Partnership · Reviewed 2026-10-18
Manille card game: players, deck & rules
Win valuable tens and aces in a partnership game with compulsory overtaking and trumping.
Version used: Belgian Manillen; no optional contre
- Players
- 4
- Deck
- 32 cards: 7 through A in each suit
- Learning
- Moderate
Score points above 30 for your partnership and reach 101 first.
Need a term explained? Suit, rank, trick, trump and meld.
Deal and choose trump
- Partners sit opposite. Rank: 10, A, K, Q, J, 9, 8, 7. Deal eight each in packets of 3, 2, 3. Play clockwise.
- Dealer chooses trump or no-trump before partner looks at their hand. Left of dealer leads.
Follow the compulsory-play rules
- Follow suit. When an opponent is winning, beat that card if possible.
- If void, trump when an opponent is winning; overtrump if possible. With partner winning, trumping is optional. Do not undertrump unless your entire hand consists only of smaller trumps.
Win and count the eight tricks
Highest trump wins, otherwise highest led-suit card; winner leads. Count captured cards: 10=5, A=4, K=3, Q=2, J=1. The other cards are zero, for 60 total.
Score the deal and match
The team above 30 scores the excess. Double for no-trump, a previous 30-30 tie, or winning all tricks; relevant multipliers combine. A tied deal scores nothing and doubles the next. First team to 101 wins.
Worked example
You hold K♥ and 8♥ after an opponent leads Q♥. You must follow with K♥ because you can overtake; saving it by playing 8♥ is illegal. If your team later counts 38 card points, you earn 8 match points before any multiplier.
Two kinds of points
Keep the 60 card points separate from the running match score. Put the unusual rank order beside the score sheet: a ten beats an ace here. For the first deal, say aloud whether your partner or an opponent is currently winning before choosing a card.
Rule sources and version notes
Rules checked on 2026-10-18. The named version above is the one taught here. Examples and learning suggestions are written for this guide.