Learn Truco

The deck

Truco uses the Spanish deck: 40 cards in four suits.

• Each suit runs 1 to 7, then 10, 11 and 12.
• There are no 8s and no 9s.
• 10, 11 and 12 are the picture cards.
• Suit trick: count the breaks in the frame line. None is Coins, one is Cups, two is Swords, three is Clubs.

The goal

First to 30 points wins.

• Argentines keep score with matches. Four make a square, the fifth crosses it. One square is 5 points.
• The first 15 points are called las malas, the next 15 las buenas. They are just names for the two halves.
• Want a short game? Play to 15.

The deal

Everyone gets 3 cards, one at a time.

• The player next to the dealer is the mano. The mano plays first, and wins when envido points tie or when all three rounds tie.
• Each new hand, the deal moves one seat, and so does the mano.
• Play one against one, or two against two as partners.

Which card wins

Four special cards beat everything. After them, only the number matters. The suit doesn't.

• The 1 of Swords is the boss. Everyone calls it el ancho de espadas.
• Then the 1 of Clubs, the 7 of Swords and the 7 of Coins.
• Then every 3, every 2, the other two aces, 12, 11, 10, the other 7s, 6, 5 and 4.
• Same rank? It's a tie. In Spanish: parda.

Quick test

Tap the card that wins. Same rank? Tap the tie.

• Top four: 1 of Swords, 1 of Clubs, 7 of Swords, 7 of Coins.
• Then: 3, 2, the other aces, 12, 11, 10, 7, 6, 5, 4.
• Get five in a row and you know the ladder.

One hand, three rounds

Each hand is best of three. Play one card per round. Win two rounds and you win the hand.

• The higher card wins the round.
• The winner of a round plays first in the next one.

When a round ties

A tied round (parda) counts for nobody.

• If it's still level, the first round someone won decides.
• Three ties in a row? The mano wins.
• After a tied round, the same player plays first again.
• Tap the rounds to change who won them, and see who takes the hand.

Truco: raise the stakes

A hand is worth 1 point. On your turn, shout ¡Truco! to make it worth more.

• Your rival answers ¡Quiero! (I accept), No quiero (I give up the hand), or raises.
• Only the player who last said Quiero can raise next.
• You can bluff. Calling truco with bad cards is half the fun.

Your answer

Your rival just shouted ¡Truco! Pick an answer and see what happens.

• ¡Quiero! plays on for 2 points.
• No quiero ends the hand. They score 1.
• ¡Quiero retruco! accepts and raises to 3.

Envido: count your points

A second bet, on two cards of the same suit. It's played early: before you play your first card.

• Two cards of one suit: add them up, plus 20.
• 10, 11 and 12 count as zero.
• No two cards of one suit? Your envido is your highest card.
• Highest envido wins. A tie goes to the mano.
• Playing without flor? Three cards of one suit: add the best two, plus 20.

Envido: the bets

Call envido, real envido or falta envido. Your rival accepts, refuses or raises.

• Each row is a back-and-forth: one player calls, the other raises.
• Refused? The caller takes 1. If a raise is refused, whoever raised takes what the calls before it were worth.
• Falta envido: the winner takes what the leader still needs to win the game.

El envido está primero: if your rival shouts truco in the first round, you may answer with envido first. The envido is settled, then the truco.

Flor: three of a suit

All three cards in one suit is a flor (flower). Shout ¡Flor! before you play your first card. It scores 3 points and cancels the envido.

• Both players have one? Compare them: add the three cards, plus 20. The best is 5, 6 and 7: 38.
• If you have one, you must say it. Hiding it is against the rules.
• Many tables play without flor. Agree before you start: ¿con flor o sin flor?

Me voy al mazo

Bad cards and no bluff in you? On your turn, say me voy al mazo (I go to the deck) and drop your cards.

• Your rival takes what the hand is worth right now: 1 point, or the truco you already accepted.
• Folding early saves points when your rival is betting big.

House rule at many tables: fold in the first round before any envido, and your rival takes 2.

A whole hand

One hand from start to finish, in the order things happen.

• Deal 3 cards each.
• Before your first card: flor or envido. Once you play a card, that chance is gone.
• On your turn, at any point: truco.
• Play the three rounds, then add up the points.

Playing in pairs

Four players, two teams. Partners sit across from each other.

• Play goes to the right, counter-clockwise.
• The highest of the four cards wins the round for its team.
• For envido, each team counts its best hand.
• If two partners tie for the highest card, their team still wins the round.

Secret signals

Partners tell each other their best cards with their faces. The rivals are watching too, so be quick.

• Tap a card to see its signal.

Signals change from table to table. These are the most common ones.

Play a game

You against the computer. Tap a card to play it. Tap a call to shout it.

Something unclear? Write to me