Russian playing cards some famous Russian writers, particularly Alexandre Pushkin who wrote "The Queen of Spades". Because the 6 is the lowest card of the Russian deck, Russian slang uses the derogatory word "shestyorka" meaning "underling, lackey". Russian playing cards Russian playing cards are cards that used predominantly in Russia and in the former Soviet Union. Unlike the internationally known standard French 52-card deck, most Russian card games employ either the 36 card (games such as Durak) or the 32 card (particularly Preferans) decks. Playing cards were first introduced into Russia at the beginning of the 17th century from Western and Central Europe
Deuce (playing card) of a boar on the playing cards was simply a pictorial illustration of this etymological development. According to Marianne Rumpf, the name comes from a Baden dialect in which the "S" is spoken like a "Sch" and the word "Dausch" is used for a female pig or sow. The Brothers Grimm state in their dictionary, that the word "Tausch" was used for the four cards. Perhaps the word "Dausch" inspired card artists who illustrated the free space under the coloured symbols with a sow. The language of card players may also have given rise to the expression "Däuser" (also "Deuser")