Card ranks are the thirteen values that can be found on a playing card in Balatro. These values are 
aces, the 
number cards 2 to 10, and the three 
face cards: Jacks, Queens and Kings. Each card also has a suit.
Aces[]
In most games with playing cards, an Ace can be treated 'low' or 'high'. If treated low, it usually represents a 1. If treated high, it usually represents a card better than a face card. For example, in blackjack, an Ace can be valued at 1 or 11, at the player's choice.
In Balatro, the Ace can be considered as 'low' or 'high' in a Straight, but it always scores as 'high' to provide 11 Chips.
Face cards[]
"Face cards" is a grouping term for Jacks, Queens and Kings. Usually in most games, a King is better than a Queen, a Queen is better than a Jack, and all are better than number cards.
In Balatro, all face cards provide 10 Chips each when scored.
From Update 1.0.1g, it is possible to customise the artwork of face cards with Friends of Jimbo from other games.
Number cards[]
Number cards usually carry the value of their number, unless modified by tarot cards to add Card Modifiers or modified by joker effects. They are sometimes called 'pip' cards, as each icon printed on them is a pip.
In Balatro, the number cards provide chips equal to their value unless modified, for example, a 7 card provides 7 Chips when scored. Note that cards are not scored when not required for the hand.
Even and Odd cards[]
"Even cards" are cards with a rank that can be divided by 2 into a whole number. In Balatro, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 are considered even.
"Odd cards" are cards with a rank that cannot be divided by 2 into a whole number. In Balatro, Ace, 3, 5, 7, and 9 are considered odd.
Trivia[]
- There are many types of decks of playing cards in real life. The basic deck in Balatro matches the French-suited, 52-card standard deck that is usually the most common (or only) deck of cards available in predominantly English-speaking countries. When buying one of these decks, the packs usually include one or a few Joker cards, which may or may not be needed for the game.
- Face cards are sometimes called court cards, as the figures represent the highest roles in a royal court.
- The names of Aces and Faces are usually translated in non-English-speaking areas, which includes changing the letter (J/Q/K/A) printed on the card. Unusually though, on French-language decks, the Ace becomes a 1.
In other languages[]
| Language | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese (Simplified) | A | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | A | |
| Dutch | Aas | |
| French | As | |
| German | Ass | |
| Indonesian | As | |
| Italian | Asso | |
| Japanese | ćØć¼ć¹ | |
| Korean | ģģ“ģ¤ | |
| Polish | As | |
| Portuguese (Brazilian) | Ćs | |
| Russian | Š¢ŃŠ· | |
| Spanish (Spain) | As | |
| Spanish (Latin America) | As |
| Language | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese (Simplified) | K | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | K | |
| Dutch | Heer | |
| French | Roi | |
| German | Kƶnig | |
| Indonesian | King | |
| Italian | Re | |
| Japanese | ćć³ć° | |
| Korean | ķ¹ | |
| Polish | KrĆ³l | |
| Portuguese (Brazilian) | Rei | |
| Russian | ŠŠ¾ŃŠ¾Š»Ń | |
| Spanish (Spain) | Rey | |
| Spanish (Latin America) | Rey |
| Language | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese (Simplified) | Q | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | Q | |
| Dutch | Vrouw | |
| French | Dame | |
| German | Dame | |
| Indonesian | Queen | |
| Italian | Regina | |
| Japanese | ćÆć¤ć¼ć³ | |
| Korean | ķø | |
| Polish | KrĆ³lowa | |
| Portuguese (Brazilian) | Dama | |
| Russian | ŠŠ°Š¼Š° | |
| Spanish (Spain) | Reina | |
| Spanish (Latin America) | Reina |
| Language | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese (Simplified) | J | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | J | |
| Dutch | Boer | |
| French | Valet | |
| German | Bube | |
| Indonesian | Jack | |
| Italian | Fante | |
| Japanese | ćøć£ććÆ | |
| Korean | ģ | |
| Polish | Walet | |
| Portuguese (Brazilian) | Valete | |
| Russian | ŠŠ°Š»ŠµŃ | |
| Spanish (Spain) | Jota | |
| Spanish (Latin America) | Jota |