MILILLA



OBJECT OF MILILLA: The object of Mililla is to be the first team to score a total of 35 points to win the game.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 4 players

MATERIALS: A Spanish deck of 40 cards, a way to keep score, and a flat surface.

TYPE OF GAME: Trick-Taking Card Game

AUDIENCE: Adult


OVERVIEW OF MILILLA

Mililla is a trick-taking card game for 4 players. The goal of the game is to win by scoring 35 or more points before your opponent’s team does.

The game is played over a series of rounds where the teams compete to see who can score the majority of the points to increase your score.

SETUP

The first dealer is chosen at random and passes to the right for each new deal. The dealer will shuffle the deck and the player to their left will cut the deck. The dealer can then deal each player a hand of 10 cards. The last card is dealt to the dealer who will reveal it. This determines the trumps suit for the round.

If the revealed card is worth points, it scores that many bonus points to the dealer’s team score. The expectation is if this would cause the dealer to win the game, the points are not scored till after the round is over.

Card Ranking and Values

The ranking for this game is King (high), Horse, Jack, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace (low). The trump suit ranks higher than any other suit.

There are point totals given to each card that are scored at the end of the round for the players who win the cards in tricks. 7s are worth 5 points, Aces are worth 4 points, Kings are worth 3 points, Horses are worth 2 points and Jacks are worth 1 point each. The remaining cards hold no value.

GAMEPLAY

The game starts with the player to the right of the dealer. They may lead any card to start the first trick. All following players must follow suit if able, and if their opponents are currently winning the trick must always beat the highest card if possible. Players may also not play a 7 unless leading a trick with it until the suit has been led to a trick.

If a player cannot follow suit and cannot beat their opponent if needed, they may play any card.

The trick is won by the player who plays the highest trump, if applicable. If no trumps were played the trick is won by the highest card of the suit originally led. The winner of a trick takes it to put in their team’s score pile and leads to the next trick.

SCORING

After the 10th trick is won a round is over. Players will score the cards won in their tricks and score an additional point for each trick won. There is a total of 70 points available each round. the team to score 36 or more subtracts 35 from their total and scores that many game points. the other team scores nothing. If both teams score 35 points, no one scores this round.

If the revealed card would have won the dealer the game it is only scored if both teams tie, meaning the dealer’s team wins the game.

Scores are kept cumulative over several rounds and once a team score 35 points or more the game is over.

END OF GAME

The game ends once a score of 35 points is reached by a team. This team wins the game.   

Amber Crook
Latest posts by Amber Crook (see all)
×