Popular Card Games Played in the UK

The Gambling Industry Plays a Role

When discussing card games, we have to bring up casinos. There is an undeniable link between the two, as some of the most popular card games in the world originated as gambling games. The primary example is poker, which is, without a doubt, the most recognizable game involving cards. Today, poker rooms and clubs are bigger than ever. But, the game has also attained a greater audience online.

Poker websites offer a new and exciting look into the world of poker. Players have access to Texas Hold ‘em, Omaha, the Studs, and more. There are versions of poker available online, that most professional gamblers haven’t even heard of, let alone amateurs. Though, despite the numerous options, the gamblers from the UK are most attached to Seven-card Stud.

In the 2000s, Texas Hold ‘em swept the gambling world, and quickly became the most played poker variant. However, before that, Seven-card stud dominated poker clubs around the globe. In the United Kingdom, the stud version of poker remains on top. Though, because of its drop in popularity, perhaps it would be a good idea to explain how it works.

In seven-card stud, each player gets two face-down cards, and one face-up card. The player with the lowest face-up starts the round, and after the wagering is done, each player gets another upturned card. The cycle continues, until each player has seven cards in their hands. From there, they can decide whether they want to keep betting, or throw in the towel.

Though seven-card stud, and poker in general, do play a huge role in British card culture, that isn’t all there is to the United Kingdom’s passion for card games, nor for gambling. Pontoon, for example, is often called “British blackjack,” because of its popularity in the UK.

Pontoon in British Culture

Vingt-un or Pontoon is the British version of the classic card game, Twenty-One. A lot of people may find similarities between pontoon and blackjack. The reason is that both are derivatives of the aforementioned banking card-based game. Though blackjack has, without a doubt, outshined pontoon in the 21^st century, British gamblers are still quite fond of this “domestic” version of the game.

Unlike blackjack, pontoon has no official rules, which means that in casinos online and offline, the gameplay can vary greatly. Still, there are some guidelines that most establishments follow, so even those who are unfamiliar with a version of the game, can catch on pretty quickly. But, what sort of impact has pontoon had on British culture?

To answer that, we need look no further than the First World War, when British soldiers fighting in the trenches would often amuse themselves by playing pontoon. Perhaps the card game took their minds off of the horrific conditions they were forced to endure, or maybe it was simply a way to pass the long nights, when there was nothing else to do, but to play the game.

Today, pontoon is such an integral part of UK society that many call it “British blackjack.” Though, it is important to note, that pontoon is not a blackjack derivative, nor is the opposite true. In fact, both games are a variation the aforementioned “Twenty-One” banking game, which historians believe originated in Spain, before spreading to Germany, France, and Britain in the 18^th century.

It is interesting to think about Pontoon’s influence on British culture. But, far more interesting is the examination of alternative card games, and their growing success. Most people are familiar with the standard 52-card deck. So, when many learn that there are card games that don’t involve that kind of deck, intrigue naturally builds up. For this next section, we are taking a look at trading card games that are popular in the United Kingdom.

Trading Card Games in the UK

Trading card games are a huge hit in the 21^st century. The trend began in 1993, when Wizards of the Coast released a new game based around unique cards, called Magic: The Gathering. In a standard Magic: The Gathering deck, there are three types of cards you can use; plains, creatures, and spells. The creature cards have a certain amount of attack and defense points, and can be used to attack the opponent’s creatures, or their health directly. Spells have an assortment of effects, from damage and healing, to buffs and de-buffs. Finally, plains are field cards that players can use to activate the other two types.

Needless to say, Magic: The Gathering was a huge hit, and quickly became an international sensation. Today, it is one of the most played trading card games in the UK. In Britain there are several local MTG tournaments, that attract players not just from the country, but from all over Europe and America. Not to mention, the UK has produced some of the finest MTG players in the world, who’ve gone on to become world champions.

The success of Magic: The Gathering, had a profound impact on the world of card games, not just in the west, but all around the globe. For example, it was MTG that inspired Kazuki Takahashi to create the “Duel Monsters” card game for his hit manga series Yu-Gi-Oh! Konami, fascinated by the game, told Takahashi to focus more on duel monsters, as they came up with the idea of making it a real game. Pretty soon, Yu-Gi-Oh! swept the world by storm.

Next to Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh! might just be the most popular and iconic card game in the world, that does not involve a standard 52-card deck. In the United Kingdom, there are several local tournaments, and of course, the iconic Yu-Gi-Oh! UK Open, which brings players from all over the country together, to compete for the title of UK national champion.

While Yu-Gi-Oh! and Magic: The Gathering are certainly iconic, and incredibly influential, there is one other card game that has risen to the top of the mountain when it comes to the United Kingdom. No doubt, many are familiar with the Pokemon franchise. But, some may not be aware that, aside from the games and animated series, there is a Pokemon card game. What may shock you to learn is that the Pokemon card game is the UK’s favorite TCG.

For the most part, the Pokemon card games follows the rules of the video games. Different monster types have certain advantages and disadvantages against others. There are also monsters that have special effects, further boosting their effectiveness in the game. The success of the Pokemon card game can certainly be attributed to the franchise’s massive success. However, to do so would be to ignore the joy that the game itself brings to the table.

The Enduring Success of Cards

Many might wonder why card games are such a huge success. After all, we brought up earlier how, in the digital age, boredom is all but a thing of the past. If we have access to any game we could imagine on the internet, why even bother with card games? There are plenty of answers one could give to this question. So, we are going to take a look at a few of them.

First on the list is strategic thinking. Many of the card games we’ve discussed, from bridge to the Pokemon TCG encourage critical thinking skills, and outright demand strategy. The reason this is a point in their favor is because, ultimately, we all love to be challenged. There is a reason why video games have a “hard” setting after all. The need to overcome certain obstacles is inherent to all humans, and card games give us an opportunity to meet that need in a relatively safe and controlled environment.

Another reason for the continued success of card games is the social benefit. Certainly, there are card games that we can play alone. Solitaire is a great example. However, for the most part, cards require multiple players. Humans are social animals, and require the need to communicate their ideas to others. Having a chat over a game of cards has endured as a hobby for so long, precisely because it is an integral part of what it means to be human.

Finally, cards, in a way, can bring people closer together. While there are certainly variations on games based on region, it is also true that cards are popular worldwide. A person from the United Kingdom can go anywhere in the world and spot a standard 52-card deck of playing cards in a shop. That is because different countries may play different games. But, what is more important is that we all enjoy playing cards. In a sense, learning a popular game from another country is part of the fun of cards as well.

Final Thoughts

Even in the fast-paced digital age, card games remain a staple of the entertainment world. Casino goers will certainly be most familiar with games like blackjack, baccarat, and poker. However, that doesn’t mean that they can’t play the occasional game of bridge, solitaire, or even a trading card game like Magic: The Gathering or Yu-Gi-Oh!

Regardless of what the future holds, we can at least take comfort in knowing that cards will, very likely, always be around in some shape or form. So, call up your friends, shuffle the deck, cut the cards, and deal a round for everyone. Because card games are still the best ways to entertain guests and socialize with old and new acquaintances.