What is a renuncio in card games?

A renuncio is a breach of a mandatory rule in a card game, such as not following suit when you have a card of that suit. It also covers failing to play a higher card when required or claiming points for combinations you do not hold. The usual penalty is to award the hand's points to the opponent.

The most common renuncios

• Failing to asistir (follow the lead suit) when you have cards of that suit.
• Failing to "montar" (head the trick) when the rules require playing a higher card.
• Failing to "fallar" (play a trump card) when you are obliged to do so.
• Declaring "veinte" (twenty) or "cuarenta" (forty) points without holding the necessary cards.

What happens if you are caught?

Each game has its own penalty, but in Tute (a popular trick-taking game) and Guiñote (a strategic partner-based game), the most common outcome is that the opposing pair is awarded the maximum points for the hand or even the coto (the overall match). In friendly games, the first mistake is often forgiven... or not.

A very human error

Most renuncios are simple oversights rather than cheating. That is why it is worth checking your hand before playing a card. At Lascuarenta, you don't need to worry: the game won't let you play an illegal card. If you want to learn more about the related term, see what it means to "renunciar" in a card game.