How to Play

Ombre is the 17th-century Spanish three-player trick-taking game that gave Europe bidding for trumps, a lone declarer against allied defenders, and the concept of Matadors (three permanent top trumps). Played with a 40-card deck, 9 cards each, a 13-card exchange talon, and settled in counters through sacada, puesta, and codille.

Ombre (Spanish Hombre, meaning 'man') is the 17th-century Spanish trick-taking game that dominated European aristocratic card play for two centuries and gave the world the concept of an auction for trumps, a lone declarer against allied defenders, and fixed highest trumps independent of suit. It is played by three players with a 40-card Spanish-suited or stripped French deck (no 8s, 9s, 10s), each dealt 9 cards; a 13-card talon remains for exchange. Players bid for the right to become the Ombre, choose trumps, and try to take more tricks than either of the other two players individually. The three permanent top trumps (Spadille = A♠, Manille = 2 of black/7 of red trumps, Basto = A♣) are called Matadors and outrank every suit card. Scores settle in counters by three outcomes: sacada (Ombre wins), puesta (Ombre ties for most and pays), codille (an opponent beats the Ombre and collects). Ombre is the direct ancestor of Quadrille, Solo, Boston, Préférence, and Whist, and is required background for understanding the whole European trick-game family.

Players

3 players, each playing for themselves. The player who wins the auction is the Ombre (declarer); the other two act as a temporary alliance called the defenders. Rotation: deal passes to the right after each hand (Spanish convention). A high-card cut decides the first dealer. Four-handed adaptations (Quadrille) and solo two-handed versions exist but are separate games; classic Ombre is strictly three-player.

Card Deck

A 40-card Spanish-suited deck (suits: coins, cups, swords, clubs; ranks Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, Jack, Knight, King) or a standard 52-card deck with the 8s, 9s, and 10s removed. Three cards are permanent top trumps regardless of which suit is named trump: Spadille (always highest), Manille (the 2 of the trump suit if trump is black; the 7 of the trump suit if trump is red), and Basto (third-highest). Within each suit the ranking differs by colour. Black trump suit (spades or clubs) top to bottom: Spadille, 2 (Manille), Basto, King, Queen, Jack, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 (11 cards, since Spadille and Basto join the 9-card black suit). Red trump suit (hearts or diamonds) top to bottom: Spadille, 7 (Manille), Basto, Ace of trump suit, King, Queen, Jack, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (12 cards). Plain (non-trump) black suit top to bottom: King, Queen, Jack, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Plain red suit top to bottom: King, Queen, Jack, Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Note: in red plain suits the Ace is middling, not high.

Objective

As the Ombre, win more tricks than either of the two defenders individually (typically at least 5 of the 9 tricks, or 4 tricks provided the two defenders split 3 and 2). As a defender, either win more tricks than the Ombre (codille) or prevent the Ombre from taking a clear majority (puesta). Counters are paid and collected according to the outcome.

Setup and Deal

1. Each player places an agreed ante (e.g., 5 counters) into a central pool.
2. The dealer shuffles the 40-card deck; the player to the dealer's left cuts.
3. Deal 9 cards to each player, face-down, in three batches of three, dealt to the right (Spanish rotation).
4. Place the remaining 13 cards face-down as the talon (or stock) for the exchange phase.
5. Starting with the player to the dealer's right (eldest), each player may pass or bid. The three bids in ascending order are: Entrada (I will play and exchange cards), Vuelta (I will play but trump is decided by turning the top stock card), and Solo (I will play without exchanging any cards). A higher bid overcalls a lower one; a player who has passed cannot re-enter.
6. The highest bidder becomes the Ombre. For Entrada the Ombre names the trump suit; for Vuelta the top card of the talon is turned up and its suit is trump; for Solo the Ombre names trumps and plays with the cards dealt.
7. For Entrada and Vuelta: the Ombre discards any number of cards face-down and draws an equal number from the top of the talon; then each defender in turn (eldest first) may discard and draw. The talon is dealt down until it is exhausted or all three have exchanged.
8. Eldest leads the first trick (the player immediately to the dealer's right).

Gameplay

1. Nine tricks are played. Each trick consists of three cards, one from each player.
2. The lead card may be any card from the leader's hand.
3. Follow suit if you can. If you are void of the led suit you may play a trump or a discard (any card of another suit).
4. Trick resolution: if any trump is played, the highest trump wins; otherwise the highest card of the led suit wins.
5. Matador reneging rule: A player holding only matadors in the trump suit is not forced to play one when trump is led; they may discard a matador instead. A matador may be forced out only by a higher matador, never by an ordinary low trump.
6. The trick winner leads the next trick. Continue until all 9 tricks are complete.
7. Each player counts the tricks they personally won; the Ombre's trick count is compared against the higher of the two defenders' counts, not the sum.

