Meksiko (Mexico) — card game rules
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Meksiko (also written Mexico) is a trick-taking card game for exactly three players, played across Serbia, Vojvodina, Hungary and the wider Pannonian region. It is a quick, sharp bidding game: one player — the declarer — wins the auction and plays alone against the other two. The first player to reach 51 points wins the match.
The deck
Meksiko uses a 32-card deck: the ranks 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace in four suits. Traditionally it is played with the Hungarian (Tell) pattern — acorns, bells, hearts and leaves — or with French suits; the cards rank the same either way, from 7 (lowest) up to Ace (highest).
Dealing
Each player receives 10 cards. The remaining 2 cards form the talon, placed face down. The talon later goes to the declarer in most contracts.
Bidding
Going around the table, each player either bids or passes. A bid is a promise about how the coming deal will go, and every new bid must outrank the standing one. When two players have passed, the last bidder becomes the declarer.
| Bid | Rank | The promise |
|---|---|---|
| 5 … 10 | 5–10 | Win at least that many of the 10 tricks. The declarer takes the talon, discards 2 cards, and chooses the trump suit. |
| Beetle (Betli) | equals a 7 bid | Win zero tricks. The declarer takes the talon and discards 2; there is no trump. |
| Beetle without talon | equals an 8 bid | Win zero tricks without touching the talon — worth more precisely because it is harder. |
| Meksiko (Mexico) | highest | Win all 10 tricks with no trump, and the talon stays face down, unseen. Bidding ends immediately — nothing outranks it. |
Playing the tricks
The declarer leads the first trick. Every player must follow the led suit if they can; otherwise they may play anything, including a trump. The trick is won by the highest trump in it — or, if no trump was played, by the highest card of the led suit. The trick's winner leads the next one.
Scoring
Scoring is cumulative and per player — you generally bank the tricks you personally win:
| Contract | Declarer | Each defender |
|---|---|---|
| Normal 5–10 | Made: + tricks won · Failed: − bid value | + own tricks won |
| Beetle | +7 / −7 | −5 when made / +5 when failed |
| Beetle without talon | +8 / −8 | −6 / +6 |
| Meksiko | +20 / −20 | + own tricks won |
A Beetle dies the instant the declarer takes a trick, and a Meksiko dies the instant a defender steals one — the deal ends early and is scored. The match ends the moment someone reaches 51 points.
A few strategy pointers
Count trumps ruthlessly — the declarer's fate usually hinges on how many are still out. As a defender against a Meksiko, one stolen trick is total victory: hoard your highest card of the declarer's long suit. And do not underestimate the humble Beetle: a hand full of sevens and eights is a weapon.
Frequently asked questions
How many players do you need for Meksiko?
Exactly three. Every deal is one against two: the declarer against both defenders.
Which deck do you need?
Any 32-card deck (7 to Ace). Hungarian (Tell) and French patterns are both traditional.
What does the "Meksiko" bid mean?
It is the game's namesake and highest contract: win all 10 tricks with no trump, without ever seeing the talon. It pays +20 — and costs −20 when it fails.
Where can I play Meksiko online?
Mexico Royale is a free digital version — play against smart bots or friends. The mobile apps for iPhone and Android are in testing and coming to the stores.
Mexico Royale: the classic 3-player game with bots, friends' tables and leaderboards. No ads during play, no pay-to-win.