Talon (cards)

In card games, a talon ([taˈlɔ̃]; French for "heel") is a stack of undealt cards that is placed on the table to be used during the game.

Depending on the game or region, they may also be referred to as the blind, kitty, skat, stock, tapp or widow (US).

In 1909, Meyers Lexicon described the talon as "the cards left over after dealing..."[1] In games of chance, such as Pharo, it is "the stock of cards which the banker draws on".

In other games, there are however very different variations, for example in Königrufen.

Parlett describes a kitty as "the pool or pot being played for" or "a dead hand or widow".