Curse of Scotland Gurney Benham's book about playing cards, in describing the game of Pope Joan he gives his own explanation for why this card is known as the Curse of Scotland: "The crown of Scotland contained only nine stones, as they never could afford a tenth". Eric Partridge's "Routledge Dictionary of Historical Slang" considers: “the various theories are as interesting as they are unconvincing”. "Collins Encyclopedia of Scotland" says for "Curse of Scotland" "This is usually taken to be the nine of diamonds playing card, though explanations differ". The 19th century Tarot of Marseilles is one of the standard designs for tarot
Beer card Beer card In trick-taking card games like bridge, the beer card is the seven of diamonds (7) playing card when it is agreed that, if a player wins the last trick of a hand with the 7, his partner must buy him a beer. It is not considered as part of the rules of these games, but an optional and informal side-bet between players. This practice is likely originated from Danish Tarot or Skat in the middle of the 20th century. The requirements vary depending on whether the winner of the last trick is the declarer or a defender. In