Embrace a centuries-old European playing tradition with the Piatnik Doppeldeutsche deck, crafted in Vienna by Ferd. Piatnik & Söhne, Austria’s premier maker of traditional playing cards since 1824. This iconic deck celebrates the design heritage of German-suited playing cards, whose distinctive suits and artwork have been used across Central Europe for over 500 years.
The Piatnik Doppeldeutsche deck, sometimes labeled Doppeldeutsche Blitz, features 36 cards printed on sturdy, high-quality playing card stock with a smooth yet resilient finish. Standard card dimensions are 63 x 100 mm, slightly taller than bridge-size playing cards, giving these cards their distinctive narrow, regional European format. The term “Doppeldeutsche” means “Double German”, referring to the double-ended court designs that replaced the older single-figure “Einfachdeutsch” pattern in Austria during the 19th century.
The suits in a Doppeldeutsche deck are not the familiar spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds but rather four German suits:
- Acorns (Eichel)
- Leaves (Blatt)
- Hearts (Herz)
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Bells (Schelle)
Each suit typically runs from Six (or Seven) through Ace (Deuce), with court cards known as the Unter (Under), Ober (Over), and König (King) in place of Jacks and Queens. Many Austrian and Bavarian Doppeldeutsche decks also include the WELI – a distinctive extra card used as a wild card or high trump in the traditional Austrian game Schnapsen.
The Doppeldeutsche pattern remains one of the most popular traditional styles in Austria and southern Germany, still played in pubs and households for games like Schnapsen, Bauernschnapsen, and Watten. The artwork features vibrant, historic motifs drawn from Central European folk styles, melding bold colors with ornamental frames and double-headed figures inspired by 18th-century engravings. Piatnik’s edition maintains authentic detailing, true to the Viennese print tradition that the company has upheld for nearly two centuries.
Made entirely in Vienna, Austria, by Ferd. Piatnik & Söhne, the Doppeldeutsche deck embodies the enduring craftsmanship and cultural legacy for which Piatnik is world-renowned—“Piatnik trumps,” as the saying goes. Whether used for regional games, collecting, or display, this deck connects players to a distinctive historical lineage that predates modern French-suited cards.
