Russian playing cards

Playing cards were first introduced into Russia at the beginning of the 17th century from Western and Central Europe (supposedly from Germany and Poland).

However, in 1819, the restrictions were lifted, but at the same time the import of playing cards was also forbidden and a state monopoly was created.

Apart from that nearly fifty card designs were devised by various Russian artists during the 18th–20th centuries.

The face cards and the aces are marked by the Russian letters that correspond to the Russian rank names: The names for the pip cards are derived from Russian numerals: двойка, тройка, четвёрка, пятёрка, шестёрка, семёрка, восьмёрка, девятка, десятка (dvoika, troïka, chetvyorka, pyatyorka, shestyorka, semyorka, vos'myorka, devyatka, desyatka) for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 respectively.

The popularity of card games in Russia was portrayed by some famous Russian writers, particularly Alexandre Pushkin who wrote The Queen of Spades.