A king card is typically the highest-ranking face card in a standard deck of playing cards.
In most card games using the French-suited deck (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades), the king ranks immediately above the queen and below the ace. It is one of the twelve court cards, also known as face cards. It usually depicts a king, historically shown wearing a crown and holding a scepter or sword.
Here's a breakdown:
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Rank: Generally the highest-ranking face card, but its exact value depends on the specific game being played.
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Appearance: Depicts a male monarch, traditionally wearing a crown and often holding a scepter or sword. Each suit's king may have slight variations in attire and posture depending on the deck's design.
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French Suits: In French-suited decks, the king outranks the queen (K > Q).
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Non-French Suits: In other regional decks such as Italian, Spanish, German and Swiss playing cards, the king still outranks other court cards like the knight (or Ober in German/Swiss).
Example Card Games:
- Poker: The king holds a high rank and can contribute to strong hands like a straight, flush, or full house. A pair of kings is a decent starting hand in many poker variants.
- Crazy Eights: The king typically has a face value of ten.
- War: The highest card wins, with the king beating all other non-ace cards.
The significance and specific value of a king card are ultimately determined by the rules of the card game being played.
