Tute – Rules

Play Tute against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Tute is a classic bar game in Spain. You play for card points in tricks. Whoever wins a trick may “sing” king and knight of a suit for extra points. A player holding all four kings or all four knights makes a “tute” and wins the deal at once.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 40 Spanish cards (oros, copas, espadas, bastos).
• Ranking (high → low): ace, 3, rey, caballo, sota, 7, 6, 5, 4, 2.
• Points:

• Total: 120 points, plus 10 for the last trick (“diez de últimas”) = 130.
• Face up and face down: Hand cards concealed, tricks face down with the team.

3. Preparation and start

1. Shuffle and cut.
2. Deal: With four, everyone gets 10 cards.
3. Trumps: The dealer's last card is shown face up; its suit is trumps. Then the dealer takes it into their hand.
4. Start: The player right of the dealer leads.

Start example: Player 2 deals and shows his last card: the 5 of copas. Copas are trumps. Player 3 sits to his right and leads.

4. Goal and winning

• A deal: The team with more points (tricks plus cantes) wins.
• Tute: Singing all four kings or all four knights wins the deal at once.
• Game: Whoever first wins an agreed number of deals (e.g. three).

5. Play in detail

A trick.

1. The leader plays any card.
2. Follow suit and head the trick (play higher) if possible.
3. If you can't follow, you must trump – and over-trump a trump already played if possible.
4. Only if you can neither follow nor trump may you discard anything.
5. The highest trump wins, otherwise the highest card of the suit led.

Singing (cantar). After winning a trick you may show king and knight of the same suit:

• in a non-trump suit: 20 points,
• in trumps: 40 points.

You may sing one pair per trick won.

Example with Players 1 to 4. Copas are trumps. Players 1 and 4 against Players 2 and 3. Order: Player 3, 1, 2, 4.

1. Player 3 leads the rey of oros. Player 1 holds the ace of oros and must head the trick: ace of oros.
2. Player 2 has no oros and must trump: 4 of copas.
3. Player 4 has no oros and must over-trump: sota of copas.
4. Trick to Player 4: rey 4 + ace 11 + 4 0 + sota 2 = 17 points.
5. Player 4 holds rey and caballo of espadas and sings 20.

6. Scoring

• Deal won: more points than the opponents.
• Recording: One mark per deal won.

7. Special rules and situations

• Sing only after your own trick: Without a trick you may not sing.
• Swapping the trump 7 (variant): The holder of the trump 7 may swap it for the shown trump card.
• Tie: With equal points, the team that won the last trick wins.
• Revoke (renuncio): The offending team loses the deal.
• Common mistakes: not heading the trick when possible; forgetting to sing; leading unprotected aces.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: four players in teams, 10 cards, trumps from the dealer's last card.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play Tute with four, the player opposite being your partner; a game goes to 2, 3 or 5 deals won.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Aces and threes: They bring most points – protect them.
2. Hold kings and knights: A pair can bring 20 or 40 points.
3. Win a trick, then sing: Plan a trick so you may sing.
4. Count trumps: Knowing the trumps lets you cash aces safely.
5. Feed your partner: When your partner is winning, add points.
6. Last trick: 10 points – keep a strong card.
7. Use the heading rule: It forces opponents to sacrifice high cards.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 40 Spanish cards, 10 cards each.
2. The dealer's last card sets trumps.
3. Right of the dealer leads.
4. Follow suit and head the trick.
5. Otherwise trump and over-trump.
6. Ace 11, 3 10, rey 4, caballo 3, sota 2.
7. After a trick: sing king + knight (20 / 40).
8. Four kings or four knights: tute, instant win.
9. Last trick +10.
10. More points win the deal.

11. Frequently asked questions

Must I play higher?

Yes. When you can follow suit, you must win the trick if possible.

When may I sing?

Only after your team has won a trick – one pair per trick.

What is a tute?

All four kings or all four knights. Singing them wins at once.

Why is the three so strong?

In the Spanish pack the three is the second-highest card and worth 10 points.

How many points are there?

120 in the cards plus 10 for the last trick.

How long does a deal take?

Six to ten minutes.

Origin & history

Tute is documented in Spain since the 19th century and belongs to the marriage games: king and cavalier of a suit bring extra points. The name comes from the 'tute' – four kings or four cavaliers in one hand. In Argentina the variant Tute cabrero is popular.