Official Rules

The definitive guide to rules and scoring for Gran Truco Argentino.

General Concepts

Truco is a card game of cunning and strategy. The main goal is to be the first team to reach 15 or 30 points (as agreed).

Malas (Bad)

The first 15 points of the match. You are in the "lower" half of the scoreboard.

Buenas (Good)

Points from 16 to 30. When you enter "Buenas", you are close to winning.

Card Hierarchy (Highest to Lowest)

  • 1 of Swords (El Macho)
  • 1 of Clubs (El Hembra)
  • 7 of Swords
  • 7 of Coins (Gold)
  • 3s (Any suit)
  • 2s (Any suit)
  • False 1s (Cups and Coins)
  • 12s (Kings)
  • 11s (Knights)
  • 10s (Knaves/Jacks)
  • False 7s (Cups and Clubs)
  • 6s, 5s, 4s (The lowest)

The Envido

It is the first bet of the hand. It is based on summing the points of two cards of the same suit. It must be called before playing the first card.

Calculation: Sum the value of the two cards + 20 points. (Face cards 10, 11, and 12 are worth 0).
Example: 7 of Cups + 6 of Cups = 7 + 6 + 20 = 33 points (The maximum).

Points to the Winner

Envido

2 Pts

Basic initial bet. If declined, the caller wins 1 pt.

Real Envido

3 Pts

Stronger bet. Can be called directly or as a response.

Falta Envido

Match / Remainder

If the leader wins, they win the match. If the trailer wins, they get points needed by leader to win.

Betting Chains

Points when answering "Quiero" (Accepted) or "No Quiero" (Declined - refusing the last raise):

Bet Sequence Accepted Declined
Envido + Envido 4 Pts 2 Pts
Envido + Real Envido 5 Pts 2 Pts
Envido + Falta Envido (Match) 2 Pts
Real Envido + Falta Envido (Match) 3 Pts
Envido + Envido + Real Envido 7 Pts 4 Pts
... + Falta Envido (Match) Pts accumulated before Falta

La Flor (Optional)

Having three cards of the same suit. If played with Flor, it cancels out Envido.

Flor Simple

3 Pts

Called directly when held. Requires no acceptance (unless rival also has it).

Contra Flor

6 Pts

Flower duel. Winner takes 6. If declined, 4 for the caller.

The Truco

The dispute for the cards played on the table. Played as best of 3 rounds.

Truco

2 Pts

Initial bet. If "No Quiero" (Decline), winner gets 1 pt.

Retruco

3 Pts

Response to Truco. If "No Quiero", winner gets 2 pts.

Vale Cuatro

4 Pts

Max bet of Truco. If "No Quiero", winner gets 3 pts.

Going to the Deck (Fold)

A player can abandon the hand if they see they cannot win.

  • If you fold during play (no pending bets): Rival wins 1 point (or current Truco value).
  • If you fold facing a bet (e.g., they call "Truco"): Equivalent to saying "No Quiero".
  • First hand: If you fold before anything is called (fearing Envido), rival gets 2 points (1 envido + 1 truco).