Touti bidding: how much to bid and how to talk to your partner
By The Atlas Carta teamUpdated on ✓ Rules checked in the app
Play Touti online
How the auction works
Once all 40 cards are dealt (10 each), the auction goes around the table. The player after the dealer speaks first; that same player will also lead the first trick, whoever wins the auction. The deal passes to the next player at each hand. On your turn you have two options:
- Bid: state how many points your team commits to winning. The first bid must be at least 70; each later bid must beat the highest so far by at least 10 (80, 90, 100…). The maximum is 230.
- Pass: you leave the auction for the whole hand. You can't bid again, even if your partner or an opponent raises later.
In-between amounts (75, 85…) don't exist. A bid of 230 can't be beaten.
End of the auction and redeals
The auction ends as soon as only one bidder is left after at least one bid. That player becomes the declarer: their bid is the team's contract, and they choose the trump suit.
If all four players pass without anyone bidding, the hand is cancelled. Nobody scores, the deal passes to the next player and the cards are dealt again.
The 4 partner signals
This is one of the most distinctive features of Touti: a player who has already left the auction can still inform their partner. They can do so when it's the partner's turn to bid, a bid has already been made, and at least one opponent is still in the auction.
| Signal | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| AS | I have an Ace. | Your partner is unsure about raising: an Ace means 11 points and often an extra trick. |
| COMPTE | I have a Ghna (Rey + Cabal of the same suit). | A Ghna is worth 20 or 40 if your team wins the auction, as long as the bid allows it. |
| +10 | I can bring you about 10 points. | A decent hand with no Ace and no Ghna: a few points, a well-guarded 3… |
| PASS | I can't help you any more. | Weak hand: your partner knows they are on their own. |
If an opponent then raises, you can signal again at the new level.
Early announcement: AS / COMPTE
On their own turn, instead of bidding, a player can announce AS or COMPTE straight away. This announcement counts as a pass: they leave the auction, but their partner already knows what they hold. It's useful when your hand isn't strong enough for a contract on its own but holds something valuable for your partner.
- It is allowed only once per hand: a player who has already sent a signal in the hand can no longer make an early announcement.
- It can be made on your very first turn to speak, even before anyone has bid.
- Only AS and COMPTE can be announced this way; +10 and PASS are only sent once you have left the auction.
- Once out, the player can then send further signals to their partner, under the usual conditions.
Evaluating your hand: a simple guide
There is no official formula: here is a rough guide to get started. Add up what your hand can reasonably bring, and count on your partner for part of the rest.
| In your hand | Roughly worth |
|---|---|
| Each Ace | 11 points, often plus a trick |
| A 3 with the Ace of the same suit | 10 points, almost guaranteed |
| A 3 without its Ace | Risky: count it as half |
| A long suit (4 cards or more) | Good trump candidate: ruffs and late tricks |
| A Ghna | +20, or +40 in trumps (if the bid allows it) |
| The last trick | +10, easier with plenty of trumps |
In practice, 70 is a cautious opening bid. Going to 100 or more usually takes Aces, a solid trump suit and, ideally, a Ghna.
Bids and Ghna: why 80, 90 and 100 change everything
The size of the bid decides how many Ghna the declaring team can declare:
| Bid | Ghna that count |
|---|---|
| 70 | None |
| 80 | A single Ghna of 20 (not in trumps) |
| 90 | Up to 40 in total |
| 100 and above | All of them |
So if you hold a Ghna in your trump suit, an 80 contract won't let you declare it. At 90 it counts. At 100 and above, all your Ghna count. Details on the Ghna in Touti.
5 example hands: how much would you bid?
For each hand, a suggested line of thought (these are tips, not rules).
Ace of coins
3 of coins
Rey of coins
7 of coins
5 of coins
Ace of cups
4 of swords
2 of swords
6 of clubs
2 of clubs
Hand 1: a nice oros suit (Ace-3-Rey + 2) and a second Ace: open at 70, and go up to 80–90 if your partner signals an Ace.
Rey of clubs
Cabal of clubs
Ace of clubs
7 of clubs
4 of clubs
3 of cups
6 of cups
2 of coins
5 of swords
Sota of swords
Hand 2: five bastos with the Ace and a Ghna: with bastos as trumps, the Ghna is worth 40. Aim for at least 90 so you can declare it, and 100 if your partner signals AS or COMPTE.
Rey of cups
5 of cups
Cabal of coins
6 of coins
7 of swords- 4 of swords
Sota of clubs
5 of clubs- 4 of clubs
- 2 of clubs
Hand 3: no Aces, no Threes, no Ghna: pass, and signal PASS if your partner bids, so they don't count on you.
Ace of swords- Ace of coins
- 3 of cups
Sota of cups
3 of clubs- 7 of clubs
- 6 of coins
6 of swords- 2 of swords
4 of cups
Hand 4: two Aces, two Threes without their Aces, no long suit: more of a support hand than a declarer's hand. Announce AS straight away on your turn to inform your partner.
- Ace of swords
3 of swords
Rey of swords
Cabal of swords- Sota of swords
- 7 of swords
- Ace of coins
- Rey of coins
- Cabal of coins
- Ace of cups
Hand 5: six espadas (including Ace, 3 and a Ghna), a Ghna in oros and three Aces: a hand for 120 or more. With espadas as trumps, the two Ghna bring 40 + 20, provided you are at 100 or above.
Common mistakes
- Raising "just to see": a failed contract hands the full bid to the opponents.
- Forgetting that passing is final: pass too early with a good hand and you can't come back.
- Winning the auction at 80 with a Ghna in trumps: it won't count. Go to 90.
- Ignoring your partner's signals, or signalling AS without one: your partner builds their bid on it.
- Choosing trumps because of a single Ace rather than your longest suit.
Going further: our Touti strategy tips and how to score Touti.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum bid in Touti?
70. After that, each bid must beat the previous one by at least 10, up to 230.
Can you bid 75 in Touti?
No. Bids go in steps of 10: 70, 80, 90… up to 230.
What does "COMPTE" mean in Touti?
It is the signal telling your partner you have a Ghna, i.e. the Rey and Cabal of the same suit.
Can you come back into the auction after passing?
No. A player who passes is out of the auction for the whole hand. They can only send signals to their partner.
What happens if nobody bids?
If all four players pass without bidding, the hand is cancelled and redealt.
How much should I bid with two Aces?
Two Aces alone rarely justify more than 70. With a long suit for trumps, a guarded 3 or a Ghna, 80 to 100 is reasonable. It is a guideline, not a rule.
Read also
Other games on Atlas
- RondaCapturing card game with a 40-card Spanish deck, for 2 players or 4 in teams of 2; the first side to 33 points wins.
- RummyRummy game with two 52-card decks and jokers: you lay down runs (Suivi, e.g. 7♥ 8♥ 9♥) and sets (Tria, e.g. 9♠ 9♥ 9♦). Simple, Rummy 51 and Rummy 71 modes, 1 vs 1 or 2 vs 2.
- BeloteTrick-taking game with trumps and declarations, for 4 players in 2 teams of 2. Moroccan variant with 32 Spanish cards to 1,000 points, or French variant with 32 French-suited cards to 1,000 points.
Play Touti online
On iOS and Android, play all four games online and invite your friends to a private table.