Card players are those participating in a card game. Various names are given to card players based on their role or position. Position Games of Anglo-American origin In games of Anglo-American origin played in English-speaking countries, age refers to the order of priority in which players make the first lead, bid or bet, based on their position at the table. This changes constantly as the dealer rotates either clockwise or anticlockwise around the table. They are traditionally referred to as follows: Eldest hand (or elder hand) the player who enjoys greatest priority and e.g. is the first to receive cards in the deal. Elder is the non-dealer in two-hand games. Youngest hand (or younger hand) the player who has the lowest priority and who e.g. is the last to bid or play at the start of a game (often the dealer). Pone Also pony or poney. Short for "opponent". American or Old English term for non-dealer in some two-player games e.g. Colonel or the player on the dealer's right, who cuts the cards, e.g. in Vingt-Un i.e. youngest hand. Alternatively the players are simply numbered as follows: First hand the player who leads to the first trick and who leads any bidding. Same as eldest hand or forehand. Second hand the player who bids or plays second. Third hand the player who bids or plays third. Fourth hand the player who bids or plays fourth. Games of European origin In games originating in Europe, the following terminology indicating the players' priority is used: Forehand the player who leads to the first trick and who leads any bidding. Same as eldest hand. Middlehand the player between forehand and rearhand in a three-person game. In Skat and similar 3-hand games, the second player in turn to bid. In four-hand games, middlehand is the player after forehand so the order is: forehand, middlehand, rearhand, dealer. Rearhand the player with least priority, e.g. the last to bid or play. Sometimes also called endhand. Roles Players may also be referred to by their roles as follows: Active player a player who receives cards in the current deal and is not sitting out temporarily because a) there are more players than the game is designed for, or b) they have withdrawn due to poor cards Adversary an opponent (q.v.) Captain in certain team games, the player who collects information from his teammate(s) and directs the tactics.