Face Cards Explained: Your Complete Guide

 Face Cards: Meaning and Definition

A face card (also commonly known as a picture card or court card) refers to any card in a standard deck of playing cards that depicts a person—typically the King, Queen, or Jack of each suit.

Key Characteristics:

• These cards feature illustrated figures rather than numeric pips.

• In some game contexts, the term may also include the Ace or Joker.

• In certain regions, such as the U.K., the term court card is more commonly used.

Example Usage:

"In some rummy strategies, face cards should only be kept if a player is dealt a natural pair, or perhaps an individual wild card with a face card."

Additional Insight:
The name "face card" originates from the illustrated human figures on these cards, as opposed to number cards which display only symbols (pips). In historical contexts, these were also referred to as coat cards.