Sueca Rules: The Portuguese National Card Game

Sueca is a fast-paced, popular card game originating from Portugal, Brazil, and Angola. It is widely played in parks, coffee houses, and among students due to its simplicity and excitement. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to play Sueca, its scoring, common variations, and where to find the necessary materials.

Game Overview

Sueca is a point-trick game played by four players in teams, with partners sitting opposite each other. The game requires a deck of 40 cards (a standard 52-card deck with the 8s, 9s, and 10s removed). The unique ranking of the cards, from high to low, is as follows: ace, 7, king, jack, queen, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The seven, known as the "manilha," holds the second-highest rank in each suit, while the jack beats the queen.

Objective

The objective of Sueca is to win tricks containing more than half the card points. The team that accumulates more than 60 card points in a game scores one game. The first team to score four games wins the rubber.

Setup

Players take turns to deal, with the first dealer chosen randomly, and the turn to deal passing to the right after each hand. The player to the dealer's right shuffles the cards, and the player to the dealer's left cuts. The dealer then gives 10 cards to each player, beginning with the player to the dealer's left, going around clockwise, and ending with the dealer. The bottom card of the deck, which belongs to the dealer, is turned face up, and its suit becomes trumps.

Alternatively, the dealer can choose to deal the first ten cards to themselves, the next ten to the player to their right, and so on counter-clockwise. In this case, the dealer's first card (the top card of the deck after the cut) is turned up and determines the trump suit.

How to Play

The player to the right of the dealer leads to the first trick. Players must follow suit if they can. A player who has no card of the suit led may play any card. If any cards of the trump suit are played to a trick, the highest trump wins. Otherwise, the trick is won by the highest card of the suit led. The winner of each trick leads to the next. No signals between partners are permitted.

Scoring and End of Game

The team that takes more than 60 card points in tricks scores one game. If a team takes 91 or more card points in tricks on one deal, they score two games instead of one. If they take all the tricks, they score four games and thus win the rubber immediately. This is known as "dar uma bandeira." Taking 120 points but losing a trick (with no counting cards in it) is not sufficient to dar un bandiera. In this case, the winning team would just score 2 games for having more than 90 points.

If there is a tie, both teams taking exactly 60 card points in tricks, no one scores, but the next hand is worth an extra game - i.e., the winners will score two games if they take 61–90 card points; three games if they take 91 or more. If the next game is another tie, the following hand would be worth two extra games - i.e., at least three games to the winners.

Common Variations

In Brazil, the game is normally played clockwise rather than counter-clockwise. Some players, at least in Brazil, play that if the first player (the one who cut the cards) has less than 10 points in hand before the first lead, they can "spoil" (melar) the deal. The cards are thrown in, there is no score, and the cards are shuffled, cut, and dealt again by the same dealer.

Some players play that the penalty for a revoke (failing to follow suit when able to do so) is that the offending team loses two games. In the Azores, Sueca is normally played using the 10 as the manilha (second-highest card) rather than the 7.

Where to Get the Game

jeu de 52 cartes on Amazon

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

1. Failing to follow suit when possible.
2. Signaling to partners during the game.
3. Not paying attention to the manilha and its importance.
4. Misunderstanding the scoring system and the concept of "dar uma bandeira."

FAQ

1. Q: Can I use a standard 52-card deck to play Sueca? A: No, Sueca requires a deck of 40 cards, with the 8s, 9s, and 10s removed.

2. Q: What is the manilha in Sueca? A: The manilha is the second-highest card in each suit, usually the 7.

3. Q: How many games are needed to win a rubber in Sueca? A: A rubber in Sueca is won when a team scores four games.

4. Q: What happens if both teams tie in a game of Sueca? A: If both teams tie, the next hand is worth an extra game - i.e., the winners will score two games if they take 61–90 card points; three games if they take 91 or more.

5. Q: Can I play Sueca online? A: Yes, you can play Sueca online at Suecalandia or Conecta Games. You can also download a freeware Sueca program from Thanos Card Games.