How to Play

Quadrille is the fashionable four-player trick-taking game of the 1700s, played with a 40-card deck (10s, 9s, 8s removed), featuring Ombre-style Matador trumps (Spadille, Manille, Basto), auction contracts, and a hidden called-King partnership.

Quadrille is the 18th-century four-hand descendant of Spanish Ombre (Hombre) and was the most fashionable card game of Regency and Enlightenment Europe. It is played by four people with a 40-card stripped deck, ten cards each, and combines bidding, trump declaration, and a hidden called-King partnership: the declarer (Hombre) wins the auction, names trumps, and may call a non-trump King whose holder becomes a silent ally for that deal. The declarer's side tries to win at least 6 of 10 tricks; three special cards (Spadille, Manille, Basto, called Matadors) are always the top three trumps and the fourth-highest trump (Ponto) is the Ace in red suits or the King in black. Outcomes are settled with counters paid into and out of a shared pool.

Players

Exactly 4 players, individually seated (no fixed partnerships across deals); the hidden partner changes every deal. Deal rotates anticlockwise (as with most Spanish-derived games). A first dealer is chosen by cutting for lowest card.

Card Deck

A 40-card pack consisting of a standard 52-card deck with all 8s, 9s, and 10s removed. Leaves in each suit: King, Queen, Knave (Jack), 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace. Black suits (♠♣) rank: King (high), Queen, Knave, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 (Aces are special). Red suits (♥♦) rank: King (high), Queen, Knave, Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (low). The special trump hierarchy is detailed in Trump Structure.

Objective

The winning bidder (Hombre) aims to win at least 6 tricks out of 10, alone or with a called partner, according to the contract. The opposing two or three defenders cooperate to hold the Hombre to 5 or fewer tricks.

Setup and Deal

1. Each player places an equal agreed ante (for instance 4 counters) into a central pool before the first deal.
2. Deal 10 cards to each of the four players in packets of 4, then 3, then 3 (or 3+3+4), anticlockwise, starting with the player on the dealer's right.
3. No cards remain after the deal; there is no stock.
4. Beginning with the player on the dealer's right (eldest) and continuing anticlockwise, each player either bids a contract or passes. The highest contract wins; that player becomes the Hombre and names trumps.
5. If all four pass, the Spadille holder becomes Hombre by forced Spadille (see Bidding).

Trump Structure (Matadors)

1. Spadille: The Ace of Spades. Always the single highest trump, whatever suit is called as trump.A♠
2. Manille: The lowest pip of the trump suit, specifically the 2 in black trumps and the 7 in red trumps. Second-highest trump.
3. Basto: The Ace of Clubs. Always the third-highest trump.A♣
4. Ponto (fourth trump): The Ace of the trump suit when trumps are red (♥ or ♦); the King of the trump suit when trumps are black (♠ or ♣). Ranks just below Basto.A♠K♠
5. Remaining trumps follow the suit's regular ranking below Ponto (black: Queen, Knave, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3; red: Queen, Knave, then 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, skipping the Manille already placed as #2 and the Ace already placed as Ponto).7♠6♠5♠4♠3♠
6. Non-trump suits rank normally for their colour as described in Card Deck. Suits are not promoted into the trump suit; only Spadille, Manille, Basto and the Ponto are displaced.

Bidding Contracts

1. Bidding begins with the player to the dealer's right and runs anticlockwise. Each contract must strictly outbid the previous one.
2. Alliance (lowest): The Hombre names trumps and calls a non-trump King; the player holding that King becomes silent partner for the deal. The partnership shares the pool equally on winning.
3. Dimidiator (or 'Dimid'): The Hombre names trumps, calls a King, and exchanges cards privately with the called King's holder (swapping face-down before play). After the exchange the called player may play against the Hombre; the Hombre goes solo with the improved hand.
4. Casco: Available only to a player dealt both black Aces (Spadille and Basto). The Hombre does not name trumps; instead the called King's holder names trumps. Pays higher than Alliance.A♠K♠
5. Solo (highest): The Hombre plays alone against the other three without a partner, takes no King, and must still win 6 tricks. Pays the most.
6. Forced Spadille (Spadille forcée): If all four pass, the player dealt Spadille must play an Alliance contract whether they want to or not. They call a non-trump King whose holder becomes the silent partner, exactly as in a voluntary Alliance.

Gameplay

1. After any Dimidiator card swap, the player to the dealer's right leads the first trick by playing one card face up.
2. Each remaining player in anticlockwise order plays one card, forming a trick of four cards.
3. Must follow suit if able. A player who cannot follow the led suit may trump or discard freely; there is no 'must head' rule except for the called King below.
4. Called King obligation (Alliance and Casco): The called King must be played when its suit is led and may not be led by its holder themselves; the silent partner must be careful not to expose the alliance prematurely.
5. Trick winner: Highest trump played, or, if no trump is played, the highest card of the led suit. Note that the Spadille, Manille, and Basto are trumps regardless of what suit was led, provided they were legally played (they can always be used as trumps).
6. Renouncing Matadors: A Matador (Spadille, Manille, Basto) cannot be ruffed by a lower trump and may be led whenever their holder wishes; but they themselves may be forced out by being led to when trumps are already led.
7. Play continues for all 10 tricks; the Hombre's team counts their trick total at the end.

