Rules for card and table games
Complete, direct rules with setup, each player's turn, scoring and the end of the game.
Truco
Turn-up card, manilhas and bold raises up to 12 points.
Buraco
Runs, canastras and the spare hand, step by step.
Tranca
Buraco with red 3s, black 3s and a locked pile.
Cacheta
Nine cards, three melds and a new wild card every round.
Pife
Draw, discard and make three melds before the others.
Rouba-monte
Match cards and steal the other players' piles.
Mau-Mau
Match the suit or rank and get rid of your cards.
Sueca
Partner trick-taking game: score more than 60.
Burro
Follow suit and do not be the last with cards.
Generala
Five dice, three rolls and a score sheet.
Rules explained from start to finish
Each page teaches one game in full: what you need to play, how to deal the cards, what each player does on a turn, how to count points and when the game ends. Many games change from one region to another. That is why each page says which variant it describes and points out the most common differences.
Frequently asked questions
Do the rules apply everywhere?
Popular card games have regional variations. Each page says which variant it describes. Before you start, agree on the house rules with the table.
Do I need any special material?
Almost every game uses a standard 52-card deck. Each page lists the material right at the start.
Can I play any of these games on this site?
Board games, solitaire and other classics are in the online games section. The rules pages point to the games and boards on the site that go with each one.