Introduction to Index Types

Card indexes are the symbols of suit and rank on the corners of the cards which make it easier to recognize the card value. 

Traditional indexes can be small or large. We refer to a small index as a “standard index" and a large index as a “jumbo index," but others may use the terms regular, super, blackjack, etc. – we just feel it is easier to stick to two terms. For reference:

• "Small index" means standard index, although there may be antique decks with very small indexes. The term sometimes is used in connection with the smaller index in a dual index card.
• "Regular index" means standard index.
• "Blackjack index" describes a jumbo index used on the poker-size cards typically used to play blackjack. They help the dealer see the cards across the table. 
• "Super index" means jumbo index. The term often is used with respect to KEM cards, although not consistently.
• "Large index" means jumbo index. 
• "Medium index" means jumbo index that is on the smallish side - a bit larger than the standard index.

Copag is one of the few manufacturers to produce a rare type, the “magnum index,” which has giant indeces to help recognize the cards from a distance or if a player has impaired vision.

Typically, there are indexes in the top left and bottom right corners of each card. But in Europe, putting an index in each corner is very popular. We sometimes call this a "euro index" but you often will hear this style referred to as a "four corner index." The traditional European four corner index uses a standard index, but a jumbo index in each corner has been manufactured recently. 

A number of manufacturers make a "dual index" that combines a standard index in each corner with a jumbo index along the sides. It also is called a "peek index" and is aimed at Texas Hold'em players. It was introduced amid great controversy in the 2007 World Series of Poker and became somewhat of a fad. The objective was to make it easier for card players to peek at hidden cards and at the same time allow players to more easily see face cards from across the table. 

DalNegro produces the "x-ray index" (our trademark) exclusively for our company, as shown below. It is a much more successful implementation of the dual index concept - the rank symbol (e.g., A,1,K,) is contained within the suit symbol, making it more compact and easier to peek at because the overall size of the index is larger. They are among our most popular playing cards.