Scoring

• Sacada (Ombre wins): The Ombre took more tricks than either defender individually (e.g., 5 to 2 to 2, or 4 to 3 to 2). The Ombre collects the pool plus a game-value payment from each defender: 5 counters per opponent for Entrada, 7 for Vuelta, 15 for Solo.
• Puesta (tied for most): The Ombre tied one of the defenders for most tricks (e.g., 4 to 4 to 1). The Ombre pays double the pool back into it plus 5 counters per player as 'beasted' pool growth; the pool carries to the next hand.
• Codille (defender beats Ombre): A defender took strictly more tricks than the Ombre (e.g., 5 to 3 to 1, defender takes 5). The Ombre pays that defender the game-value (5/7/15 counters) and pays double the pool to the winning defender.
• Vole bonus: If the Ombre announces the Vole before the 6th trick and wins all 9 tricks, they collect an extra 25 counters from each opponent. Failing the announced Vole costs 30 counters to each opponent.
• Primeras bonus: Winning the first five tricks in sequence and then resigning the remainder pays 3 extra counters from each opponent.
• Matador bonus (Estuches): The Ombre earns 1 counter per opponent for each consecutive top trump held in sequence starting from Spadille (Spadille alone = 1; Spadille plus Manille = 2; all three Matadors = 3).

Winning

Ombre is played as a session (an agreed number of deals, commonly 12, or until a fixed pool is exhausted). The player with the most counters at the end of the session wins. In tournament or salon play the session is often four rounds of the deal (12 hands) and a running tally decides the overall winner; short social games can play to a fixed counter total such as 30 or 50.

Common Variations

• Quadrille: A 4-player adaptation popular in 18th-century France and England; the declarer may call an ally by naming a specific King.
• Solo (Solo Ombre): The Ombre plays without any exchange from the talon. Higher payout (15 counters per opponent) reflects the higher risk.
• Vuelta: The trump suit is fixed by turning the top of the talon after the bid, not chosen by the Ombre.
• Gasca / Gascarola: If all three players pass, the hand is replayed with enlarged pool; forces action on weak hands.
• Spadille Forcé: If every player passes, the holder of Spadille must become Ombre and choose trump. Prevents endless pass-outs.
• Contrabola (Reverse Vole): A declared attempt to lose every trick; same bonus structure as Vole.
• Ombre a Dos (Two-handed Ombre): A dummy third hand is used; simpler and faster.
• French Ombre (Hombre): The 18th-century French variant uses standard French suits and slightly different ante/payment conventions.

Tips and Strategy

• Bid only on genuine strength. A viable Entrada hand should hold at least one Matador plus two side-suit top cards (Kings, plain-suit Aces in red suits), or long trump (four or more cards) with a side-suit stopper. With one Matador and nothing else, pass.
• Call black trumps when you can. Black trump suits have 11 cards (Spadille and Basto join), giving the Ombre stronger trump length. Red trump suits have 12 cards but distribute trump strength differently and make the plain-Ace of trumps the fourth-highest trump.
• Lead trumps early with Matador strength. Spadille followed by Manille strips the defenders of trumps and lets your side-suit winners cash safely. Never lead trumps without Matador support; you will only promote defender length.
• As a defender, cooperate silently. If your partner leads a side-suit King, play low to signal strength; if they lead trumps, you should hold back your own trumps. Ignore short-term losses: your goal is to drive the Ombre below 5 tricks, not to win the trick in front of you.
• Watch the discards during exchange. An Ombre who exchanges all nine cards is replacing a weak hand; defenders should attack plain suits aggressively. An Ombre exchanging only two or three has long trump; lead short suits to force the Ombre to ruff.
• Count Matadors. Every Matador seen is one fewer obstacle for your side-suit plan. Keep a mental track of Spadille, Manille, and Basto after each trick.
• Do not attempt Vole lightly. Announcing Vole (all 9 tricks) is ruinous on failure. A legitimate Vole needs Spadille, Manille, Basto, the Ace or plain-King of trump, and Kings in at least two side suits.
• Primeras is the conservative's bonus. If your hand is good enough to sweep the first 5 tricks but risks the last 4, announce Primeras and take the 3-counter safe bonus rather than risk puesta.

Glossary

• Ombre / Hombre: The declarer who won the auction; Spanish for 'man'.
• Matador: Any of the three permanent top trumps: Spadille , Manille (2 of trump in black suits, 7 of trump in red suits), Basto .A♠A♣
• Spadille: The Ace of Spades; always the highest trump in every suit.A♠
• Manille: The second-highest trump; the 2 of trump if trump is black, the 7 of trump if trump is red.
• Basto: The Ace of Clubs; always the third-highest trump.A♣
• Ponto / Punto: The fourth-highest trump in red-trump suits (the plain Ace of that suit).
• Talon / Stock: The 13 face-down cards left after dealing, used for the exchange.
• Entrada / Vuelta / Solo: The three ascending bids.
• Sacada: Outcome in which the Ombre takes strictly most tricks and wins the pool.
• Puesta: Outcome in which the Ombre ties for most tricks and pays into the pool.
• Codille: Outcome in which a single defender takes most tricks, beating the Ombre, and collects the full payment.
• Vole: Declared attempt to win all 9 tricks; bonus on success, heavy loss on failure.
• Primeras: Bonus for winning the first 5 tricks and resigning the rest.
• Estuches: Small bonus for each consecutive top trump held (Spadille, Spadille + Manille, all three Matadors).