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Blog
Stories about the Spanish deck, the rules explained plainly, details about our decks and project news.




Rules and concepts ·
What is a discard in card games?
Discarding involves getting rid of cards that do not help improve your hand. We explain how it works in Chinchón (a Rummy-style game), Mus (a popular bluffing game), and others, and how to read your opponents' discards.
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Spanish history and leisure ·
Charles III, Monopolies and Card Smuggling
In the 18th century, playing cards were State business. Only official decks were valid, sparking a boom in smuggling. Here is how it worked.
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Playing cards ·
The first playing card factories in Spain
Before the major factories, there were family workshops, guilds, and royal monopolies. Discover where and how cards were made in Spain.
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Playing cards ·
What was the Spanish deck like before Fournier?
Before 1889, there was no single baraja española (Spanish deck), but many. Each workshop had its own style. We explore what those early cards were like.
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Spanish deck ·
How many types of Spanish decks exist?
40 cards, 48, 52, 36... The Spanish deck has more versions than you think. We explain what each one is used for.
Read the articleYou might also like the rules of each game and the illustrated decks.