Spanish Deck
History of the Spanish deck: origin and evolution
It was not born in Spain. From Mamluk playing cards to Heraclio Fournier: Latin suits, regional patterns and the pinta. A rigorous history.
Leer la guía →Spanish deck games: mus, tute, brisca, guiñote and more
The classic Spanish deck games: mus, tute, brisca, guiñote, chinchón, truco and cuarenta. Rules, number of players, difficulty and advice on which to learn first.
Leer la guía →Spanish deck patterns: Castilian, Catalan and Nacional
The regional patterns of the Spanish deck: Castilian (Fournier 1889), modern Catalan, Nacional/old Catalan, Madrid and Seville. Visual features and where each one is still in use.
Leer la guía →
Spanish deck: complete guide | History, suits, games and patterns
Complete guide to the Spanish deck: documented origin, Latin suits, sota-caballo-rey (page-knight-king), 40/48 cards, Castilian and Catalan patterns, classic games.
Leer la guía →Mus: the Spanish card game explained
Mus is Spain's most beloved card game: four players, two teams, secret facial signals and all-in bets. A short guide to how it works.
Leer la guía →Tute: the Spanish trick-taking card game explained
Tute is Spain's most widespread trick-taking game: aces and threes carry the points, king-and-horse pairs are sung for 20 or 40, and four kings win on the spot.
Leer la guía →Brisca: Spain's easiest card game explained
Brisca is the Spanish version of Italian briscola: three cards each, a trump suit, no obligation to follow suit, and the perfect first game for the whole family.
Leer la guía →Guiñote: the card game of Aragón explained
Guiñote is Aragón's beloved variant of tute: six cards, two phases, singing 20s and 40s, and village championships treated as a serious mind sport.
Leer la guía →Chinchón: the Spanish rummy game explained
Chinchón is Spain's rummy: seven cards, runs and sets, closing when your deadwood is low — a direct cousin of gin rummy played with the Spanish deck.
Leer la guía →Escoba de 15: the Spanish fishing card game explained
Escoba is the Spanish daughter of Italian scopa: capture cards by summing exactly 15, sweep the table for bonus points and fight for the seven of coins.
Leer la guía →Truco: the card game of bluff and poetry explained
Truco was born in Valencia and became Argentina's national game: three cards, coded signals, escalating bets and the strangest card ranking in the world.
Leer la guía →Cuarenta: Ecuador's national card game explained
Cuarenta is Ecuador's national game, played with the Spanish deck: capture by pairing and sequences, shout your caídas and limpias, first to 40 points wins.
Leer la guía →Siete y media: the Spanish ancestor of blackjack explained
Siete y media is Spain's Christmas banking game: draw cards without passing seven and a half, face cards count half a point, and ties favour the bank.
Leer la guía →
