Truco

About the game

Brazilian Truco in two flavors: Paulista, where the vira sets the manilhas each hand, and Mineiro, with the old fixed manilhas. Team up with a computer partner against two opponents to 12 points: call truco, accept, fold or raise to seis, nove and doze, play cards face down to hide your hand, and decide the hand of eleven seeing your partner's cards. Or play one on one against the computer. Right in the browser.

How to play Truco

1. Truco uses a 40-card deck (no 8s, 9s or 10s). Each hand has up to three rounds: whoever wins two takes the hand, worth 1 point. The match goes to 12.
2. Cards rank from weakest to strongest 4, 5, 6, 7, Q, J, K, A, 2, 3. Above them are the manilhas, the trump cards.
3. Paulista rules: the card turned up on the table (the vira) sets the manilhas, the four cards right above it. Among the manilhas the suits rank diamonds, spades, hearts and clubs (the zap).
4. Mineiro rules: no vira, and fixed manilhas: zap (4 of clubs), 7 of hearts, ace of spades and 7 of diamonds.
5. On your turn, call truco and the hand is worth 3. The other side accepts, folds (and you take what it was worth) or raises to six, nine and twelve.
6. Hand of eleven: a side that reaches 11 sees the partner's cards and decides to play (for 3) or fold. Eleven to eleven is the iron hand, played blind by everyone.

Tips

• Save your strongest card for the round that decides the hand. Winning the first round also breaks a later tie.
• Calling truco with a weak hand is a bluff, and sometimes it works: the computer players fold when they think they will lose.
• From the second round on, play a card face down to hide your hand when it would not change anything.
• On a hand of eleven, look at your partner's cards before deciding: folding costs only 1 point.

Frequently asked questions

Is this online truco free?

Yes. Truco on Jogue.Games is free, with no sign-up and no download: play right in your browser, on a computer or a phone.

Can I play both Paulista and Mineiro truco?

Yes. You pick the rules when you start: Paulista, where the vira sets the manilhas each hand, or Mineiro, with fixed manilhas.

Do I play with a partner or alone?

Both. With a partner, you and Zeca face Tião and Dito. You can also play one on one against the computer.

Can the computer players see my cards?

No. They work with what is on the table, bluff now and then and never peek at your hand.