Objective
Tarocchi is a traditional card game primarily popular in Italy. The goal of the game is to score as many points as possible by winning tricks and collecting points. Players aim to skillfully play their cards to capture tricks, which form the basis for scoring.
Components
- A Tarocchi deck, consisting of 78 cards, divided into 22 trump cards and 56 suit cards (similar to the French-style playing cards, consisting of four suits).
Setup
- Cards are shuffled and dealt equally among all players.
- The player who leads the first trick is determined by draw or by previous game results.
Gameplay
- Tarocchi is played in rounds. In each round, players play their cards to win the trick.
- Generally, the player to the left of the dealer starts by playing a card from their hand. Subsequent players must follow suit whenever possible.
- Trump cards can be played to win tricks if a player is void in the led suit.
- If a player cannot play a trump, they may discard any other card.
Scoring
- Each won trick can score points, with certain cards being worth more than others.
- Typically, special cards like the Pagat (1), the Mond (21), and the Sküs (also known as the Fool or Trump 0) have special point values.
Strategic Notes
- Knowing which cards have been played is crucial for strategy. Players should try to remember the played cards and deduce which cards remain in play.
- Tactically holding trump cards until the end of the round can be decisive for winning critical tricks.
Special Rules and Nuances
- Partnerships and team strategies are central when playing in fixed partnerships.
- Sometimes, there is a rule that the Sküs cannot be used in a trick, adding another layer of strategy to the game.
End of the Game
- The game ends when all cards have been played. Points from won tricks are totaled, and the winner is determined either by reaching a certain point threshold or by having the highest score after a set number of games.
