A four-color deck is identical to the standard Anglo-American playing cards except for the color of the suits. In a typical four-color deck, hearts are red and spades are black as usual, but clubs are green and diamonds are blue. However, other color combinations have been used over the centuries.
Four color decks are not a new idea, and have been around in America for a very long time. In 1819, J.Y. Humphreys created the “Seminole Wars Deck” which had four colored suits of blue spades, green clubs, red hearts and yellow diamonds. In 1876, for the American Centennial, Victor Mauger issued a deck that contained black spades, red hearts, yellow diamonds and blue clubs.
These four-color decks made for bridge or whist, are often called no-revoke decks because they are perceived to reduce the risk of a player accidentally revoking (illegally playing a card of a suit other than that led.) Many dozens of card manufacturers have developed four colored suit cards for Bridge during the 1900s and continue into this century. S.R. Huntley created many Bridge decks, which included his stylized four color pips of black spades, red hearts, orange diamonds and blue clubs. Some of his decks included “forcing” instructions printed on each card for play. In 1947, a deck of playing cards of bridge size, from Forcolor Inc., introduced a deck with black spades, red hearts, green clovers (three-leaved, not the french club shape,) and orange diamonds. In 1948, the Avoid Playing Card Company, introduced a deck of the same name with black spades, red hearts, orange diamonds and purple clubs.
A four-color deck for poker was developed and publicised by Mike Caro. It was introduced at his World Poker Finals at Foxwoods Resort Casino in 1992. His original design was not a success due to the choice of colors. However, four-color decks have become a somewhat popular option in Internet poker software interfaces since often each player may use their preferred design of playing cards without affecting others’ experience, and since visibility is not as good on a small screen as in face-to-face play. Having each suit represented by a different color can allow players to more easily recognise a flush.
In the German game of skat the official tournament standard is to use four-color decks. In these, spades are green and diamonds are yellow, the hearts and clubs being respectively red and black as normal. This is intended as a compromise for players who prefer German suits.
- Copag Playing Cards currently sells via their website a four color deck, featuring black spades, red hearts, blue diamonds and green clubs. The cards are 100% plastic and are sold as a pair. COPAG was honored as the official card for the 2005 World Series of Poker (though two-color decks were used there). More information about the manufacturer can be found at the official Copag company web site.
- 52 Plus Joker’s website displays a vintage Tarock deck designed for use in the United States, and has four colored suits, following a traditional no revoke pattern and was published in 1922 by August Petryl & Son. The deck was created with black clubs, yellow diamonds, dark pink hearts, and green spades.