Card games in Sweden

French suited cards are in general use. The ace, king, queen and jack have indices E, K, D, Kn (standing for Ess, Kung, Dam, Knekt). The names of the suits are Klöver (clubs), Ruter (diamonds), Hjärter (hearts) and Spader (spades).

Traditional Swedish games include Rödskägg, Norrlandsknack, Femkort, Gurka, Bondtolva, Priffe, Skitgubbe and Vira. However I am told that the most popular games in Sweden now are Chicago, Kasino, Krypkasino, Mulle, Whist and Bismarck.

Sviten Special is a poker variant combining elements of 5-card Draw and Omaha.

Vändåtta is the Swedish variant of Crazy Eights.

Vändtia (turn ten) is the probably ancestor of the international game Shithead.

Kille cards are a special type of Cuckoo cards used in Sweden. The 42 card pack has just one suit with each card duplicated, the 21 different cards being Harlekin (harlequin), Kuku (cuckoo), Husar, Husu (pig), Kavall (horse), Värdshus (inn), 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Kransen (wreath), Blompottan (flowerpot), Blaren (mask). These are used for the round game Byteskille which is a version of Cuckoo, and the trick taking games Knackkille and Krypkille (see A.G.Smith: The Cambio Packs and the Games played with them II - Hypp, Gnav and Kille - The Playing Card Vol XIX No 4, pp118-127)