2) Refine knowledge

Distill the knowledge down to its key components. It is a good idea to start with a mind map or framework in your notebook so that you can transfer them to flashcards in physical or digital form. A clear and well-defined note-taking system will help you create learning flashcards more smoothly.

3) Design the front flash card

Write down your key terms, concepts, or questions on the front of the flash card. Try to write these phrases or short sentences as large as possible to make them easier to read. Also, do not write any explanations or answers on the front side.

This is because the purpose of the flash card is to allow you to see a basic concept and then be able to identify relevant information about the topic. Therefore, please keep the front of the card as simple as possible.

Research has proven that associating words with visuals makes it easier to recall information. You can draw simple patterns to describe words or questions to help you remember complex topics.

4) Design the back flash card

Write down your key and short messages on the back of the flash card. Write in pencil or light ink so that this information does not bleed through to the other side of the card. If desired, you can also draw a diagram or pattern.

However, make sure your text is large, clear, and well-spaced. This is because crowded or smaller fonts can make it difficult to quickly identify important content and do not facilitate your quick recall.

3. Optimize and improve

1) Use bright colors

Using different colored markers or highlighters to identify key points can draw your attention further to the salient information. You are free to be creative, just make sure it doesn’t interfere with reading.

2) Keep things simple

Each card should contain only one key point and answer. This is more helpful for association and memorization and prevents the learning process from becoming overwhelming. If you need help remembering more complex topics, it is best to break them down into simpler subsections.

For example, if you want to remember the point on heart/vascular disease in medical terminology flashcards, you can’t write all the subcategories of blood clots, DVT, thrombophlebitis, etc. on the back. Instead, you should separate them all into individual cards and finally organize them into a card group using a card box or open-ended ring.

You can also use shorthand to save space. Sometimes, you may need to include a lot of information on a single flash card. In this case, consider using a form of shorthand that works for you. Often, people use “&” instead of “and” and “eg” instead of “for example “.

How To Make Flashcards Online?

1. Office Software

1) Create a template

Open Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or Adobe Acrobat, search for “flash card” in their template library, and choose the template you like. Of course, you can also download some templates for multiplication flash cards, abc flash cards, or alphabet flashcards from the Internet, or even design your own from scratch.

But please remember that your flashcards should be easy to read. If a certain decoration or color makes it difficult for you to use them, you should avoid using that template.

2) Fill in the information

Some templates will tell you where to put key terms, concepts, or questions, and where you should put the necessary information. Usually, we fill in the keywords or questions on the front of the card and write the corresponding answers or comments on the back. You can refer more to commercially available flashcards or flashcards made by study masters.

3) Paint the colors

Use colors to further organize your flashcards. The color should be easy to read but distinguish it from the other colors. For example, use black text as the primary information, and then use red, green, blue, etc. as supplementary information.

4) Add patterns

This will be the highlight of your flashcards – add pictures to the cards to make them more beautiful and memorable. The idea comes from a concept in cognitive psychology called the picture dominance effect: pictures and images are easier to remember than words. This effect has been confirmed in numerous experiments.

However, this does not mean that you can completely replace the text on the card with a picture. Because it turns out that a mixture of pictures and text works better than pictures alone. By adding descriptive sentences (or even individual terms) next to the patterns, you can improve your brain’s ability to recall what you’ve learned.

5) Print and cut

Once the design is complete, you can use your printer to print and cut out the flashcards to the right size. What’s more, you can organize them into a card group by punching a hole in their corner and stringing the cards on a ring. This way you can flip through them whenever and wherever you want.

2. Online Design Platforms

Currently, there are many online platforms or apps for making flashcards on the web, such as Canva, Quizlet, and Cram, all of which can help you start this project easier and faster. Most of their resources are free, and some are even customized by discipline, such as hiragana flash cards and pharmacology flash cards.

All you need to do is find the right template or theme and follow the platform’s step-by-step instructions to quickly generate a series of flashcards that you can then print out or save to your computer or phone!

How To Print Flashcards?

If you just need a deck of flashcards, then a home printer or print store can help you print them right away. But if you are considering mass production or even selling, then you will need a professional flashcard maker. You better choose a manufacturer who has a lot of experience in learning flashcards so that you will get more help on layout, color, production, etc.

Typically, making printable flashcards involves the following processes: Design Submission – Typesetting – Printing on Press – Surface Treatment –Cutting and Drying – Subassembly – Packaging. If you want to learn more about how to print flash cards, please click on “Process“.

How To Use Flashcards?

1. Say it out loud

The more senses you involve in the learning process, the more likely you are to remember the information longer. Try speaking out the answers while reading them as an active learning method.

2. Mix the order

Make sure to study your flashcards in as many different orders as possible. This is because if you keep using the same order over and over again, you may only remember the answers to the order rather than the keywords. You can shuffle the cards after each use to build up the neural pathways that support memory recall.

3. Study often

Practice achieves perfection. A set of flashcards or note cards won’t help you much if you don’t use them regularly. Whether you’re studying for an advanced exam in high school or college, or your child is in kindergarten or elementary school, studying regularly is critical to success. Plan flashcard study sessions at least once a week and review concepts before exams for best results.

4. Image and observe sometimes

Some letters, numbers, and words that are simple for us are a whole new world for young children. If you are making flash cards for preschoolers, don’t identify them for the sake of identification. It is more important for them to develop imagination and observation. This requires teaching people to spend more time with them playing card games, communicating, and interacting more.

In fact, the answers for how to make flashcards are not complex. They can be summarized in 3 points: the first is to categorize the cards into word studies, extracts of key points, questions to think about, and so on. The second is that the knowledge recorded on each card should be as homogeneous and structured as possible. The third is to make learning more interesting through visual elements such as colors, patterns, and even icons!