How Many Kings Are in a Deck of Cards? All About The King Cards

A standard deck of 52 cards contains four kings—one for each suit: hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. Each suit features exactly one king, totalling four in the entire deck.

What is a King Card?

A King card is one of the four face cards in a standard deck of playing cards, alongside the Queen and Jack. In many games, the King is among the highest-ranking cards, typically outranking all cards except for Aces or other special cards. Depending on the design, it typically depicts a regal figure, often wearing a crown and holding a sceptre or sword.

History of King Card

While the design and symbolism of the king card can vary depending on the region and the deck's style, its origins can be traced back to the ancient game of Ganjifeh, originating in Persia. Ganjifeh, with its beautifully illustrated cards, provided a platform for entertainment and leisure, featuring depictions of various figures, including kings. 

In Persian Ganjifeh, kings were portrayed seated on thrones, signifying their authority and superiority over other court cards.  The king card outranked the viceroy cards, which were depicted mounted on horses. This indicates a hierarchical structure within the court cards.

Playing cards, including the concept of court cards like kings, were transmitted to Italy and Spain via the Mamluks and Moors. As playing cards spread across different regions and cultures, the concept of the king card persisted and evolved, becoming a fundamental aspect of decks worldwide. In early European decks, the king was often depicted as a ruler or monarch, reflecting the hierarchical structure of medieval society. The king card typically held a position of prominence, symbolising power, authority, and leadership.

The designs of the king cards varied across different regions and periods. For example, in French playing cards, the king of hearts is often depicted as Charlemagne, the king of diamonds as Julius Caesar, the king of clubs as Alexander the Great, and the king of spades as King David from the Bible.

How Many Kings Are in a Deck of Cards By Suit?

Each suit has one King card, so four kings are in a deck of cards by suit. These are called the King of Spades, King of Hearts, King of Diamonds, and King of Clubs. The Spades and Club Kings are black, whereas the Heart and Diamond Kings are red. In the standard symbolism of tarot cards, the King of Spades is sometimes called the King of Swords, and the King of Heart is called the King of Cups.

How Many Kings Are in a Deck of Cards By Color?

Another method of counting cards is by colour. A deck of cards has two colours: red and black. So, two black kings are in a deck of cards called the King of Clubs and the King of Spades. Similarly, we have two red Kings in a deck of cards called the King of Diamonds and King of Hearts.

How Many Kings Are in a Deck of Cards By Rank?

Another way to determine the number of Kings in a deck of cards is by rank. A card is the value of cards ranging from ace to King. An ace can be the highest and lowest based on the game’s rules. All four Kings in a deck have an equal value.

How Many Kings Are in a Deck of Cards By Face?

The fourth way to count Kings in a deck of cards is by face. The face is an image printed on the front of the card. Other cards have printed images of Jack, Queens, and Kings. The faces on these face cards differ based on the style and origin of the used deck. In some decks, the Kings are different historical or mythical figures. On some decks, however, they have standard statistics such as geometric shapes, animals, or symbols.

How Many Kings Are in a Deck of Cards By Probability?

Counting cards in a deck by probability tells you the likelihood of one card being drawn randomly from a shuffled deck. The number of that particular card is divided by the number of cards in the deck. For example, if you draw the probability of a King card, you will divide 4/52, considering you are using a standard deck of 52 cards. 4/52 will give you a probability of 7.69% or 1/13,  which means, on average, there should be one king out of thirteen cards.

Role of King in Card Games

The King card often represents strength, power, and importance within the game's context. Here are some typical roles of the King card in various card games:

Poker

In Poker, the King is one of the top-ranking cards, below the Ace and sometimes below the Wild card if used. It can form strong hands like pairs, three-of-a-kind, and full houses.

Bridge

In Bridge, the King is often a valuable card, especially when determining the strength of a suit. It's one of the four honours, along with the Queen, Ace, and Jack.

