Botifarra 1950

Catalan point trick-taking card game.

Botifarra is played by 2 opposing teams of 2 players, using a Spanish 48-card deck.

Botifarra is a game in which the points in the tricks are most important, rather than the number of tricks, although a trick also has a value by itself. There a total of 72 points in stake for each hand, but only the difference with respect to 36 is scored. These points can be sometimes doubled, quadrupled, etc. according to the initial bid. The game is usually played for 101 points or more, which generally requires several hands.

The game is closely related to the French card game Manille, from which it takes the mechanics, but its rules induce deduction and minimise the effects of luck.

When playing Botifarra you must bear in mind that it is forbidden to speak, show your cards or make signs or comments that may reveal your cards or your opinion as to whether game decisions are good or bad. Despite this, it is quite normal to make some comments during the game, which adds to a more entertaining atmosphere.