If you’ve just started learning about poker, you might be wondering exactly what cards are used. The game looks simple at first glance, but there are many versions played in the UK and worldwide, each with its own quirks.
Knowing which deck is used clears up a lot of confusion. You might hear different things at a pub game or see various setups online, and it helps to understand what is standard and what is not.
Whether you’re brand new or just curious about the details, this guide explains how decks are chosen, shuffled, and dealt in the most popular poker games.
How Many Decks Are Used in Poker?
In most poker games in the UK, a single standard deck of 52 cards is used. That means four suits, from 2 through to ace in each suit, with no jokers unless a specific house rule says otherwise.
Live games, home games, and online rooms stick to one deck per table so that everyone can follow the action and understand the probabilities involved. You will not see extra decks in standard Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or Stud.
In regulated casino settings and on reputable online platforms, the same 52-card deck is used for each hand, then collected and shuffled before the next deal. If a game intends to do anything different, that should be spelled out clearly in the rules before play begins.
Curious about when two decks appear at all? It is usually about speed between hands rather than changing the cards you are dealt.
Why Do Some Poker Variants Use More Than One Deck?
Traditional poker is dealt from a single deck within each hand. The situations where you see a second deck are mostly practical. In some home games and casual formats, two packs are alternated. While one hand is being played, the spare deck is shuffled and made ready. When the hand ends, the decks are swapped. Players are not dealt from both decks at once.
The same idea can show up at live tables that use an automatic shuffler. The next deck is prepared in the machine while the current hand plays out, which keeps things moving with minimal downtime. Again, only one deck is in use for the actual deal.
Occasionally, informal groups add jokers or use additional cards to create a novelty format or to seat a very large table, but you will not encounter that in proper casino or tournament poker. If a non-standard format is used, it should be agreed upfront so everyone understands the setup.
To see why a single pack works so well, it helps to know exactly what is in it.
Poker Deck Basics and Card Layout
A standard poker deck has 52 cards split into four suits: hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. Each suit has thirteen ranks: 2 through 10, then jack, queen, king, and ace. Hearts and diamonds are red, spades and clubs are black.
Face cards are the jack, queen, and king. The ace can act as the highest or lowest rank depending on the hand. For example, A, 2, 3, 4, 5 can form a straight in games like Texas Hold’em, while 10, jack, queen, king, ace is the highest straight.
Understanding this layout makes it easier to read the board, spot draws, and recognise when a straight or flush is possible. For most official games you will play, these 52 cards are all that is needed.
How Deck Count Affects Dealing and Game Pace
Using a single deck keeps the game straightforward, but there is a short pause after each hand while cards are gathered and shuffled. With a full table, that pause can add up over time.
Alternating two decks between hands is a common way to keep casual games snappy. One deck is in play, the other is being prepared, and the swap happens as soon as the pot is pushed. Some casinos achieve the same effect with automatic shufflers, which reduce waiting without changing the deal.
In formal games, only one deck is used for each hand. Alternating packs or using a shuffler is about pace and convenience, not about changing the rules or the range of possible outcomes.
If you prefer playing online, the same single-deck principle applies, just handled digitally.
How Many Decks Do Online Poker Rooms Use?
Online poker rooms mirror live practice by using one standard 52-card deck per table. Jokers appear only in variants that explicitly include them.
This consistency helps players move between live and online games without adapting to different deck rules, and it keeps the experience predictable from one table to the next.
Random Number Generators and Digital Deck Shuffles
Online shuffling is performed by a Random Number Generator, or RNG. This is a piece of software that orders the deck in a way that cannot be predicted. Reputable UK platforms have their RNGs tested by independent labs to confirm that each shuffle is fair and that no card order is favoured.
The RNG reorders the deck for every hand and does not carry information from one deal to the next. In effect, it replicates a thorough shuffle by a professional dealer, but it happens instantly behind the scenes.
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**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.