01-018 Spanish-suited Playing Cards

01-018
Spanish-suited Playing Cards

If the standard 52-card deck of French-suited playing cards is the most common deck of playing cards used today, then Spanish-suited cards are the second. Spanish-suited cards are used in Spain, southern Italy, parts of France, Hispanic America, North Africa, and the Philippines. They are also called Latin-suited cards.

Compare to the standard 52-card deck, Spanish deck has less number of cards. Most of the Spanish decks only come with 40 cards, with pip cards in 4 suits valued from 1 to 7, and three face cards with value 10, 11 & 12. Some packs have 48 cards, in which pip cards of values 8 & 9 are also included. Some even follow the English speaking world and included 2 jokers.

Spanish-suited cards

The suits are also difference. Instead of Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades, we have Swords, Cups, Coins & Clubs here. Cards are normally single headed, which is another major differences from the French-suit.

The Latin suits -- Swords, Cups, Coins & Clubs

Sota, similar to Jack

Caballo, or Knight

Rey, or King

Spanish-suited cards are also standard decks. Normally, they include no instructions as all people should know how to play cards.

Specifications

Card size	Not specific, down to the printer.
Deck size	40, 48 or 50 cards
# of suits	4 – Swords, Cups, Coins & Clubs + Jokers (in some packs)
Details	For each suit, pip cards are valued from 1 to 7, 10, 11 & 12. Some packs include values 8 & 9. 10, 11 & 12 are face cards which represent Sota (similar to the Jack/Knave), the Caballo (Knight), and the Rey (King). 12 is the highest card. There is no number 13. Some packs also include 2 Jokers.

The game Play

I have not played these cards with my kids yet. I am still looking for a game that can be played with Spanish cards. But I am happy to include this pack in my card game collection. If my collection is not completed without a Standard 52-card deck, then it is also not completed without a pack of Spanish-suited cards.

Where to buy?

Amazon.

Playing cards are in public domain. So technically everyone can print their own playing cards. However, if you want to own a copy of Spanish-suited cards, I would recommend to go for Fournier. Naipes Heraclio Fournier has been printing cards since 1870. Their cards are in excellent quality and designs are very tradition. Fournier cards are available from Amazon.

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