ELI5 Deck of Cards - why 52 playing cards and why so mysterious?

ELI5 Explain Like I'm 5: Bite sized answers to stuff you should know about - in a mini podcast

How did we end up with the deck of cards that we use today? Did the standard 52-card deck derive from Tarot cards, and what does that mean for gameplay? Is it true that shuffling a deck creates a unique order that has likely never existed before? Can you explain the concept of 52 factorial and why it matters for card arrangements? What fascinating social dynamics emerge around shuffling cards and how it influences player interactions?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: poindexter234, turkeypedal, bheidreborn, lowflier84, tp616, buffinita, the_laughing_lawyer, and stupidlemoneater.

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