The sixteenclubs were divided into two groups that would play in two phases. In the first phase, the Taça Guanabara, the teams from each group played within their group in a single round-robin. The two top teams from each group advanced to the Taça Guanabara playoffs and the next two best teams played for the Troféu EdilsonSilva. In the second phase, the Taça Rio, each team played against the teams in the other group. The two best teams from each group then advanced to the Taça Rio playoffs, while the next two best teams played for the Troféu Luiz Penido. The winners of the Taça Guanabara and the Taça Rio played each other to determine the winner of the Campeonato Carioca. If the same team had won both the Taça Guanabara and the Taça Rio, they would automatically have been awarded the Campeonato Carioca title.