Manni – Rules
Play Manni against the computer
1. Quick overview
| Name | Manni (also: Mannaspil) |
| Game type | Trick-taking game with trumps for three |
| Players | 3 |
| Recommended age | 10 and up |
| Duration | one game 30–45 minutes |
| Material | 48 cards (French deck without twos), paper and pencil |
| Goal | Take as many tricks above four as possible; be first to 10 points. |
| Difficulty | easy to medium |
What is it about? Manni is an Icelandic trick-taking game. Everyone has 12 cards, twelve more lie face down in the middle as the “Manni”. If you do not trust your hand, you may swap it unseen for the Manni. Then you play for tricks – every trick above four counts.
2. Cards and material
- Deck: 52 French cards with the four twos removed (48 cards).
- Ranking (high → low): A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3.
- Trumps change every round: hearts, spades, diamonds, clubs, then again.
3. Setup and start
- Remove the twos from the deck and shuffle.
- The dealer deals clockwise in packets of four until everyone has 12 cards.
- The remaining 12 cards form the face-down Manni.
- The trump suit of the round is fixed (round 1 hearts, 2 spades, 3 diamonds, 4 clubs …).
4. Goal and winning
- Each round: as many tricks above four as possible.
- Game: If after a round someone has 10 or more points, the player with the most points wins.
5. Play in detail
Swap.
- The player to the dealer’s left may swap their 12 cards unseen for the Manni.
- If they decline, the right passes on clockwise.
- As soon as someone swaps, the swap is over. If nobody swaps, the Manni stays unseen.
Tricks.
- The player to the dealer’s left leads.
- Follow suit if possible; otherwise you may play any card.
- The trick goes to the highest trump, otherwise to the highest card of the suit led.
- The winner of the trick leads next.
Example. Spades are trumps. Player 1 leads the King of hearts, Player 2 has no hearts and trumps with the 3 of spades, Player 3 throws the Ace of hearts. Player 2 wins the trick with the trump.
6. Scoring
| Tricks in a round | Points |
|---|---|
| 0–4 | 0 |
| 5 | 1 |
| 6 | 2 |
| each further trick | +1 |
7. Special rules and important situations
- Cards given away in the swap are not looked at again.
- Tie at the end: another round is played.
8. Variants
| Variant | What changes? | For whom? |
|---|---|---|
| Trjámann | Contracts (Nullo, Grand, Spades, suit), 16 cards per player. | Intermediate |
| Hornafjarðarmanni | Trumps and contract by cutting, swap with 16 Manni cards. | Variety |
| Laugavatnsmanni | Six contracts over 18 rounds. | Tournament players |
On cardgames.zone you play the basic form against two computer opponents or online with friends – up to 5, 10 or 15 points.
9. Tips for beginners
- Count trumps: With four or more trumps a swap rarely pays.
- Aces are safe: Play them early, before someone is void.
- Swap a weak hand: On average the Manni is as good as any other hand.
10. Summary in 10 steps
- Remove the twos, shuffle 48 cards.
- Everyone gets 12 cards in packets of four.
- 12 cards as the Manni in the middle.
- Trumps: hearts, spades, diamonds, clubs in turn.
- In turn, one player may swap unseen with the Manni.
- The player left of the dealer leads.
- Follow suit, otherwise free.
- Highest trump or highest card wins.
- Each trick above four = 1 point.
- From 10 points the best player wins.
11. Frequently asked questions
May I look at the Manni before swapping?
No, the swap is made unseen.
May two players swap?
No, only one per round.
Origin & history
Manni is an Icelandic trick-taking game for three. The name refers to the extra face-down packet in the middle: anyone who dislikes their hand may swap it for the Manni – without looking at it first.