Cacheta / Pife – Rules

Play Cacheta / Pife against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Cacheta and Pife are Brazil's most popular rummy games – in families, in bars and at tournaments. Everyone holds nine cards and exchanges one card per turn. Nothing is melded until the end: whoever has all nine cards in combinations shows them all at once and wins the round.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 2 × 52 French cards without jokers.
• Set: three cards of the same rank in three different suits.
• Run: three or more consecutive cards of the same suit.
• Ace: usually low (A-2-3); K-A-2 is not a run.
• Face up and face down: Hands concealed, discard pile face up.

3. Preparation and start

1. Dealing: Everyone gets 9 cards.
2. Discard: One card is turned face up.
3. Start: The player left of the dealer begins.

Start example: You hold hearts 5-6-7, three kings of different suits and three loose cards. Two combinations are done – now you need the third.

4. Goal and winning

• A round: Whoever has all 9 cards combined after drawing and discards the tenth wins ("bateu").
• Game: The first to win the agreed number of rounds wins.

5. Play in detail

A turn.

1. Draw: from the stock or the top discard.
2. Discard: one card face up onto the discard pile.
3. Combinations stay in your hand.

Going out ("bater").

1. After drawing you hold 10 cards.
2. If 9 of them form valid combinations, discard the tenth and show the nine.
3. The round is won.

Example with Players 1 to 3. Three players.

1. Player 1 holds hearts 5-6-7, three kings, the 9 and 10 of spades and the 2 of diamonds.
2. Player 2 discards the queen of spades. It doesn't help Player 1 – he draws from the stock: the jack of spades.
3. Now Player 1 has spades 9-10-jack. He discards the 2 of diamonds.
4. All nine cards are combined: "Bati!" – round won.

6. Scoring

• Recording: Rounds won per player.
• Tournament form: Players are knocked out after losing several rounds.

7. Special rules and situations

• Identical cards: Two identical cards (from both packs) may not be in the same set.
• Stock empty: Shuffle the discards and play on – or the round is a draw.
• Curinga (variant): A turned-up card sets a wild rank.
• No wrapping: Runs over K-A-2 are usually not allowed.
• Common mistakes: going out too early; discarding cards the next player is collecting.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: 2 packs without jokers, 9 cards, game to 5 rounds won.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play against one to five computer opponents (standard: four players) to 5 or 3 rounds won.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Runs are flexible: They can grow at both ends.
2. Sets need three suits: Two identical kings of hearts count only once.
3. Watch the discards: What others pick up reveals their plans.
4. Don't feed: Don't discard what the next player needs.
5. Two waiting cards: A hand waiting for two different cards finishes faster.
6. Shed high loose cards early: They rarely help.
7. Check before going out: A false "bater" costs the round.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 104 cards (2 packs without jokers).
2. 9 cards each.
3. Turn up one discard.
4. Draw: stock or discard pile.
5. Discard one card.
6. Set: 3 of a rank in 3 suits.
7. Run: 3+ in one suit.
8. Combinations stay in hand.
9. All 9 combined: discard the tenth, "bater".
10. Win the agreed number of rounds to win.

11. Frequently asked questions

What does "bater" mean?

Going out – all nine cards are combined.

Do I have to meld combinations?

No, everything stays in hand until the end.

May a set contain two identical cards?

No, the three cards must be of different suits.

Is the ace high or low?

Usually low (A-2-3).

What happens if I go out wrongly?

The round is lost or there is a penalty.

How long does a game take?

About 30 to 60 minutes.

Origin & history

Brazilian rummy family, probably derived in the 20th century from European rummy games and Conquian descendants. Pife and Cacheta are often used synonymously; Cacheta is often the betting variant.