Author's note: These definitions are meant as a guideline only. See individual game rules as any game has the right to redefine or modify the rules to make it fun.
The first card dealt into a foundation pile. Other foundations usually have to start with a card of this rank. See: FOUNDATION
Building by placing a card on to another card of the opposite color is permitted. Example: Placing a Diamond on a Spade is good, but placing a Diamond on a Heart is not.
Building by placing a card on to another card of any suit but the suit of the original card is permitted. Example: Placing a Diamond on a Heart is good, but placing a Heart on a Heart is not.
Building by placing a card on to another card of the same color is permitted. Example: Placing a Diamond on a Heart is good, but Placing a Diamond on a Club is not.
BUILD DOWN or UP ignoring color and suit.
Build so that cards can only be played on other cards of the same rank, regardless of suit.
See BUILD BY RANK.
Building by placing a card on to another card of the same suit is permitted. Example: Placing a Spade on a Spade is good, but placing a Spade on a Club is not.
Building by placing a card of a lower rank on to a card of a higher rank is permitted. Usually implies a difference of only one ranking between the two cards. Example: Placing a 10 on a Jack is good, but placing a 10 on a 9 is not.
Building by placing a card of a lower rank on to a card of a higher rank by * is permitted. Example: If * is 2, placing a 10 on a Queen is good, but placing a 10 on a Jack is not.
Building by placing a card of a higher rank on to a card of a lower rank is permitted. Usually implies a difference of only one ranking between the two cards. Example: Placing a Queen on a Jack is good, but placing a Queen on a King is not.
Building by placing a card of a higher rank on to a card of a lower rank by * is permitted. Example: If * is 2, placing a 10 on an 8 is good, but placing a 10 on a 9 is not.
Building by placing a card on to a card of one higher or one lower rank is permitted. Example: Placing a Jack on a Queen or a 10 is good, but placing a 10 on a Queen is not.
The ability to place a card (or group of cards) on another card. In regards to rank, you can BUILD UP, BUILD DOWN, BUILD BY SAME RANK, or BUILD UP/DOWN BY *. In regards to suit/color, you can BUILD BY SUIT, BUILD BY COLOR, BUILD BY ALTERNATE COLOR, BUILD BY ANY SUIT BUT OWN, or BUILD REGARDLESS OF SUIT. Note that all games that build will follow two of these rules, one from each list.
A type of GANJIFA DECK with ten suits.
The set of cards used. Most games use a STANDARD DECK, but games that use a DOUBLE DECK, a JOKER DECK, or a STRIPPED DECK are not uncommon.
A deck of cards consisting of two STANDARD DECKS making a total of 104 cards.
The Jack, Queen, and King of each suit. Also called court cards or picture cards.
A special TRUMPS suit card in a TAROCK DECK. Depending on the game, it can act as the highest trump, the lowest, or like the JOKER in a STANDARD DECK. Also called the SKIZ.
If a game has a foundation, the game is usually won by placing all the cards in the foundation pile(s).
A ganjifa deck consists of a large number of suits, with twelve ranks, including an ace through nine, and two picture cards - the Wazir and the Mir (see Ganjifa for more info).
A hanafuda deck consists of twelve suits, with four ranks in each suit. The suits represent a different flower, and the twelve months of the year, so the suits have a specific order (see Hanafuda for more info).
A hex a deck is a unique deck that has sixteen ranks, marked with hexadecimal characters, along with a series of four WIZARDS, that function similar to JOKERS (see Hex A Deck for more info).
An Ishido set consists of 36 tiles, containing six different colors and six symbols. Ishido games usually involve matching the colors and symbols of adjacent tiles.
An extra card with no suit or rank. JOKER DECK games can contain up to two jokers, which often function as WILD CARDS.
A deck of cards consisting of a STANDARD DECK and two jokers making a total of 54 cards.
A Mahjongg set consists of 42 tiles, containing three suits (bamboos, characters, and dots), and nine ranks. Plus, three dragons (green, red, and white), four winds, and a set of four seasons and flowers. Most of PySol's Mahjongg deck games involve matching identical tiles, with the seasons being matched with any season, and same for the flowers.
A deck that contains a variable number of cards, with no suits or ranks - matching deck games involve pairing off identical cards.
A type of GANJIFA DECK with eight suits.
An open game is one that starts with all cards visible.
A designated area where cards can exist.
A deck that contains a number of pieces that are to be assembled to form a picture.
The value of the card. Numbered cards usually have the rank of the associated number. Aces can either be high or low. If low, aces are ranked 1. If high, aces are ranked as 14. J, Q, and K are usually ranked 11, 12, and 13 respectively. However, some games may rank these cards as 10. In such a case, a high ace might be ranked as 11.
Depending on the game, can refer to a number of things. In some games, a redeal simply involves turning over the WASTE pile to go through the STOCK again, while in others, it involves using game-specific rules to reshuffle and redeal all or part of the tableau. Often, only a limited number of redeals are allowed.
Cards in the reserve are usually available to play anywhere. Usually cannot be built on.
See FOOL.
See PILE.
A 52 card deck. There are four suits of thirteen cards each. Each suit contains an Ace, 2 through 10, Jack, Queen, and King. These suits are usually Clubs, Spades, Hearts and Diamonds. These suits can be grouped into two colors, usually black and red. The Clubs and the Spaces are black while the Hearts and the Diamonds are red. PySol allows the possibility of using different decks. In this case, the new colors and/or suits are substituted into this paradigm.
A STANDARD DECK with a reduced number of cards. Usually, this means that one or more suits or ranks are removed from the deck.
See TALON.
Four different kinds in a STANDARD DECK. Usually Clubs, Spades, Hearts, and Diamonds.
The playing field, where the main action occurs. Usually allows building.
The remainder of the deck after all the original cards have been dealt and are usually kept faced down.
A tarock deck consists of fourteen ranks, with the Cavalier, or Knight existing as a fourth picture card, usually ranked between the Jack and Queen. Tarock decks also include a series of twenty-two numbered trump cards.
A series of extra cards that exist outside of the usual suits and ranks. These are often present in non-standard decks, such as a TAROCK DECK.
A deck that contains a variable number of cards, with no suits, only TRUMPS.
See WRAP AROUND.
See RANK.
A stack of cards face up, usually next to the TALON. Top card usually in play.
A card that can be treated as being of whatever suit or rank is most appropriate for the situation. Often, the JOKERS are used as wild cards.
A card that works like the JOKER in a HEX A DECK. The deck contains four wizards. Each wizard has a rank, with the higher ranked wizards usually identified by having a larger hat, or a fancier card design.
In some games card sequences may wrap around. When BUILDING UP this means you can place an Ace on a King. When BUILDING DOWN this means you can place a King on an Ace. Also called TURN THE CORNER.