[Shawn 507]

I was told the spade is a bad luck symbol, heck why not the swazi is a good luck symbol in Korea.. The Ace being the biggest in the deck equals more bad juju. Very supersticious folk.

[MoMo]

Yea, but the Ace of Spades and the Queen of Spades were considered to be " Bad Luck " cards here, in the past. I think in the USA too!

perhaps I'll look it up and see if I can find anything.

[MoMo]

Here's one ref. which I found :

By: Randy Campbell
Wesley:
In 1423, St. Bernard of Siena, gave a sermon revealing playing cards as the invention of the Devil. The Puritan John Northbrooke followed up on this thought about 150 years later, asserting that the Devil "might the easier bring in Ydolatrie among men" through the seduction of cards.
It seems a small stretch and a tiny justification to allow the admittedly seductive play of cards via the rationale your clergyman puts forth. Indeed, Northbrooke himself suggests the Court cards, originally "images of idols and false gods" were "chaunged into Charlemaigne, Launcelot, Hector and such like names" to "maintaine the play itself."
The value of the Ace, as you mention, is often the lowest in the pack, yet is the highest in Poker, Whist, serves double-duty in Blackjack, and in other games has a mid-pack rank. I can't find any reference in particular to the church sanctioned value of the Ace, but I'm no scholar.
The often referenced "Soldier's Almanack, Bible, and Prayerbook," may have some bearing on this matter. Dating back to 1778, it describes soldier Richard Middleton who whips out a pack of cards rather than a Bible while attending a church service. Brought forth before the Mayor after the complaint of the his sergeant and the Clergyman, he is threatened with severe punishment should no apology or explanation be forthcoming.
"Richard drew out his pack of cards, and upon presenting one of the Aces to the Mayor, continued his address to the magistrate as follows:
'When I see an Ace, it reminds me that there is only one God; and when I look upon a Two or a Three, it reminds me of the Father and Son; the later of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost...' " And so it continues.
I do know, however, that Ace of Spades, often considered an unlucky card, was the undoing of one Richard Harding. After being found guilty of forging the Ace of Spades, he was eventually hanged for this capital offence; a tragic error in the England of the early 1800s.
(references come from W. Gurey Benham's "Playing Cards, The History and Secrets of the Pack," "Old and Curious Playing Cards," by H.T. Morley, and "Playing-Cards and Their Story" by George Beal.)

[Aircrafty]

Originally Posted by Shawn 507

I was told the spade is a bad luck symbol, heck why not the swazi is a good luck symbol in Korea.. The Ace being the biggest in the deck equals more bad juju. Very supersticious folk.

When I was a kid friends of ours owned a vintage car called a Krit that was made in Detroit before World War I. It had a swastika badge on the radiator as well as a large swazi embossed on the inside panel of each door. The sign was orginally a Hindu good luck symbol and meant to protect the occupants from danger.

[Shawn 507]

Momo, it wasn't so much the American or English fear of the Ace of spades as it was the people of Veitnam. Swazis are a symbol here in the US among many Native American tribes or it use to be.Though I don't know the meaning for any one tribe.

[MoMo]

Yes Guys,

I recall how the Death card was used in " Apocalypse Now ". It's strange how it has come to represent death or danger.

Didn't Wild Bill Hickock play the Ace of Spades just before he was shot in the back ( or is that just legend, or a movie cliche ? )

[TopHat]

Originally Posted by MoMo

Yes Guys,

I recall how the Death card was used in " Apocalypse Now ". It's strange how it has come to represent death or danger.

Didn't Wild Bill Hickock play the Ace of Spades just before he was shot in the back ( or is that just legend, or a movie cliche ? )

No, it was a full house (or two pairs, can't remember which), aces over eights...The Dead Man's Hand (not to be confused with Skunky's hand, which is now dead from over use).

[MoMo]

No, it was a full house (or two pairs, can't remember which), aces over eights...The Dead Man's Hand (not to be confused with Skunky's hand, which is now dead from over use).

Thanks Top Hat,

So aces over eights is the 'dead man's hand' ! I'll be careful the next time that Im in the casino !

[jim]

Originally Posted by MoMo

Thanks Top Hat,

So aces over eights is the 'dead man's hand' ! I'll be careful the next time that Im in the casino !

Its amazing the variety of topics that come up on this place. Something new to learn every day.

[jim]

Originally Posted by TopHat

No, it was a full house (or two pairs, can't remember which), aces over eights...The Dead Man's Hand (not to be confused with Skunky's hand, which is now dead from over use).

Repetetive strain injury I presume.