Abstract: Process for the manufacture of a paper or a cardboard having improved retention, in which a polyacrylamide and bentonite are added to the fibrous suspension, wherein in that the polyacrylamide is a branched polyacrylamide, which is easily soluble in water, and is introduced in the dissolved powder form at a concentration of 0.03 to 1.0 per thousand (0.03 to 1.0%) by weight of the dry weight of the fibrous suspension.