Magyar Kártya: A Complete Guide to Hungarian Playing Cards

Introduction

If you have ever sat down to play cards in a Hungarian café, at a family gathering in Budapest, or in a village pub on the Great Hungarian Plain, chances are the deck on the table did not look like anything you would find in a casino in Las Vegas. Instead of the familiar spades, diamonds, clubs, and hearts of the international “French-suited” deck, you were looking at acorns, leaves, bells, and red hearts — depicted in a rich, 19th-century artistic style featuring characters from the legend of William Tell.

This is the Magyar Kártya (Hungarian Playing Cards), one of the most distinctive and culturally rich card decks still in everyday use in Europe. While the international 52-card deck dominates most of the world, Hungary has stubbornly and lovingly held on to its own 32-card tradition. The deck is not merely a curiosity or a collector’s item — it is the standard playing card deck for millions of Hungarians, used daily in homes, pubs, and parks across the country.

The Magyar Kártya belongs to the broader family of German-suited playing cards, which spread across Central Europe from the 15th century onward. While Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech lands each developed their own regional variants, the Hungarian version stands out for its striking William Tell imagery and its unbroken popularity into the modern era.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the Magyar Kártya: its history, suits, ranks, the fascinating characters depicted on the court cards, and the games you can play with it.

History of the Magyar Kártya

The story of Hungarian playing cards begins with the broader history of card games in Europe. Playing cards arrived in Europe from the Islamic world during the late 14th century, and by the early 1400s, card-making workshops had sprung up across the continent. While southern Europe (Italy and Spain) developed the Latin-suited tradition with cups, coins, swords, and clubs, the Germanic lands created their own suit system using hearts, bells, leaves, and acorns.

By the 15th century, German-suited cards had spread throughout the Holy Roman Empire, including the Kingdom of Hungary, which was closely tied to the Habsburg Austrian crown. For several centuries, Hungarians used various German and Austrian card designs without a specifically Hungarian variant.

The decisive moment came in 1832, when the Viennese card manufacturer Josef Glanz created a new German-suited deck featuring scenes from Friedrich Schiller’s play Wilhelm Tell (1804). The play, which dramatized the Swiss folk hero’s resistance against the tyrannical Habsburg bailiff Gessler, was enormously popular across Central Europe — particularly in Hungary, where it resonated with the growing national independence movement.

The William Tell deck was an immediate hit in Hungary. The images of a brave hero defying a foreign oppressor spoke directly to Hungarian sentiments during the Reform Era (1825–1848) and especially after the failed Hungarian Revolution of 1848–49. The Habsburg authorities briefly banned the deck because of its revolutionary symbolism, but this only increased its popularity.

Over the following decades, the design was refined and standardized. The most influential version was produced by Piatnik, the Viennese card manufacturer founded in 1824, which became (and remains) the primary producer of Magyar Kártya decks. By the late 19th century, the William Tell deck had become so thoroughly identified with Hungarian card culture that it was simply known as the “magyar kártya” — the Hungarian card.

Today, the Magyar Kártya remains the most widely used card deck in Hungary. While international French-suited cards are also available (primarily for poker and bridge), the William Tell deck is the default choice for traditional Hungarian card games like Zsírozás, Ulti, and Snapszer.

The Four Suits

The Magyar Kártya uses the traditional German suit system, which differs significantly from the French suits (spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs) used in most of the English-speaking world. Each Hungarian suit has a direct equivalent in the international deck, although the correspondence is a matter of convention rather than exact equivalence.

Makk (Acorns) — Equivalent to Clubs ♣

The Makk suit depicts stylized acorns, representing the oak tree that was a symbol of strength and endurance throughout Central European heraldry. On the pip cards (VII through X), you will see acorns arranged in symmetrical patterns, often with leafy branches. The acorn suit generally corresponds to Clubs in the international deck. In many Hungarian games, Makk serves as a trump suit or has special significance.

Zöld (Leaves / Greens) — Equivalent to Spades ♠

The Zöld suit features green leaves, typically depicted as linden or ivy leaves. The word “zöld” simply means “green” in Hungarian, and the suit is sometimes called “Levél” (Leaf) in older sources. It corresponds to Spades in the international system. The green leaf motif is one of the most recognizable elements of the German-suited card tradition, shared across Hungarian, Bavarian, Austrian, and Bohemian decks.

Tök (Bells / Pumpkins) — Equivalent to Diamonds ♦

The Tök suit shows small round bells (sometimes called “hawk bells” or “sleigh bells”). The Hungarian word “tök” literally means “pumpkin” or “gourd,” which is a folk name for the round bell shape. This suit corresponds to Diamonds in the international deck. In German, the same suit is called “Schellen” (Bells). The round shape of the bells is quite different from the angular diamond shape of the French suit, but the equivalence is well established in card game rules.

