A trip to Seville left me with an unexpected souvenir: a deck of Spanish playing cards. At first, I was annoyed - I’d meant to buy a regular deck. But that tiny mistake opened the door to a whole new world of history, symbolism, and classic Spanish card games that are genuinely fun to play with friends.

If you’ve ever picked up a Baraja Española and wondered how it works, this guide will walk you through the basics - plus four great games you can start playing right away.

What Makes the Baraja Española Different?

Most of us are used to the international deck - which, fun fact, is actually French in origin. The Spanish deck is a completely different system with its own suits, structure, and face cards.

🃏 How Many Cards Are There?

A Baraja Española comes in two versions:

• 40‑card deck (most common for games)
• 48‑card deck (includes 8s and 9s)

If a game requires 40 cards, simply remove the 8s and 9s.
If it requires 48, keep them in.

🪙 The Four Suits

Spanish suits aren’t hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. Instead, you get:

• Oros (Coins) - wealth
• Copas (Cups) - faith and spirituality
• Espadas (Swords) - power and authority
• Bastos (Clubs) - strength and the working class

If you want a deck that feels authentic and durable, the Fournier Nº1 Spanish Deck is a classic choice and widely used in Spain: https://amzn.to/4qU5A7l You would also be support the website by purchasing through this link and for that I am very grateful.

👑 Face Cards (And the Missing Ace)

Instead of Jack-Queen-King, the Spanish deck uses:

• Sota (10) - the Page (similar to a Jack)
• Caballo (11) - the Knight (unique to Spanish cards)
• Rey (12) - the King

There’s no Ace - the “1” card fills that role.

Four Great Games You Can Play With Spanish Cards 🎉

1. Brisca (2-6 players)

A fast, trick‑taking game where the goal is to collect valuable cards.

Card Values

• 3 → 10 points
• 12 (Rey) → 4 points
• 11 (Caballo) → 3 points
• 10 (Sota) → 2 points
• All others → 0 points

Setup

• Use a 40‑card deck (remove 8s and 9s)
• Deal 3 cards to each player
• Flip one card to reveal the trump suit
• Place the rest of the deck face‑down

Gameplay

• Players don’t need to follow suit
• Highest card of the leading suit wins unless a trump is played
• After each trick, players draw a new card (winner draws first)

End of Round

When the deck runs out, count your points. Highest score wins.

2. Tute (2-4 players)

Another trick‑taking game, but with deeper strategy and a special instant‑win rule.

Card Values

• 12 (Rey) → 10 points
• 11 (Caballo) → 5 points
• 10 (Sota) → 2 points
• Others → 0 points

Setup

• Use a 40‑card deck
• Deal 8 cards to each player
• Flip the first card of the draw pile to reveal the trump suit

Gameplay

• Players must follow suit if possible
• Trump cards beat all other suits
• Highest trump wins the trick

Special Rule: Tute de Reyes

If you win a trick containing both the Rey and Caballo of the same suit, you can declare Tute and win instantly.

Otherwise, play until all cards are used and count points.

3. Chinchón (2-6 players)

A rummy‑style game where players form sets and runs. It’s easy to learn and surprisingly addictive.

Setup

• Use a 48‑card deck (keep 8s and 9s)
• Deal 7 cards to each player
• Start a draw pile and a discard pile

Your Turn

• Draw from the deck or take the top discard
• Discard one card
• Form sets (same rank) or runs (same suit, consecutive numbers)

Scoring

Remaining cards count as penalty points:

• 1-9 → face value
• 10 (Sota) → 2 points
• 11 (Caballo) → 3 points
• 12 (Rey) → 4 points

Instant Win

A Chinchón - seven consecutive cards of the same suit - ends the game immediately.

4. Escoba (2-4 players)

A lively game where you capture cards from the table by making totals of 15.

Setup

• Use a 40‑card deck
• Deal 3 cards to each player
• Place 4 cards face‑up on the table

Card Values

• 1-7 → face value
• 10 (Sota) → 2 points
• 11 (Caballo) → 3 points
• 12 (Rey) → 4 points

Important: For making 15, the 10 counts as 10, not 2.

Escoba!

If you clear the entire table in one move, that’s an escoba (“broom”) and earns an extra point.

End of Round Scoring

• 1 point per escoba
• 1 point for most cards
• 1 point for most oros
• 1 point for the 7 of oros (the famous siete de oros)
• 1 point for most sevens

Final Thoughts

What started as a simple mix‑up turned into a genuinely fun discovery. The Baraja Española has its own rhythm, its own personality, and a set of games that are perfect for family nights, travel, or lazy afternoons.

If you’re picking up a deck for the first time, don’t worry - I felt overwhelmed too. That’s why I put together this article together for you. Grab a deck, gather some friends, and try a couple of these games. You’ll be surprised how quickly they become your favourites.