Sueca

Sueca is a classic Portuguese card game for four players, played in two teams sitting opposite each other. The deck consists of 40 cards – simply remove the 8s, 9s and 10s from a standard pack. Each suit follows a unique ranking: Ace, 7, King, Jack, Queen, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, with the seven being the second most valuable card and the jack outranking the queen. The dealer hands out 10 cards to each player in one batch; the bottom card of the deck, turned face up, determines the trump suit. Play proceeds clockwise, and the player to the dealer’s left leads the first trick. Players must follow suit if possible, otherwise they may play any card. If trumps appear in a trick, the highest trump wins; otherwise the highest card of the led suit takes the trick. Card values are: Ace = 11, 7 = 10, King = 4, Jack = 3, Queen = 2; the rest are zero. The whole deck contains 120 points, and the partnership that captures more than 60 points in a hand scores one "game". The first team to reach four games wins the match. Scoring 91 or more points in a single hand yields two games, and sweeping all tricks gives four games, ending the match instantly. Tournament rules forbid any talk or signaling between partners, but casual players often devise secret signs, adding a layer of bluffing fun. A five‑player variant called "Sueca Italiana" exists, but the traditional four‑player version remains the most popular in Portuguese homes and cafés.