Scoring and Payouts

1. Alliance win (Hombre + partner take 6+ tricks): The pool is split equally between the partners; each opponent contributes a fresh matching ante.
2. Solo win (Hombre alone takes 6+ tricks): Hombre sweeps the entire pool plus receives a 1-counter solo premium from each of the three opponents.
3. Dimidiator win: Paid at 1.5 times the Alliance rate to reflect the stronger contract.
4. Casco win: Paid at 2 times the Alliance rate.
5. Matador bonus: A player who held all three Matadors (Spadille, Manille, Basto) in the deal adds a bonus of 1 counter paid by each opponent; holding all four top trumps (the Matadors plus the Ponto) adds 2 counters from each.
6. Remise (declarer takes exactly 5 tricks): The pool is doubled for the next deal; the current Hombre loses no counters but cannot claim, and the contract's base stake is added to the pool.
7. Codille (declarer takes 4 or fewer tricks and another team takes 6+): The Hombre pays out as though they had won, quadrupling the stake; the winning defender team share the pool.
8. Vole (declarer's side wins all 10 tricks): Triple normal payout and a further bonus of 3 counters from each opponent, to be announced before the first trick for the full bonus.

Winning

• A single deal is won or lost according to the trick count against the Hombre's contract.
• Sessions are typically played for a fixed time or an agreed number of deals; the player with the largest counter balance at the end is the overall winner.
• Tie-breaker: On exactly tied counter balances, play one deal at a higher stake to settle.
• Misdeal: If the dealer gives the wrong number of cards, all cards are returned and the same dealer redeals; no Forced Spadille applies to a misdeal.

Common Variations

• Mediateur: Adds an intermediate contract in which the Hombre may exchange one card with a draw from the stub; sits between Alliance and Dimidiator in rank.
• Quintille: A five-handed adaptation; each player is dealt 8 cards and the Hombre calls a partner as in Alliance. No Solo contract exists in standard Quintille.
• Whist-style follow: In some later codifications, if no trump is played the highest card of any suit following wins; this is non-standard and should be agreed beforehand.
• No forced Spadille: In some salon rules, a flat pass-out redeals rather than forcing Spadille. Slower but friendlier.
• Fixed partners: A simplified version in which the called King is announced openly before the play; loses the hidden-partner drama but is easier to teach.

Tips and Strategy

• Before you bid, assess your Matador strength. Holding Spadille alone rarely justifies Solo; holding all three Matadors plus several long-suit winners is usually a Solo or Dimidiator.
• In Alliance, call a King in the suit where you hold the most cards. This ensures the partnership can actually cooperate; calling a King in your void suit usually blows up the partnership.
• Lead trumps early when you have the Spadille and several smaller trumps. Drawing trumps out secures the 6 tricks you need before the opponents can set up long-suit winners.
• Defenders: figure out the hidden partner by the second trick at latest. Watch who avoids leading the called suit and who discards rather than ruffing; they are the likely ally.
• Remise is often playable when you hold a middling hand. Taking 5 tricks deliberately when you cannot safely reach 6 lets the pool grow without paying out, and leaves you in position to strike next deal.
• Beware of the Ponto trap: when trumps are red, the Ace of trumps is not the top card (Spadille is), so leading the trump Ace blindly can be wasted; count Manille and Basto first.

Glossary

• Hombre: The declarer; the player who won the auction and plays the contract.
• Matadors: The three permanent top trumps: Spadille, Manille, Basto.
• Spadille: Ace of Spades, always the highest trump.A♠
• Manille: Lowest pip of the trump suit (2 in black trumps, 7 in red trumps), second-highest trump.
• Basto: Ace of Clubs, always the third-highest trump.A♣
• Ponto: Fourth-highest trump; the Ace of the trump suit when trumps are red, the King when trumps are black.A♠K♠
• Alliance: Contract in which the Hombre calls a non-trump King to identify a silent partner.
• Dimidiator: Alliance-like contract in which the Hombre privately swaps cards with the called King's holder and then plays solo.
• Casco: Special contract available only when the Hombre holds both black Aces; the called King's holder names trumps.A♠K♠
• Solo: Highest contract; Hombre plays alone against all three opponents.
• Forced Spadille: Pass-out rule that forces the Spadille holder to play an Alliance contract.
• Remise: Outcome when the Hombre takes exactly 5 tricks; pool is doubled, no payout.
• Codille: Outcome when defenders win 6+ tricks against the contract; Hombre pays quadrupled.
• Vole: Winning all 10 tricks; attracts a large bonus, must usually be declared before the first trick for full value.
• Pool: The shared pot of counters that pays out on a won contract and grows on a Remise.