diff --git a/include/hanabi_types.hpp b/include/hanabi_types.hpp
index 4eaadc1..fe8b9fc 100644
--- a/include/hanabi_types.hpp
+++ b/include/hanabi_types.hpp
@@ -63,10 +63,11 @@ namespace Hanabi
   {
     suit_t suit;
     rank_t rank;
+    uint8_t deck_index; /** Order of card in deck, numbered 0, 1, ... */
 
     // These attributes are not needed in general for a card,
     // they represent internal states during backtracking.
-    uint8_t local_index;
+    uint8_t local_index;    /** Used for the local representation of the current game state. */
     bool in_starting_hand;
     bool initial_trash;
 
diff --git a/src/parse_game.cpp b/src/parse_game.cpp
index 2ab237f..8ca611f 100644
--- a/src/parse_game.cpp
+++ b/src/parse_game.cpp
@@ -71,12 +71,15 @@ namespace Parsing
   std::pair<std::vector<Hanabi::Card>, Hanabi::suit_t> parse_deck(const boost::json::value & deck_json)
   {
     auto deck = boost::json::value_to<std::vector<Hanabi::Card>>(deck_json);
+    uint8_t deck_index = 0;
     for (auto & card: deck)
     {
       ASSERT(card.rank < 5);
       ASSERT(card.rank >= 0);
       ASSERT(card.suit < 6);
       ASSERT(card.suit >= 0);
+      card.deck_index = deck_index;
+      deck_index++;
     }
     Hanabi::suit_t num_suits = 0;
     for (const auto & card: deck)