Queen (playing card)

The Queen is a playing card found in the standard 52-card deck. It is typically the third-highest ranking card within its suit, ranking above the Jack and below the King. Each of the four suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades) contains one Queen.

The Queen traditionally depicts a female royal figure, typically a queen. The design and clothing of the Queen varies depending on the deck design and manufacturer. In many standard decks, the Queen faces sideways, while the King and Jack face forward. However, these conventions are not universal, and some decks show the Queen facing forward as well.

In card games, the Queen's value and significance vary widely. In some games, such as poker, the Queen's rank is critical for forming winning hands. In other games, such as hearts, the Queen of Spades holds a special negative value and is to be avoided. The specific rules of the game determine the Queen's function.

The Queen, alongside the King and Jack, is one of the three court cards in a standard deck. These cards are often associated with face cards and sometimes, collectively, with "picture cards." The presence of human figures gives the court cards a symbolic or narrative dimension that distinguishes them from the numbered cards.

The Queen is sometimes referred to colloquially as a "lady."