Trick-taking · Reviewed 2026-10-17

Manni card game: players, deck & rules

An Icelandic trick-taking game with a spare hand. Setup notes and a link to the documented rules.

What to expect

In basic Manni, each player receives 12 cards and another 12 form the spare hand. Players follow suit when they can. The trump suit rotates between deals; local variants can change both the deck and the contract.

Sources: Pagat: Manni

Before dealing

Players: 3. Deck: 48 cards; remove the twos. Check the linked rules for any local changes to the deal or scoring.

Sources: Pagat: Manni

Using the spare hand

Starting to the dealer’s left and moving clockwise, a player may exchange their entire hand for the 12-card Manni. Once someone exchanges, the others keep their original hands. The spare hand stays unseen if everyone passes.

Sources: Pagat: Manni