Imaginative Ideas for Poker Tattoos _ The Meaning Behind Them

When it comes to creating designs for Poker tattoos, there’s no shortage of ideas and options. They can be done in an immense assortment of styles, and the personal meaning behind them can represent a passion for gambling, but also several other things. 

Card tattoos are a popular tattoo choice among Poker pros, and thanks to the diversity, they’re usually always unique as well. If you’re tempted to ink yourself with a Poker themed tattoo, let’s run through some popular designs and the meaning behind them.

But before we do that, here’s a swift reminder that a deck of playing cards has 52 cards and 2 Jokers. There are four sets of cards, and each set has an:

• Ace
• King
• Queen
• Jack 
• 10
• 9
• 8
• 7
• 6
• 5
• 4
• 3
• 2

And each set will be one of four suits. Diamonds, Hearts, Spades, and Clubs. 

There are a lot of symbolisms hiding in the deck of cards. For example, the 52 cards represent the number of weeks in a year. Each suit represents Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring, and the 13 cards in each suit represents the Lunar cycle. 

There are other hidden meanings, as well. The King of Hearts is seen stabbing himself in the head, also known as the suicide King. And the different weapons held by the face cards have deep meanings. There’s a long and varied history surrounding playing cards, and each geographic area had its own designs and reasons for them. 

Poker Hands 

When we’re talking about Poker hands there are several hands that are significantly more respected than the others. 

Royal Flush – A royal flush is the strongest poker hand you can have, and it consists of 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace card all of the same suit. It symbolizes strength, wealth, and victory, which is why it’s a popular choice. 

Straight Flush  – Having five cards in a series and matching suits is a mighty hand that can only be beaten by a royal flush. The matching sequence of numbers and matching suits signifies great luck and charm. 

Four Aces – Another popular hand. An Ace is the highest playing card, and having four is also viewed as a sign of luck and power. 

Full House – A hand with three cards of the same value, and another matching pair is a popular image to ink. The name of the hand symbolizes control and authority. 

Single Cards 

The Ace of spades – symbolizes success, prestige, winning, and leadership. It is the top card in most games and the top card in Poker. This card was often seen worn on helmets during the Vietnam War because, for some, it was a symbol of luck. But for others, it was known as the death card. 

The Queen of Hearts – is a favorite choice for women, as it can represent love. It’s also connected with Alice in Wonderland. Thanks to the portrayal of the Queen of hearts in this story, the card is also seen as symbolizing determination, courage, and the will to survive. 

The Joker – is often played as a wild card, and is linked to not only luck but also deceit and misfortune. This is in part because of Batman’s popular nemesis, the Joker, who is an evil villain. But in Poker, a Joker card symbolizes incredible fortune and is often carried as a good luck charm.  

Combing Symbols 

Many great tattoos combine more than one symbol to create a personal image that has a deep connection with its wearer. Some of the potent symbols which can be connected include: 

• Cherries
• Hearts
• Horseshoes
• Stars
• Money
• Eight Ball
• Poker Chips
• Skulls
• Dice
• Crowns
• Roses
• Flames

Combining a royal flush with skulls and fire symbolizes strength, power, and victory. The Queen of Hearts with a Joker card symbolizes love and luck with a bit of wildness as well. There are no right and wrong options, and it’s ok to take your time to create something unique. 

Remember to research your choices and don’t rush, you won’t want to regret your decision. Take all the time in the world until you feel you’ve created an image that perfectly symbolizes what you want it to.