Hearts

In Hearts, the King is worth points if captured in a trick. It's one of the cards players often try to avoid winning to prevent accumulating points.

War

In the simple game of War, where players compare the rank of their cards, the King is one of the highest-ranking cards and usually beats all cards except an Ace.

Solitaire

In Solitaire games like Klondike, the King is one of the foundation cards where players build up suits from Ace to King.

Twenty-One (Blackjack)

In Blackjack, the King holds a value of 10 points, along with all other face cards (Queens and Jacks). It is valuable to make a hand worth 21 points (or as close as possible without exceeding 21) and beat the dealer's hand.

Euchre

In Euchre, a trick-taking game popular in certain regions, the King is considered a powerful card, especially when it belongs to the trump suit. It can help players win tricks and achieve their bid.

Cribbage

In Cribbage, the King is not typically used during the main play of the game. However, during the scoring phase, if a player forms a pair, triple, or quadruple combination with the King, they can score points based on the combination formed.

Rummy

In many variations of Rummy, including Gin Rummy and Rummy 500, the King typically holds a value of 10 points. It is used in melds, which are combinations of cards that players lay down to score points.

Durak

In the Russian card game Durak, the King is often a high-ranking card, depending on the trump suit and other game variations. Players aim to eliminate all their cards, and the King can be valuable to play strategically.

Crazy Eights

In Crazy Eights, a shedding-type card game, the King is often just one of the cards in the standard deck used to play. Players match the rank or suit of the previously played card, and the King follows this rule like any other card.

Importance of Kings in Card Games

The role of Kings and the theme of the deck are two essential factors you should consider:

• Most card games rely on players knowing the value and distribution of cards. Each card game is different and comes with variants, too. Hence, the role and value of the King card differ.
• Knowing the probability and statistics of the card being drawn helps you see the number of cards. For example, you have four Kings, and the likelihood of drawing a king from a standard deck of 52 cards is 7.79%, 4 out of 52.

Facts about King Card

• In some tarot decks, the king cards are replaced by knights or other figures, depending on the deck's specific symbolism and theme.
• The King of Hearts is the only king in traditional French playing cards without a moustache.
• In some gaming circles, the king of hearts is humorously referred to as the ‘suicide king’ due to the visual resemblance of the sword behind his head to a dagger, giving the impression of self-inflicted harm. It is believed to have originated from a misinterpretation or mistranslation of earlier card designs.
• The value of the King card varies across different card games. In certain games, the King card is often depicted as the highest-ranking card in its suit, outranking the Queen and Jack. In games like blackjack, the King card's value is fixed, typically counted as 10 points, along with other face cards.
• Across different decks and artistic interpretations, the King card's facial expressions and body language may vary, conveying different moods or personality traits associated with leadership and rulership.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Red Kings are in a deck of cards?

Two red Kings are in a deck of cards called King of Diamonds and King of Hearts.

How Many Black Kings Are In A Standard Deck?

There are two black King cards in a standard deck called King of Clubs and the King of Spades.

What are the names of the four kings in a standard deck?

The four Kings in a standard deck are the King of Spades, King of Clubs, King of Hearts, and King of Diamonds.

How Many Kings, Queens, And Jacks Are There In A Deck?

In a standard deck of 52 cards, there are 4 Kings, 4 Queens, and 4 Jacks.

Are the kings considered more valuable than other cards in a deck?

It depends on the card game variations, but Kings are generally more valuable than other cards in a deck.

What Is The Probability Of Getting A King Card In A Deck Of 52 Cards?

The probability of getting a king card in a deck of 52 cards in 1/13.

Conclusion

The presence of the King card adds depth to games, shaping strategies and influencing outcomes. Beyond gaming, the King's symbolism resonates with themes of responsibility and decision-making. It holds a prominent position in numerous card games, serving as a symbol of power, strength, and strategic importance. The King card is a powerful and important card that you can play smartly and win.