Sueca – Rules
Play Sueca against the computer
1. Overview
| Name | Sueca |
| Type | Trick-taking game with trumps and partners |
| Players | 4, two teams, partners opposite |
| Recommended age | 8 and up |
| Playing time | one deal 4–6 minutes; a game (bandeira) 20–40 minutes |
| Material | 40 cards (no 8, 9, 10), pen and paper |
| Goal | Take more than 60 of the 120 points as a team and be first to 4 game points. |
| Difficulty | easy |
What is it about? Sueca is Portugal's most popular card game and is also played in Brazil, Angola and Mozambique. It's a simple trick-taking game without bidding: the dealer's last card sets trumps, and each team tries to collect as many points as possible. The ranking is special – the seven is the second-highest card.
2. Cards and material
- Pack: 40 French cards: A, 2 to 7, J, Q, K in four suits.
- Ranking and points (high → low):
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Ace | 11 |
| 7 (bisca) | 10 |
| King | 4 |
| Jack | 3 |
| Queen | 2 |
| 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 | 0 |
- Note: The jack ranks above the queen.
- Total: 120 points.
- Face up and face down: Hands concealed, the trump card face up until the dealer plays it; tricks face down.
3. Preparation and start
- Shuffle and cut: The dealer shuffles, the left neighbour cuts.
- Deal: Everyone gets 10 cards.
- Trumps: The dealer's last card is shown face up; its suit is trumps.
- Start: The player right of the dealer leads.
Start example: Player 2 deals; his last card is the 5 of hearts: hearts are trumps. Player 3 sits to his right and leads.
4. Goal and winning
- A deal: The team with more than 60 points wins.
- Draw: 60 : 60 – nobody scores (variant: the next deal counts double).
- Game (bandeira): The first team to 4 game points wins a “bandeira”.
5. Play in detail
A trick.
- The leader plays any card.
- The others must follow suit if they can.
- A player who can't follow may trump or discard anything – there's no obligation to trump.
- The highest trump wins, otherwise the highest card of the suit led.
- The winner leads.
Example with Players 1 to 4. Hearts are trumps. Players 1 and 4 against Players 2 and 3. Order: Player 3, 1, 2, 4.
- Player 3 leads the ace of spades (11). Player 1 holds the 7 of spades (10) and the 2 of spades. The ace is higher – he plays the 2 of spades so his 7 isn't lost.
- Player 2 follows with the queen of spades (2).
- Player 4 has no spades and trumps with the 4 of hearts. Trick to Players 1 and 4: 11 + 0 + 2 + 0 = 13 points.
- Player 1's 7 of spades is now the highest spade in play.
6. Scoring
| Winning team's points | Game points |
|---|---|
| 61 to 90 | 1 |
| 91 to 119 | 2 |
| 120 (all points) | 4 (an instant bandeira) |
| 60 : 60 | 0 |
- Recording: Marks per team; 4 marks = one bandeira.
- End: Whoever first reaches the agreed number of game points.
7. Special rules and situations
- Trump card: Belongs to the dealer's hand and is played normally.
- Renúncia: Failing to follow suit when you could loses the deal with 4 points to the opponents.
- Tie: At 60 : 60 nobody scores – or the next deal counts double.
- Signals: Talking about cards is forbidden.
- Common mistakes: underestimating the seven; playing your own seven under the opponents' ace; confusing jack and queen.
8. Variants
Standard in this description: 40 cards, trumps from the dealer's last card, bandeira at 4 points.
| Variant | What changes | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| 8 points | Longer game. | long evenings |
| First card as trumps | The dealer shows their first instead of last card. | regional |
| 60 : 60 double | The next deal counts double. | tenser games |
| Bisca | Related game with drawing and no need to follow suit. | a change |
When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play with the player opposite as your partner to 4 (bandeira) or 8 points; at 60 : 60 nobody scores or the next deal counts double.
9. Tips for beginners
- Ace and seven: 21 points together – the ace protects the seven.
- Don't give away sevens: Play them once the ace of that suit has gone.
- Trump with purpose: Mainly trump tricks containing points.
- Support your partner: When your partner surely wins, add points.
- Count trumps: There are ten trumps – remember how many have gone.
- Void suits: Without a suit you can trump it.
- Keep count: At 61 points the deal is won.
10. Summary in 10 steps
- 40 cards (no 8, 9, 10), two teams.
- 10 cards each.
- The dealer's last card sets trumps.
- Anticlockwise; right of the dealer leads.
- Follow suit, else trump or discard.
- Ranking: A, 7, K, J, Q, 6 … 2.
- Ace 11, seven 10, king 4, jack 3, queen 2.
- More than 60 points win.
- 61–90: 1, 91–119: 2, 120: 4 points.
- First team to 4 points wins the bandeira.
11. Frequently asked questions
Why is the seven so strong?
In Sueca the seven (“bisca” or “manilha”) is the second-highest card and worth 10 points.
Must I trump when I can't follow suit?
No. You may trump or discard any card.
Is the jack higher than the queen?
Yes. The order is ace, seven, king, jack, queen.
What is a bandeira?
A game won with 4 game points – or a single deal with all 120 points.
What happens at 60 : 60?
Nobody scores; in a variant the next deal counts double.
How long does a game take?
About 20 to 40 minutes.
Origin & history
Portuguese trick game of the ace-ten family (related to Bisca and Briscola), documented since the 19th century; spread with emigrants to Brazil and the Portuguese-speaking countries of Africa.