Playing Cards – Standard 52 Deck Explained

When you grab a standard deck of playing cards, you’re picking up one of the most iconic and widely used game tools in history. From the local RSL to backyard BBQs, pub poker nights to professional casinos and of course, right here at Joe Fortune, Australia’s top online casino — the humble 52-card deck is everywhere. It’s been the backbone of card games for generations, and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

Whether you’re shuffling up for a hand of Texas Hold’em, chasing 21 in blackjack, playing rummy with your mates, or killing time with a game of solitaire on your phone, odds are you’re using the exact same setup as a standard 52-card deck.

But have you ever actually stopped to think about what’s inside that deck? Why there are 52 cards, how the suits came to be, or why some games add jokers and others ditch them? There’s more to that stack of cards than you might think.

That’s where we come in. The team at Joe Fortune knows cards inside out. We live and breathe casino games every day, so whether you’re a complete newbie or a seasoned player, we’ve put together this easy-to-follow guide to break down exactly what makes up a standard deck of cards. We’ll walk you through how many cards are in a deck, what the cards mean, how it all came about, and answer some common questions that every card player has wondered at some point.

How many cards are in a deck?

In most card games you’ll play down under and around the world a standard deck contains 52 cards. That total doesn’t include the jokers; they’re extra and usually removed before you start many games. To break it down: the deck has four suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades), and each suit has 13 ranks (Ace, 2-10, Jack, Queen, King). So, if someone asks you “How many cards in a deck?” the quick and correct answer is 52, unless jokers are added, which makes it 54 in some casual decks.

Four aces playing cards feature alongside thumbnails depicting the four seasons. A calendar also features displaying ‘52 weeks’. On a yellow background.

Origins of the 52-card deck

Ever wondered why 52… There are a few theories, and while no one can pin it down for sure, here’s what the history books suggest and what our team has discovered by checking out the internet:

The 52 cards may symbolically link to the 52 weeks in a year.
The Four suits are for the four seasons.
Each suit has 13 ranks which represents 13 lunar cycles or perhaps it might just be a neat division.
The French-suit deck (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades) became standard in English-speaking countries by around the 16^th century.
The structure is old-school and well-established. So, whether you’re in a Melbourne poker room, trying out an online casino or playing a few hands at a casino on the Gold Coast you’re almost always using a 52-card deck.

Games played with a 52-card deck

There’s a huge variety of games you can play using the standard 52-card deck. Here are some of the most common and popular ones:

Poker – Texas Hold ’em, Omaha, many others rely on the full deck.
Blackjack – Typically uses one or more standard decks (52 cards each).
Bridge – Uses the full 52 cards (no jokers) and deals 13 cards per player through four players.
Rummy, Spades, Hearts – Classic card-game families often using the standard deck.
Solitaire / Patience – Many versions online or on-paper use the 52-card deck structure.

Because the deck is so widely standardised, when you login into an online casino like Joe Fortune you’ll know you’re dealing with the familiar 52-card setup.

The image features a structure formed of multiple playing cards. On a yellow background.

While 52 cards are the norm, there are many variants and game types that use modified decks. Let’s have a look at a few examples:

Jokers added – Many casual decks include 2 jokers, making 54 cards total. However, keep your eyes peeled as many formal games remove those.
Stripped-down decks – Some regional or specialised games use 32-, 36- or 40-card decks (often used in Europe).
Multiple decks – In casino variants (e.g., multi-deck blackjack) several 52-card decks are shuffled together.

If you ever hear someone say, “this game uses two decks” or “we’re playing with a 32-card deck”, you’ll know they’ve stepped outside the standard playing conditions.

FAQs

Are there 52 or 54 cards?

The standard deck has 52 cards. Many commercial decks include 2 jokers, which gives 54 total, but the core “standard” pack used in most games is still 52.

How many aces are in a deck?

There are 4 aces, one in each suit (Ace of Hearts, Ace of Diamonds, Ace of Clubs, Ace of Spades).

How many cards are in one deck without jokers?

Without jokers, a standard deck = 52 cards. When there are jokers included, you might have 54, but for standard gameplay you usually stick with 52.

How many black cards are in a deck?

Black suits = Clubs (♣) + Spades (♠). Each of those suits has 13 cards, so 13 + 13 = 26 black cards.

How many red cards are in a deck?

Red suits = Hearts (♥) + Diamonds (♦). Each with 13 cards, so 13 + 13 = 26 red cards. It’s evenly split between red and black.

How many jacks in a deck of cards?

There are 4 jacks, one in each suit (Jack of Hearts, Jack of Diamonds, Jack of Clubs, Jack of Spades). Since each suit has one jack, that gives four in total.

Why these details matter at a casino like Joe Fortune

When you’re playing online, understanding the standard deck helps you in several ways:

Game fairness: Knowing that a deck is standard helps you trust the play.
Strategy: When you know how many cards of each type exist (4 aces, 26 black cards, etc.), you’re better at assessing odds.
Comfort: If you’re familiar with the deck structure, you’ll feel more confident when moving across games (poker → blackjack → rummy).
Avoid surprises: Some games play with modified decks — knowing the “standard” helps you detect when a variant is in play.

Whether you’re placing a bet, dealing a hand, or just having a crack with mates, you’re dealing with the same 52-card engine beneath the surface.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, if you’re at Joe Fortune online casino this is another guide which you can refer to so you have all the info and details to hand to allow you to enjoy your time in an open and transparent way. So, whether you’re prepping for your next poker night with mates, hitting the online casino tables or just want to finally settle that argument about why there are 52 cards in a deck, you’ve got all the info to hand.