Truco Strategy: Envido, Truco and When to Bluff
Good Truco strategy starts with the numbers: call Envido with 27 or more and accept with 28 or more (with less, a No quiero costs only 1). Call Truco when you hold two of the top cards (the aces of swords or clubs, the 7s of swords or coins, or 3s). Lead the first trick with a middle card, save your best for the second, and bluff now and then so your calls stay believable.
Envido by the numbers
| Your envido | Call it? | Accept it? |
|---|---|---|
| 31–33 | Yes, consider Real envido | Always |
| 28–30 | Yes | Yes |
| 26–27 | Sometimes, as the mano | Risky |
| 25 or less | Only as a bluff | No quiero |
Count your envido the moment the cards land. You can only call it before you play your first card.
When to call Truco
- Two top cards (ace of swords, ace of clubs, 7 of swords, 7 of coins, or 3s): call Truco early.
- One top card and a trick won: call after the first trick.
- Nothing above a 2: don't call; refuse their Truco unless you've already won a trick.
Which card to lead
Lead the first trick with a middle card (a 2 or a 3 if you have a better card). If it wins, you're one trick from the hand; if it loses, you still hold your best card for the second trick. Throwing your ace of swords first wins one trick but leaves you weak for the next two.
Bluffing
Truco is a bluffing game. If you only ever call with strong cards, a good player simply refuses. Call a Truco with a weak hand once in a while, especially after winning the first trick, when it looks natural. Refusing costs your opponent just 1 point, so bluffs are cheap when the hand is worth little.
Practise against Hops on Hard in Truco: he bluffs a little too. Press Teach me for a suggested card or call and the reason.
Frequently asked questions
What envido is good enough to accept?
28 or more is a safe Quiero; with 25 or less, No quiero costs only a point.
When should I call Truco?
With two top cards, or after winning the first trick with a strong card still in hand.
Should I play my best card first?
Usually not. Lead a middle card and keep your best for the second trick.
Does bluffing work in Truco?
Yes, if you do it rarely. A call that might be a bluff makes your real calls get accepted more often.