Piros (Hearts / Reds) — Equivalent to Hearts ♥

The Piros suit features red hearts and is the only suit that shares its symbol with the international French-suited deck. The word “piros” means “red” in Hungarian, referring to the color of the heart symbols. This is the most immediately recognizable suit for players accustomed to French-suited cards. Hearts function similarly in Hungarian games as they do in many international card games, often representing a neutral or “plain” suit.

The Eight Ranks

The standard 32-card Magyar Kártya deck contains eight ranks in each of the four suits. The ranks differ considerably from the Ace-through-King system of the international deck. Here is each rank, from lowest to highest in most Hungarian card games.

VII (Hetes) — Seven

The Hetes (Seven) is the lowest-ranking card in the standard 32-card deck. The pip cards show seven suit symbols arranged in a traditional pattern. In most Hungarian games, the VII has little or no point value, but in certain games like Makaó, the seven of each suit may have special powers (such as forcing the next player to draw cards).

VIII (Nyolcas) — Eight

The Nyolcas (Eight) is another low-ranking pip card. Like the VII, it is generally worth few or no points in trick-taking games. The eight suit symbols are arranged symmetrically on the card face.

IX (Kilences) — Nine

The Kilences (Nine) continues the pattern of low-value pip cards. In Snapszer and other games of the 66 family, the IX has no point value but can still be useful for following suit or winning tricks when higher cards have already been played.

X (Tízes) — Ten

The Tízes (Ten) is a significant card in many Hungarian games. In Zsírozás, the ten is worth 10 points and is one of the most valuable cards in the deck. In Ulti and Snapszer, it is also highly valued. The ten pip cards show ten suit symbols and are among the most densely decorated cards in the deck.

Alsó (Under / Jack)

The Alsó literally means “Lower” or “Under” and is the first of the three court cards. It corresponds roughly to the Jack in the international deck. The Alsó always depicts a standing figure — a young man in traditional dress, often holding a weapon or tool. Each suit’s Alsó shows a different character from the William Tell story. In Zsírozás, the Alsó is worth no points but can “grease” (match) another Alsó of any suit.

Felső (Over / Queen)

The Felső means “Upper” or “Over” and is the middle court card, corresponding roughly to the Queen in the international deck — although the Felső always depicts a male figure on horseback, never a female figure. This is one of the most distinctive features of the German-suited tradition: instead of a king and queen, you have an “over-knave” and an “under-knave.” The mounted horseman imagery makes the Felső cards among the most visually striking in the deck.

Király (King)

The Király (King) is the highest-ranking court card and depicts a seated royal figure holding a scepter or other symbol of authority. Each suit’s King represents a different character from the William Tell legend or related historical figures. In most Hungarian games, the King is a high-value card.

Ász (Ace)

The Ász (Ace) is the highest card in most Hungarian games. Unlike the international deck where the Ace often shows a single large suit symbol, the Magyar Kártya Aces feature elaborate scenic illustrations alongside a large suit symbol. These scenes often depict seasonal or rural imagery: a harvest scene, a winter landscape, or a hunting vignette. The Ace of Hearts, for example, traditionally shows Cupid or a romantic scene. In Zsírozás, each Ace is worth 10 points, making them the joint-most-valuable cards alongside the tens.

The William Tell Connection

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Magyar Kártya is the William Tell imagery on the court cards. Every Alsó, Felső, and Király in the deck depicts a character from the William Tell legend, as dramatized in Friedrich Schiller’s famous 1804 play.

William Tell was a legendary Swiss hero who, according to the tale, was forced by the tyrannical Habsburg bailiff Hermann Gessler to shoot an apple off his own son’s head with a crossbow. Tell succeeded, but later assassinated Gessler, sparking a revolt that led to Swiss independence. The story became a powerful symbol of resistance against oppressive authority throughout Central Europe.

