Tarot

Three Player

Deal

The Deal and play are counter-clockwise. After shuffling, the Dealer allows the person on the left to cut. The dealer then distributes the cards starting with the person on the right (‘Eldest’). The cards are dealt in packets of 5. The Dealer takes the remaining three cards (the Talon) into her hand, and discards an equal number face down in front of herself, which will count for her at the end. She may not discard an Honour (a King, the I or XXI of Trumps, or the ’Scuse), and may not discard Trumps unless necessary in order not to discard an Honour.

Play

Eldest leads to the first trick. All must follow in turn with a card of the suit led, if possible; otherwise they must play a Trump; otherwise they may play any card. The player of the highest Trump (if any), or otherwise the highest card of the suit led, wins the trick and places the cards face down in front her. She then leads to the next trick.

The cards rank in the Traditional order: In black or ‘straight’ suits, the numerals follow the Courts in descending order; in red or ‘round’ suits, the numerals follow the Courts in ascending order:

• ♠♣︎ K Q Kn J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
• ♥♦ K Q Kn J 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
• XXI, XX, XIX, ... IV, III, II, I

The ’Scuse is the exception to the obligation to follow suit or trump. It may be played at any time and excuses the player. Instead of being collected with the trick, however, it is taken into the player’s own trick pile and another card from the player’s trick pile is given to the winner of the trick instead. Note that if the player of the ’Scuse takes no tricks, he must surrender it to the winner of that trick. If played to the last trick, the ’Scuse is lost the winner of the trick. (This is the ‘classic’ use of the ’Scuse; in the Tapp Tarock family it will become simply Trump XXII.)

Score

Cards are counted as below.

A Game is when everyone has dealt once. Everyone may keep a running total of the difference between their points and the average (26). At the end of the game, those with a negative score may pay one game point each to those with a positive score; or the lowest may pay everyone a small stake, such as a drink.

Four Player

All as above, except:

The four players form two fixed partnerships.

Each player receives 19 cards, with the dealer receiving the final two.

The cards are counted in 4s, rather than 3s (with the dealer’s discard counting as 1) making a total of 72. Thus, each team will score the difference between their points and 36. A game is 4 hands.

Card Ranks and Values

The cards rank as follows from high to low in each suit:

To count the number of Card Points taken, add up the point values from the counting cards (the face cards, the ’Scuse, Mond, and Pagat), and count in addition 1 point for every three (or four) cards.