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
Knight (playing card) Knight (playing card) A knight or cavalier is a playing card with a picture of a man riding a horse on it. It is a face card and is called "caballo" in Spanish playing cards and "cavallo" in Italian playing cards. In these decks, it ranks between the knave and the king within its suit. Among French playing cards, the knight ("chevalier") can only be found in tarot decks. In Latin and French suited tarot decks, the knight ranks between the knave and the queen. Knights do not appear in German or Swiss playing cards; their place being occupied by