Lesson 8 · The Duck's Course
Signals and your partner
In 2 against 2 the hand belongs to the pair: what your partner says is information, and either of you can answer the bet.
The hand belongs to the pair
In 2 against 2 you and your partner sit facing each other and share the hand: it's enough for ONE of you to win the round. That's why what your partner says counts as much as your own card. At this table the signals are public: the phrases and stickers everyone can see. “I've got the zap!” means your partner holds the highest manilha of the hand. The nickname comes from Mineiro's fixed manilhas — zap (4 of clubs), copas (7 of hearts), espadão (ace of spades) and pica-fumo (7 of diamonds) — and in Paulista, where the vira changes the manilhas every hand, it became the short way of saying “I hold the highest one this hand”. Another rule that changes everything: when the bet comes to your pair, either of you can answer, and the first answer stands. So if your partner calls truco, they raise and the decision lands in your lap, you decide on what you know about the pair, not just about your own hand.
Partner with the zap
Your partner announced: “I've got the zap!”. The opponent calls truco. You hold 5, 6 and 7. What now?
He calls, they raise, you answer
Paulista, the vira is the 3 of diamonds: the manilhas are the 4s, and the zap, the 4 of clubs, is the highest card in the game. You hold 5, 6 and 7: nothing. Play a card and keep an eye on your partner. If he signals and calls truco, and the opponents raise to 6, the answer is yours or his: the first one stands.
Who answers
Your partner called truco and the opponents raised to 6. Who answers the six?