Yet today, despite recent welcome additions, relatively little is written about teaching qualitative research. Why is that? This article reports out a relatively simple, yet appealing, pedagogical move, a lesson the author uses to teach qualitative data analysis. Data sorting and categorization, the use of tacit and explicit theory in data analysis, and discrepant case analysis can all be illustrated though use of a standard deck of playing cards. Use of playing cards appeals to those who learn best kinesthetically and is a welcome break from lecture-oriented, didactic teaching. It mirrors data sorting by hand and allows the instructor to highlight the importance of play in qualitative research. (Contains 1 figure.)