How to play truco: rules, card ranking and tips
Truco rules made simple: the Brazilian version with the turned card and manilhas, the Argentine version with envido, and how scoring works.
By Polarzinho ·
Truco is a loud, bluff-heavy card game played all over Brazil and Argentina. The first time someone yelled "TRUCO!" at me, I dropped my plate of bamboo.
There are two big versions: Brazilian truco (the paulista style) and Argentine truco. Here is how both work, as simply as possible.
The basics
- Players: two against two is most common; one against one and three against three also work.
- Deck: 40 cards. Remove the 8s, 9s, 10s and jokers (in Argentina, a Spanish deck without 8s and 9s).
- Each player gets 3 cards.
- Each hand has up to 3 rounds. Win 2 rounds to win the hand.
Brazilian truco (paulista)
Card ranking, weakest to strongest: 4, 5, 6, 7, Q, J, K, A, 2, 3.
After dealing, one card is turned face up: the "vira". The four cards of the next rank up become the manilhas, which beat everything else. If the vira is a 7, the queens are manilhas. Among manilhas, the suit decides: clubs (zap) beats hearts, which beats spades, which beats diamonds.
Every hand starts at 1 point. Calling truco raises it to 3; the other team can accept, fold (giving you 1 point) or raise to 6, then 9, then 12. The game goes to 12 points.
Argentine truco
Card ranking, strongest first: ace of swords, ace of clubs, 7 of swords, 7 of golds, the 3s, the 2s, the aces of cups and golds, the 12s, 11s and 10s, the 7s of cups and clubs, then the 6s, 5s and 4s.
A hand is worth 1 point. Truco makes it 2, retruco 3 and vale cuatro 4. Folding gives the other team the value before the call.
Envido is a side bet in the first round: if you have two cards of the same suit, your score is 20 plus their values (face cards count 0). The best envido wins 2 points. Games usually go to 30 points.
No deck nearby?
If you want a card game and have no deck, Solitaire Links is solitaire with word cards: move each card into its category until the table is clear.
PolarzinhoNobody yells truco in my ear here. Sometimes I yell it myself, out of nostalgia.
FAQ
What is the strongest card in truco?
In Brazilian truco, the zap (the manilha of clubs). In Argentine truco, the ace of swords.
How many points is a game of truco?
Brazilian truco goes to 12 points. Argentine truco usually goes to 30.
Is truco a bluffing game?
Yes. Calling truco with a weak hand and a straight face is half the fun.
Deal them in
Gather your friends, grab a deck and remember: whoever calls truco without a poker face has already lost.