The language of London Blackjack explained
A power card that can be played on any card of its own suit, or on any other Ace. When played, the player must declare a new suit that the next player has to follow.
The Jack of Clubs (♣) or Spades (♠). When played, it forces the next player to pick up 5 cards unless they can counter it.
A computer-controlled opponent that can be added to games. Useful for practice or when waiting for human players.
Playing a specific power card to defend against a pickup penalty. Valid counters to a 2 or Black Jack include another 2, another Black Jack, a Red Jack (to cancel), or a Joker.
The American name for the family of shedding games that London Blackjack belongs to. While similar, Crazy Eights usually lacks the complex stacking rules of the London variant.
The standard 52-card pack plus 2 Jokers used to play the game. When the draw pile runs out, the discard pile (except the top card) is shuffled to form a new deck.
Taking a card from the deck when you cannot (or choose not to) play a card from your hand.
The cards currently held by a player. The game begins with each player receiving 7 cards.
The specific set of rules agreed upon before playing. LDN Blackjack enforces the most universally accepted "London House Rules" to ensure fair online play.
The ultimate wild card. Can be played on anything and becomes exactly what the player declares it to be (both rank and suit). Often used to counter massive pickup stacks by declaring it as a Red Jack.
A power card that reverses the direction of play. In a 2-player game, playing a King effectively skips your opponent, giving you another turn.
A mandatory declaration a player must make when they reduce their hand to exactly one card. Failure to declare results in a penalty draw.
The main menu area where players can create new game rooms, join existing ones via codes, or start Quick Matches.
Playing a card that shares either the same suit or the same rank as the top card on the discard pile.
A sequence of different pickup cards played together. For example, playing a 2 on top of a Black Jack to create a combined pickup penalty of 7 cards.
Cards that must be drawn from the deck, either due to a power card (like a 2 or Black Jack) or for a rules infraction (like forgetting to declare Last Card).
Any card that has a special effect beyond just changing the suit or rank. In LDN Blackjack, the power cards are 2, 8, Black Jack, Red Jack, Queen, King, Ace, and Joker.
The rule stating that a Queen cannot be the final card played to win a game. A Queen must always be covered by another valid card during the same turn.
Playing multiple cards of the exact same rank simultaneously (e.g., three 9s). The suit of the final card played becomes the active suit.
The Jack of Hearts (♥) or Diamonds (♦). Used defensively to cancel out an accumulating pickup stack started by 2s or Black Jacks.
The category of card games where the objective is to empty your hand of all cards. Uno, Crazy Eights, and London Blackjack are all shedding games.
The act of responding to a pickup card with another pickup card, adding their values together and passing the cumulative penalty to the next player.
One of the four categories into which a deck is divided: Hearts (♥), Diamonds (♦), Clubs (♣), or Spades (♠).
Playing a sequence of consecutive cards of the same suit simultaneously (e.g., 4, 5, and 6 of Hearts).
A power card that forces the next player to pick up 2 cards. Multiple 2s can be played together, and they can be stacked upon by other players.
Another common regional name for the game, alongside Switch and Blackjack.