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Truc

Truc is a Spanish card game played mainly in Valencia. There are games from the same broad family, such as Argentinean Truco whose origins would appear to be founded in Truc.

Truc deck

Aim of the game

The general aim of Truc is to win two Camas (hands).

Each Cama, in turn, consists of 24 points, which each team should keep adding up during the various hands. The Cama is divided in two parts: the first 12 points are called bad points, and the remaining 12, good points.

Deck of cards

It is played with a Spanish deck but only 22 of the 40 cards in the deck are used: the figures, the deuces, the ace of coins and cups are removed.

Number of players

Truc can be played by two, four, six or eight players (in teams in the last three cases). The most widespread version is between four players, as partners, which is the one explained here.

The 4 players compete against each other in pairs seated around a game table, alternately by pair.

Order and value of the cards

The Truco bet consists of playing for tricks. Given that each player holds three cards, there are three tricks per hand. Each player plays a card during their turn, and the highest card wins that trick, based on the following ranks for the cards:

  • Ace of Spades
  • Ace of Clubs
  • Seven of Spades
  • Seven of Coins
  • The Threes
  • False Sevens (7 of Cups, 7 of Clubs)
  • The Sixes
  • The Fives
  • The Fours
Truc card value

Gameplay

Start of the game and of each of the hands. In each hand, the deck is cut by the player on the dealer’s left and the dealer gives each player three cards, one at a time, dealt anticlockwise. The player on the dealer’s right is the “hand” (lead).

Gameplay. Start of the game and of each of the hands. In each hand, the deck is cut by the player on the dealer’s left and the dealer gives each player three cards, one at a time, dealt anticlockwise. The player on the dealer’s right is the “hand” (lead).

There are two different types of bet in Truc: Truco and Envido (truc and envit), that can be used to bet on each hand.

Truco is won by the pair who win two of the three tricks.

If the two opponents play a card of equal value, then the trick is a draw (parda).

If both pairs have won one trick apiece and the last trick is a draw, the winner is the pair who won the first trick. In the unlikely case that all three tricks are a draw, the pair who has the hand wins.

In those cases where the third trick is irrelevant, because the hand has already been won, this last trick does not have to be played

(When a pair have already won the first two tricks, or have won the first and had a draw in the second).

The player who wins the trick is the one who starts the next one.

Whoever wins the Truco gets one point toward the total score for the Cama. During the Truco phase any player can bid Truco against their opponents, being a bet to score two points instead of one. If the opponents do not accept the bet, whoever bid gets one point.

Whoever takes the Truco bet can in turn bid Retruco at any time, meaning that, if accepted, the winner of the trick gets three points. If the Retruco is not accepted, those who bid win two points. In turn, and as a last possible reply, whoever accepts the Retruco bid has the option to bid Quatre Val, which means that, if accepted, whoever wins the trick gets 4 points. If not accepted, whoever bid Quatre Val gets 3 points.

The Quatre Val bid can be bettered with the Joc Fora bid, which is a direct bet for the whole Cama.

If at any given moment the player whose turn it is to play a card realises that they have no chance of winning the trick, they have the option to go to the deck. In the two player game this ends the hand immediately, while in the four player game the partner continues to play the hand.

  • Envido

    Optionally, any player can bid Envido (envide) during their first turn in the hand, before making or responding to a Truco bet or playing their first card. Once the Envido is open, the Truco bid remains interrupted until the Envido is completely decided.

    Envido is a bet on which player has the highest score according to the following rules:

    • If there are two cards of the same suit, the number values for both are added together plus an additional 20 points. If there are no cards of the same suit, only the value of the highest ranking card is taken into account.
    • If there are three cards of the same suit, the value of the two highest ranking cards are added together plus an additional 20 points.
    • Whoever wins the Envido adds two points to the Cama that is being played. If there is no bet, the bid is not disputed and therefore no point is added.
    • The Envido (envide) can be raised with a Torne (two more points).
    • One special kind of bet is called the Falta; The rules to raise it and win it are the same as above, however, the bet made is for amount of points needed to win the Cama by the pair who is leading. If both pairs have bad points, they bet directly for a Cama, if not, the points that the winning pair need. The response to the Torne can only be the Falta.
Truc play
Truc play
    • If the event of a draw, the winner is the “hand”.
    • Occasionally some players bet any amount of points in the Envido, but the most frequent way of playing is to use the fixed bets mentioned here.
    • If the bet is not accepted, the betting pair receives one point, or the previously agreed amount if it was a reply.
    • If the Envido bet is accepted, the players go on to play the Truco phase before checking who the winner of the Envido is.
    • This check is made in the same order in which the bets are made: first the Enivdo and then the Truco. This order is important when both pairs are ending a Cama and close to the pre-set score, as the Cama is won by whoever is first to reach this score.

Differences with Argentinean truco

If you are familiar with Argentinean truco, these are the main differences between both games:

  • Cards: 22 cards are used instead of the 40 cards (figures, deuces and false aces are removed).
  • There is no Flor.
  • Although the bets are made in exactly the same order, the winner of the Envido is verified at the end, no after closing the bet.
  • There is no Royal Envido
  • The Chico is called the Cama, and is played up to 24 points.
  • Joc Fora: after Quatre Val, the Truco bet can be raised to the value of the whole Cama.

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