Objective of the Game
Hungarian Tarock is a traditional card game where the objective is to score as many points as possible by winning tricks. Each player attempts to strategically play cards to maximize their points.
Components
- A special deck of Tarock cards consisting of 42 cards, with 22 trump cards (Tarocks) and 20 suit cards (5 cards each in Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, Spades).
Setup
- Thoroughly shuffle the deck.
- Each player receives seven cards. Depending on agreement, the game can be played with different numbers of players, but is best with three to four players.
Basic Rules
- Players with Trump cards have an advantage, as these rank higher than all suit cards.
- There's a following-suit obligation, meaning a player must follow the suit led if possible.
- If a player cannot follow suit, they must play a Tarock.
- The goal is to win tricks, collecting as many points as possible.
Card Characteristics
- Suit cards: These generally hold lower rank compared to Tarock cards.
- Tarock cards: These are the trump cards and can overtake suit cards.
- The Sküs (highest Tarock) is the most valuable card.
Game Play
- The forehand player plays the first card. The other players follow clockwise.
- Players must, if possible, follow the suit that was led.
- The player with the highest card of the led suit or the highest Tarock wins the trick.
- The trick winner leads the next trick.
- Collect the won tricks in a separate pile per player.
Scoring
- Tarock cards hold different point values, with Sküs being the highest.
- Suit cards are worth one point each.
- At the end of the round, tally the points from the collected tricks.
- The player with the most points wins the game.
Strategic Tips
- Maintain control of the game: Try to play Tarock cards early to ensure you can follow suit in later rounds.
- Keep track of played cards to estimate the likelihood of what cards others hold.
- Use the Sküs card strategically to win crucial tricks.
Enjoy playing Hungarian Tarock!
