Today’s 52-card deck preserves the four original French suits of centuries ago: clubs (♣), diamonds (♦), hearts (♥), and spades (♠). These graphic symbols, or “pips,” bear little ...

He left behind the three cards. I palmed them into my pocket. It was the beginning of my yearlong hunt for one full deck of found playing cards. I created the rules. I had to find the cards on the ...