How to Play Truco: Rules of the Argentine Card Game
Truco is played with the 40-card Spanish deck, three cards each. Win two of the three tricks to win the hand. In the first trick you can call Envido for points on your best two cards of a suit, and at any time on your turn you can call Truco to raise the hand from 1 to 2 points (then Retruco 3, Vale cuatro 4). Your opponent answers Quiero (accept) or No quiero (refuse). First to 15 or 30 points wins.
The deck and the card ranking
The Spanish deck has four suits: swords (espadas), clubs (bastos), coins (oros) and cups (copas), numbered 1–7 and 10–12. Truco's ranking is special and must be learned:
| Rank | Cards |
|---|---|
| 1 (highest) | 1 of swords (ancho de espadas) |
| 2 | 1 of clubs (ancho de bastos) |
| 3 | 7 of swords |
| 4 | 7 of coins |
| 5 | all 3s |
| 6 | all 2s |
| 7 | 1 of coins, 1 of cups |
| 8 | all 12s |
| 9 | all 11s |
| 10 | all 10s |
| 11 | 7 of clubs, 7 of cups |
| 12 | all 6s |
| 13 | all 5s |
| 14 (lowest) | all 4s |
Play Truco online against Hops or a friend; the cards are drawn with their suits so you learn the order as you play.
Playing a hand
- Each player gets three cards. The player who didn't deal (the mano) leads.
- Each trick, both play one card; the higher card wins.
- Win two tricks to win the hand.
- Ties: if the first trick ties, the second decides; if you win the first and the second ties, you win; if all three tie, the mano wins.
Envido
Only in the first trick, before you play your card, you may call Envido. If accepted, both show their envido count and the higher wins (a tie goes to the mano).
| Your cards | Envido |
|---|---|
| 7 and 6 of swords + any | 33 (the best) |
| 5 and 2 of coins + any | 27 |
| 12 and 11 of cups + any | 20 (figures count 0) |
| 3, 7 and 12 of different suits | 7 (highest single card) |
| Call | If accepted | If refused |
|---|---|---|
| Envido | 2 | 1 |
| Envido + Envido | 4 | 2 |
| Real envido | 3 more | what came before |
| Falta envido | what the leader needs to win | what came before |
Truco
On your turn you may call Truco: the hand is now worth 2. The other player answers Quiero, No quiero (you score 1 and the hand ends), or raises to Retruco (3). The original caller may then raise to Vale cuatro (4). Only the side that didn't make the last raise can raise next.
Envido goes first: if your opponent calls Truco during the first trick, you can still answer with Envido; the Truco waits until the Envido is settled.
Folding
You may fold (go to the deck, irse al mazo) on your turn: your opponent scores what the hand is worth. Folding in the first trick before any Envido gives them one more point.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best card in Truco?
The 1 of swords (ancho de espadas), then the 1 of clubs, the 7 of swords and the 7 of coins.
How do you count envido?
Two cards of the same suit: 20 plus their numbers (10, 11 and 12 count 0). Without two of a suit, your highest card.
How many points is a game of Truco?
Usually 30 (two halves of 15, 'malas' and 'buenas'). GameLake lets you play to 15 or 30.
Is Truco the same in Brazil?
No. Brazilian Truco (Paulista or Mineiro) uses a different deck and a turning card. GameLake plays the Argentine rules.