A standard poker deck has 52 cards, and that is the number used in most poker games. At XPoker24, we often see players ask, “How many poker cards in a deck?” because the deck’s structure directly affects hand odds and game flow. Once you know what makes up the 52 cards, it becomes easier to understand why different poker variants deal cards differently and sometimes add special rules.

How Many Cards Are in a Standard Deck of Playing Cards?

A standard deck of playing cards has 52 cards without jokers.

If you include the two jokers, then there are 54 cards in total.

The deck is made up of four suits:

• Clubs (♣)
• Diamonds (♦)
• Hearts (♥)
• Spades (♠)

Each suit has 13 cards, running from 2 to Ace. That means there are four cards of every rank: four kings, four queens, four jacks, and so on.
In short, the standard poker deck contains 4 suits × 13 cards = 52 cards.

Jokers are usually included in modern decks but are not used in most poker games.

How Many Cards Are Used in Poker?

Most poker variants, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven-Card Stud, use all 52 cards. Jokers are not used in professional or tournament poker.

All suits in poker have equal value. A flush of hearts and a flush of spades have the same rank. If two players have the same type of hand, the winner is decided by the highest card value, not by the suit.

Short Deck Poker

One popular exception is Short Deck Hold’em, also called 6+ Hold’em.

This game uses only 36 cards because the 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s are removed.

Short Deck poker became popular in Asia and among high-stakes players because the smaller deck creates more action and stronger hands appear more often.

How Many Decks Are Used in Poker?

In almost every poker game, only one deck is used at a time.

However, in live casinos, dealers often rotate between two decks to keep the game moving.

While one hand is in play, another deck is being shuffled. When the round ends, the dealer swaps decks. This process makes the game faster, but only one deck is ever active during play.

Different Types of Playing Card Decks Around the World

Poker uses the standard French-suited 52-card deck, but not every country uses the same type of cards. Here are a few examples:

French Suited Deck (Standard Poker Deck)

• 52 cards plus 2 jokers
• Suits: Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, Spades
• Used worldwide for poker, blackjack, and many other card games

German Suited Deck

• 36 cards, from 6 to Ace
• Suits: Hearts, Acorns, Bells, and Leaves
• Common in Southern Germany and Austria

Swiss Suited Deck

• 36 cards, similar to the German deck
• Suits: Roses, Shields, Bells, and Acorns
• Used mainly in Switzerland and Liechtenstein

Spanish Suited Deck

• 48 cards plus two jokers
• Suits: Cups, Coins, Swords, and Clubs
• The Queen is replaced by a Cavalier, and the card values run from Ace to 9, then 10, Cavalier, King

Although styles vary, the French 52-card deck remains the universal standard for poker games.

Quick Summary: Poker Deck Facts

Final Thoughts from XPoker24

So, how many poker cards are in a deck?

The answer is 52 cards. That deck has built the foundation for every major poker variant played around the world.

Understanding how many cards are in a poker deck helps new players learn the game structure, hand probabilities, and the difference between variants like Texas Hold’em and Short Deck poker.

At XPoker24, we help you explore every side of poker from beginner tips and strategies to in-depth guides on poker variants, decks, and rankings. Stay tuned for more articles to level up your game.