When Josef Glanz designed the first William Tell deck in 1832, he assigned specific characters to each court card. The traditional assignments, which have remained largely stable for nearly two centuries, include:

• Alsó of Acorns (Makk Alsó) — depicts a young Helvetian (Swiss) warrior
• Felső of Acorns — shows a mounted Swiss horseman in battle
• Király of Acorns — represents a seated Swiss ruler or elder
• Alsó of Leaves (Zöld Alsó) — often depicts Tell’s son Walter
• Felső of Leaves — a mounted hunter or nobleman
• Király of Leaves — a king in green robes, sometimes representing Rudolph I
• Alsó of Bells (Tök Alsó) — a standing figure in a hat
• Felső of Bells — the most iconic card, often showing William Tell himself on horseback
• Király of Bells — a seated royal figure
• Alsó of Hearts (Piros Alsó) — a young romantic figure
• Felső of Hearts — a gallant horseman
• Király of Hearts — traditionally associated with the King of Hearts, often shown with a scepter and crown

This rich narrative imagery is what gives the Magyar Kártya its distinctive character and cultural resonance. Each card is a miniature work of art, far removed from the abstract geometry of the international French-suited deck.

Magyar Kártya vs Other European Decks

The Magyar Kártya belongs to a family of German-suited decks used across Central Europe. Here is how it compares to other common European card decks.

The Complete 32-Card Deck

Below is a visual representation of all 32 cards in the standard Magyar Kártya deck, organized by suit. Click or hover over any card to see it highlighted.

♣ Makk (Acorns)

♠ Zöld (Leaves)

♦ Tök (Bells)

♥ Piros (Hearts)

Where to Buy Hungarian Playing Cards

If you are in Hungary, finding a deck of Magyar Kártya is trivially easy. They are sold in virtually every dohánybolt (tobacco shop / trafik), newsstand, bookstore, and even many supermarkets. A standard deck costs between 500 and 1,500 Hungarian Forints (roughly 1.30 to 4 EUR), making it one of the most affordable card games in the world.

The dominant manufacturer remains Piatnik, the Austrian company that has been producing these cards since the 19th century. Piatnik’s Magyar Kártya is considered the standard, and its William Tell artwork is what most Hungarians picture when they think of playing cards.

Outside Hungary, your best options include:

• Amazon — search for “Magyar Kártya” or “Hungarian playing cards Piatnik”
• eBay — both new and vintage decks are regularly available
• Specialty playing card shops — stores like PlayingCardDecks.com or similar retailers sometimes carry European regional decks
• Hungarian online shops — sites like libri.hu or jateknet.hu ship internationally
• Piatnik’s official website — piatnik.com carries the full range of their card products

If you are visiting Hungary, buying a deck of Magyar Kártya makes an excellent and inexpensive souvenir — far more authentic and useful than a refrigerator magnet.

Games Played with Magyar Kártya

The Magyar Kártya is not just a beautiful collectible — it is a working card deck used for some of the best card games in Europe. Here are the most popular games played with this deck.

Zsírozás (Greasing)

The most popular card game in Hungary, period. Zsírozás is a trick-taking game for 2–4 players where the goal is to collect cards worth 10 points (Aces and Tens). What makes it special is the “greasing” mechanic: you can add matching cards on top of a trick to increase its value. It is fast, social, and endlessly replayable.

Ulti

Hungary’s premier “serious” card game. Ulti is a three-player trick-taking game with bidding, trump suits, and an elaborate scoring system. It belongs to the Tarock family of Central European card games and is considered the national card game for competitive play. Learning Ulti is a rite of passage for serious Hungarian card players.

Snapszer

The Hungarian cousin of the Austrian game Schnapsen (itself a member of the 66 family). Snapszer is a two-player trick-taking game where the goal is to accumulate 66 points through clever card play, marriages (King-Felső pairs of the same suit), and strategic closing of the stock. It is elegant, deep, and perfect for two players.

Lórum

A shedding game (sometimes compared to Rummy-type games) where the objective is to get rid of all your cards before your opponents. Lórum is popular as a family game and is simpler to learn than Ulti or Snapszer, making it a good entry point for newcomers to Hungarian card games.

Makaó

The Hungarian equivalent of Crazy Eights or UNO. Makaó is played with the full 32-card deck, where players take turns matching the top card of the discard pile by suit or rank, with certain cards (especially sevens and Aces) triggering special actions like drawing extra cards or skipping turns. It is the game that Hungarian children typically learn first.

The 36-Card Variant

While the standard Magyar Kártya deck contains 32 cards (VII through Ász in four suits), a 36-card variant also exists. This extended deck adds the VI (Hatos / Six) in each suit, bringing the total to 36 cards.

The 36-card deck is less common in Hungary itself, where the 32-card version is the overwhelming standard. However, the extended deck is used in certain game variants and is more common in some neighboring countries where German-suited cards are also played. The Bavarian deck, for example, standardly uses 36 cards.

If you are purchasing a deck specifically for Hungarian games, the 32-card version is almost always the correct choice. Most Hungarian game rules assume the standard 32-card deck, and the extra sixes would interfere with the game balance.

Frequently Asked Questions