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Life

23rd Feb 2016

There Was Once A Fifth Suit In The Deck Of Cards And The Symbol Is So Bizarre

This would make a game of poker very interesting.

Laura Holland

This would make a game of poker very interesting.

We’re all familiar with a standard 52 card deck of cards, with four suits – hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades.

But it wasn’t always the case, there was once a fifth suit introduced to the pack to make up a 65 card deck. And the chosen suit was ‘eagles’, which is quite bizarre.

suit
Image via Mental Floss

According to Mental Floss, back in 1930, United States Playing Card Company, along with other card manufacturers, made up this new suit and were intended to be used in games of Bridge.

In England, a blue crown symbol was used in place of the eagle.

It was Walter Marseille, a Viennese psychologist who decided to try out the new addition to the pack, thinking that by adding the extra suit, it would make the game more complex and interesting.

We’ll stick with the 52 card pack thanks.