Learn & Play

How to Play Manilla

Manilla is a Spanish partnership trick-taking game with trumps — the 9 (“la Manilla”) outranks the Ace as the best card in the game, and a new trump suit is revealed at the start of every deal. Learn the rules here, then play free as part of our Spanish 10-in-1 collection.

Also part of

Spanish Card Games — 10 in 1

Google Play App Store

Players4 (2 v 2)

Deck48 cards

GoalFirst team to 40 points

Play time~20 minutes

Overview

You (South) partner with North against East & West. Manilla is a Spanish partnership trick-taking game with trumps — a new trump suit is revealed at the start of every deal. First team to reach 40 points, built up over several deals, wins the match.

Card Values

Five ranks score points — the same in every suit — plus 1 point for winning each trick.

9 (Manilla) — 5 points, the best card in the game.

Ace — 4 points.

King (Rey) — 3 points.

Horse (Caballo) — 2 points.

Jack (Sota) — 1 point.

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 — 0 points, but still useful for winning tricks.

Total per deal: 60 card points (15 × 4 suits) + 12 trick points = 72 points.

Rank Order — High to Low

The 9 outranks the Ace — it's literally called "la Manilla," the best card in the game! Full order: 9, Ace, King, Horse, Jack, then 8 down to 2.

The Trump Suit

At the start of every deal, the dealer's very last card is turned face up — its suit becomes trumps for that deal. If that card has a point value (9, Ace, King, Horse, or Jack), the dealer's team scores those points immediately, before a single card is played! Trumps beat every other suit, no matter how low — a trump 2 beats a non-trump 9 of the suit led.

How to Play

Deal. All 48 cards dealt — 12 each. No stock pile.
Trump reveal. The dealer's last card sets the trump suit (see above).
Follow suit. You must always play a card of the suit led if you have one.
Beat or trump. If an opponent is winning, you must beat them or play a trump if void — see the mandatory rules below.
Score. 72 points are split between the teams. The team with more than 36 scores the difference; first to 40 wins the match.

Strategy Tips

Track the counting cards (9, Ace, King, Horse, Jack) as they fall — with a fixed 48-card deck, careful counting tells you what's left.
Feed your partner your best legal counting card when they're already winning a trick — the points count the same either way.
Remember the trump reveal can hand the dealer's team free points before play even starts — factor that into the running score.
A void or near-void suit is valuable when it becomes trump for the deal — it lets you ruff in freely.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many players does Manilla need?

Manilla is played by 4 players in two fixed partnerships, using a 48-card deck (12 ranks per suit).

Why is the 9 called la Manilla?

The 9 is deliberately promoted above the Ace as the highest, most valuable card in every suit — worth 5 points and giving the game its name.

How is the trump suit chosen in Manilla?

The dealer's very last card is turned face up at the start of each deal, and its suit becomes trump. If that card has a point value, the dealer's team scores it immediately.

Is following suit mandatory in Manilla?

Yes — you must always follow suit if you have a card of it, and you must beat an opponent's winning card or trump in if you're void.

How do you win Manilla?

72 points are split between the teams each deal; the team with more than 36 scores the difference. First team to reach 40 points across multiple deals wins the match.