What is a face card?

A face card in a standard deck of playing cards is any card that depicts a person's face, rather than a number or a suit symbol. These are typically:

• Jack (J): Often depicted as a young nobleman or a soldier.
• Queen (Q): Traditionally a queen or other important female figure.
• King (K): Usually represents a king or other important male figure.

The specific imagery on face cards varies slightly depending on the deck manufacturer, but the core concepts remain the same. In many card games, face cards hold a numerical value, usually 10 or 11, but sometimes their value depends on the game's rules. Their presence often adds strategic complexity to gameplay.