Manni

Manni is an Icelandic card game, with many local variations. This describes just one variation out of many.

• Players: 3
• Equipment: Standard deck, jokers removed
• Rank (nullo contract): A,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,J,Q,K
• Rank (other contracts): 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,J,Q,K,A
• Goal: The player with the most points at the end of the game (9 or 18 hands) wins.

Setup

The dealer deals out all the cards so that there are 12 in each player's hand, and 16 in a stock, known as the "manni." The usual way of doing this is dealing 3 to each player then 4 to the manni until all cards are dealt.

Declaring the Contract

After looking at their hand, the dealer must decide what the contract for the round will be. There are three possible contracts. Each dealer can choose each contract once per game, so by their last time as dealer, they have no choice.

• Nullo: Players try to avoid taking tricks. There is no trump, and aces are low.
• No Trump: Players try to take tricks. There is no trump, aces are high.
• Trump: The dealer chooses the trump suit for the round, trying to take as many tricks as possible. Aces are high.

Exchanging Cards

Beginning with the player to the dealer's left, each player can exchange cards in their hand for cards from the top of the manni. The first player can exchange up to seven cards, the second player can exchange up to five cards, and the dealer can exchange up to as many cards as are left in the manni.

Gameplay

Play consists of a series of tricks. The player to the dealer's left leads the first trick with any card the choose. Players must follow suit if they can, or play any card if they cannot. The winner of the trick is whoever played the highest trump card, or if there are no trumps in the trick, then the highest card of the leading suit. The winner of the trick takes the cards and sets them in a pile next to them, then leads the next trick.

Scoring

Each player receives a score of the number of tricks that they took in the round minus 4, so negative scores are possible. If the contract was nullo, scoring is 4 minus the number of tricks taken. Dealership then passes to the next player, who can choose any contract that they have not already chosen.

The game ends after 9 hands, once each dealer has declared each contract. The player with the highest score at this point wins.