Objective of the Game
In Tarot, the objective is to gather enough points in partnership, where one player takes the role of the attacker while the others defend.
Game Components
- A tarot card set consisting of 78 cards:
- 21 trumps (numbered from 1 to 21)
- 1 Fool (Joker, which is not counted as a trump)
- Four suits (Hearts, Diamonds, Spades, Clubs) each with 14 cards (Ace to King)
Number of Players
Tarot is typically played with 4 to 5 players.
Card Values
- 21 trumps in rank order from 1 ("Petit") to 21 ("World") which are powerful.
- Fool: Special card with no direct point value.
- Suits (Hearts, Diamonds, Spades, Clubs) ranked as Ace, King, Queen, Knight, Jack, down to Seven.
Setup
- Shuffle the cards.
- Deal 18 cards to each player in a four-player game. The remaining cards form the "dog" (Chien) and are set aside.
Gameplay
- Bidding: Players determine who will attack by bidding on various play options ("Petite", "Garde", "Garde sans le chien", "Garde contre le chien"). These options vary in difficulty and the number of points required to win.
- Taking the Dog: The attacker picks up the "dog" and adjusts their hand, before placing cards back.
- Tricks:
- The attacker leads the play. Players must follow the suit if possible, otherwise they must play a trump or any other card if not.
- The winner of each trick leads the next.
- The Fool: This card can be played to avoid winning a trick when unable to follow suit or wishing not to win – it is never captured.
Winning Conditions
- Trick points are counted in "Genérations", with King, Fool, and World acting as "Bouts" possessing a special score value.
- The attacker must collect a minimum number of points. This number depends on the number of "bouts" in their tricks (more "bouts" require fewer total points).
Scoring
- Various intricate ways to compute scores depending on the bidding situation. Essentially, at least 36 points must typically be achieved, depending on bouts and type of attack chosen.
Strategic Tips
- Lead Play: Never underestimate the first trick – it can reveal card distribution.
- Trump Tracking: Keep track of played trump cards.
- Defensive Tactics: Split and conquer - initially spread out to prevent the attacker from dumping high cards.
Tarot presents dynamic strategies and fascinating rules, offering both seasoned and new players tactical challenges while encouraging interaction. Enjoy the game and the strategic depth it brings!
