What are the "diez de últimas"?

The “diez de últimas” are 10 bonus points for the player who wins the final trick of a hand, often enough to decide a close match. They are awarded in Tute, a trick-taking game popular in Spain, Guiñote, a strategic variant played in Aragon and Castile, and many versions of Brisca.

Why do they exist?

They serve to keep the final trick exciting even if the remaining cards have little value. Without this prize, many hands would be "decided" prematurely. With it, players must save something for the very end.

How they are counted

In Guiñote, for example, there are 120 points available in the cards themselves, and the diez de últimas brings the total to 130. In the standard version, reaching 101 points puts you in "buenas" (the winning half of the score), so those 10 points could be exactly what you need to cross the line.

A tip

Try to save a high trump or a safe card for the final trick, especially if the score is close. Keep track of what has been played: if you know which cards your opponent has left, you will know if you can win it. You can find more ideas in our Guiñote strategy guide.