Manille – Rules
Play Manille against the computer
1. Overview
| Name | Manille |
| Type | Trick-taking game with trumps and partners |
| Players | 4, two teams, partners opposite |
| Recommended age | 10 and up |
| Playing time | one deal 4–6 minutes; a game to 101 points 45–75 minutes |
| Material | 32 cards (7 to ace), pen and paper |
| Goal | Take more than half of the 60 points as a team and be first to 101 points. |
| Difficulty | easy to medium |
What is it about? Manille is a popular pub and family game in Belgium (especially Flanders) and northern France. The ten – the “manille” – is the highest card of each suit. The dealer chooses trumps or plays without trumps, and the opponents may double. One strict rule matters: if an opponent holds the trick, you must beat it or trump.
2. Cards and material
- Pack: 32 French cards: 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen, king, ace in four suits.
- Ranking and points (high → low):
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| 10 (manille) | 5 |
| Ace (manillon) | 4 |
| King | 3 |
| Queen | 2 |
| Jack | 1 |
| 9, 8, 7 | 0 |
- Total: 60 points (15 per suit).
- Face up and face down: Hands concealed, tricks face down with the team.
3. Preparation and start
- Deal: Everyone gets 8 cards (in packets of 4 or 2).
- Trumps: The dealer names the trump suit – or says “no trumps” (the deal then counts double).
- Doubling: The opponents may double (“ik ga mee”), the dealer's team may redouble (“ik ga tegen”).
- Start: The player left of the dealer leads.
Start example: Player 1 deals and holds the 10 and ace of hearts. He names hearts as trumps. Player 3 doubles; Player 1 doesn't redouble.
4. Goal and winning
- A deal: The team with more than 30 points wins.
- Score: points above 30 (e.g. 38 points = 8), times any doublings.
- 30 : 30: Nobody scores; the next deal counts double.
- Game: The first team to 101 points wins.
5. Play in detail
A trick.
- The leader plays any card.
- Follow suit if possible.
- If an opponent holds the trick, you must beat it (higher card of the suit) – if you can't follow, you must trump (or over-trump).
- If your partner holds the trick, you may follow or discard freely.
- The highest trump wins, otherwise the highest card of the suit led.
Example with Players 1 to 4. Hearts are trumps. Players 1 and 4 against Players 2 and 3. Order: Player 2, 4, 3, 1.
- Player 2 leads the king of spades. Player 4 has spades and must beat Player 2: ace of spades.
- Player 3 (Player 2's partner) can't beat the ace and plays the 7 of spades.
- Now Player 1's partner, Player 4, holds the trick – Player 1 may play a small card and plays the 8 of spades.
- Trick to Player 4: king 3 + 7 0 + ace 4 + 8 0 = 7 points.
6. Scoring
| Result | Points |
|---|---|
| More than 30 points | points − 30 |
| No trumps | × 2 |
| Doubled / redoubled | × 2 / × 4 |
| All tricks | × 2 |
| 30 : 30 | 0, next deal × 2 |
- Recording: “We” and “They”.
- End: First team to 101 points.
7. Special rules and situations
- Duty against opponents: The duty to beat or trump only applies when an opponent is winning.
- No trumps: Then you only follow and beat; if you can't follow, you discard.
- Doublings: First the opponents, then the dealer's team – once each.
- Revoke: Breaking the rules loses the deal with all 60 points.
- Common mistakes: underestimating the ten; overtaking your partner; forgetting that no trumps counts double.
8. Variants
Standard in this description: the dealer names trumps, no trumps doubles, doubling allowed, game to 101.
| Variant | What changes | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| 51 points | Shorter game. | little time |
| Manille muette | Partners may not signal. | experts |
| Three players | A “dead” partner (dummy) lies face up. | three players |
| No doubling | No multipliers. | beginners |
When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play with the player opposite as your partner to 101 or 51 points; doubling and “no trumps” are available.
9. Tips for beginners
- Ten and ace: 9 points together – protect them.
- Trumps with the manille: As dealer choose the suit where you hold the ten.
- No trumps with many tens: It counts double.
- Use the duty to beat: Lead suits where opponents must sacrifice their tens.
- Feed your partner: When they hold the trick, add points.
- Double with care: Only with good cards.
- Keep count: 31 points are enough to win.
10. Summary in 10 steps
- 32 cards, two teams, 8 cards each.
- Ranking: 10, ace, king, queen, jack, 9, 8, 7.
- The dealer names trumps or no trumps (double).
- Opponents and dealer's team may double.
- Left of the dealer leads.
- Follow suit.
- Opponent winning: beat it or trump.
- Points: 10 = 5, A = 4, K = 3, Q = 2, J = 1.
- More than 30 points: points − 30 (× multipliers).
- First team to 101 points wins.
11. Frequently asked questions
Why is the ten the highest card?
That's Manille: the ten is called the “manille” and even beats the ace.
Must I beat my partner?
No. The duty to beat only applies when an opponent holds the trick.
What does “no trumps” bring?
The deal counts double.
What happens at 30 : 30?
Nobody scores, the next deal counts double.
How many points are there?
60 – 15 in each suit.
How long does a game take?
To 101 points about 45 to 75 minutes.
Origin & history
Manille was France's 'national game' from about 1870 to 1940, before Belote replaced it. In Belgium, especially in Flanders, it is still played today as Manillen in clubs and competitions. Typically the ten (Manille) is the highest card.