Played with a special deck of 78 cards also used for fortune telling and from which the modem deck is derived (the best representation of which is the Tarot de Marseilles, though many artists and occultist have designed interesting decks based on the same symbols). This game is popular in France and played with a modified Tarot deck of 78 cards (the New French Tarot Deck) in which the Trump cards represent scenes of 19th century daily life and the suit cards use standard clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades. However, it may be more mind-expanding to play the game with the traditional Tarot de Marseille deck since the illustrations are so striking and easy to remember.

1. Composition of the Deck

1.1. - The 22 original figures are: the Fool 0*, Juggler 1* the High Priestess 2, the Empress 3, the Emperor 4, the Pope 5 the Lover 6, the Chariot 7, Justice 8, the Hermit 9, the Wheel of Forturne 10, Strength 11, the Hanged Man 12, Death 13, Temperance 14, the Devil 15, the Lightning-struck Tower 16, the Star 17, the Moon 18, the Sun 19, the Last Judgment 20 and the World 21*.
* see 7.: these are the 3 Special Trumps.

1.2. - Four suits each of 14 cards, from Ace (low) to 10; four Court cards the Jack, the Knight, the Queen and the King.

1.3. - The suits are from low to high: Wands (Clubs), Coins (Diamonds),Cups (Hearts), Swords (Spades).

2. Object of the Game

The final bidder or Declarer (see: 6.3.) strives to obtain 56 points (pts.) when the tricks are counted, unless she has Special Trumps (STs) (honor cards) ("oudlers") also called les bouts in French : 0, 1, 21 - see: 6.4.), these lower the number of points needed to meet the contract.

The Opponents are temporarily allied against the Declarer and try to win as many tricks as possible so the Declarer cannot fulfill his contract (see: 9.). At each new hand, alliances change depending on who the final bidder is.

The highest scorer following the play of three hands wins the game. Several games are often played in succession.

3. Number of Players

* The Declarer picks a partner by calling for the person holding any one of the Kings, if she holds all the Kings, one of the Queens is called. The player holding the designated card remains silent and is only revealed when the card is played, meanwhile underhandedly helping the Declarer.

4. Announces / Declarations

4.1. - Table of the various announces

4.2. - The players have the option of making these announces. They must be shown to the other players before the start of the play. The player(s) who win(s) the hand get the bonus points, the points go to the Opponents in case of loss. These points are not multiplied by the contract.

5. Dealing

5.1. - Low card deals. 78 cards dealt counterclockwise, 3 by 3, for the number of cards, see: 3. Opposite or right hand player shuffles; the player to the left of the Dealer cuts.

5.2. - The deal passes one to the right after each new hand.

5.3. - A Crib ("chien") is dealt consisting of six cards (except for 5 players : 3). Dealt one by one but not first or last three of deck.

5.4. - The final bidder gets the Crib, shows it to the Opponents then selects six cards out of his hand and replaces them with the Crib cards. Trumps and Kings may not be discarded or left in the Crib, but should the player not be able to do otherwise, she must show those cards to the Opponents (see exceptions for bids 4. & 5. at 6.3.).

5.5. - If the Juggler "1" is a player's only Trump card he is required to say so and the hand is thrown in, the deal moves to the right.

6. Bidding

6. 1. - The player to the right of the dealer bids first, and the other players bid in sequence.

6.2. - The first player can either:

• Pass
• Bid higher than the last bidder
• If all players pass - > Redeal
• If every other player passes, the last bidder gets to play.

6.3. - The bids in order of rank are:

(1) Cannot select cards from the Crib (see 5.3) but counts them at the end of the hand.
(2) Crib not shown, points belong to Opponents at the end of the game.
(3) See 7.1.

6.4. - Regardless of the bid made, the final bidder or Declarer must obtain a predetermined amount of points, which decrease according to the number of Special Trumps (the Fool "0"; the Juggler "1"; the World "21") in his or her hand.

• 3 STs 36 pts
• 2 STs 41 pts.
• 1STs 51 pts.
• No STs 56 pts.

6.5. - Assessing a winning hand. Besides quickly estimating the number of points in a hand (see 9.1.1.), the major factor in assessing the strength of a hand is the number of Special Trumps (see 6.4.) and whether these are well protected, i.e., with many other Trumps. Having a void suit "coupe franche" is helpful if you have plenty of Trumps (you can cut from the start to win tricks). When you discard to the Crib it is good practice to keep just one card in a suit ("singleton").

7. Special Trumps

If the Declarer is dealt Special Trumps, "0", "1", "21", the number of points needed to meet her stated bid are reduced accordingly (see: 6.4.).

7.1. - "0", the Fool or "Excuse": This card is similar to the Joker in modern decks. It is used to "excuse" oneself from play e.g., if the suit is Cups, a King is played by one Opponent, the player who has the "0" can avoid playing the only Cup in his hand, and not lose his Queen. The trick is lost and a low card is substituted for the "0". It can only be played once. The Declarer, once the card has been played, places it on his stack of won tricks and substitutes a low card in the Opponents' trick, unless he loses it in the last trick. Only in the case of bidding for a Grand Slam, can the Fool "0" be kept until the last trick where it automatically wins.

7.2. - "I", the Juggler: Lowest Trump card, played last and winning the trick adds 10 pts. If the Opponents win the Juggler "1", they get the points.(+ rule 6.4.). Chasing after the "Juggler" ("la chasse au petit") is one of the strategies of the game.

7.3. - The World "21": This card cannot be lost, ( rule 6.4. applies).

8. Rules of Play

The player to the right of the Dealer plays the first card, except that if a Grand Slam was bid the Declarer starts. The next card is played by the winner of the trick.

8.1. - The same suit must be played, either low or high, if you do not have any suit card, play trump, if you have no trump cards reject any other card.

8.2. - If the suit is Trump or the last play was a Trump cut, a higher trump must be played.

8.3. - When the Declarer wins a trick, the cards are stacked next to him to be counted later when the hand has been played out; one of the Opponents stacks the tricks won by the opposing team.

8.4. - Only the last trick may be looked at again, but before the next card is played.

9. Scoring

9.1. - Complex Rules

These are subject to regional variations. At the end of the game, all the Declarer's tricks are counted. The low cards remaining (59) - 19 counted with the Trumps & Court cards = 20 pts. Cards are counted 2 by 2, each Court card & Trump with a low card, 2 low cards 1 pt.

The Declarer, wins if she obtains the points necessary (see 6.4.) If she exceeds this number, the points are multiplied by the bid (6.3) + 10 pts (x by contract) if the Juggler "1 ST" won the last trick + bonus announces/declarations (see: 4.1.).

If the player has failed to meet his bid, the points are divided equally up among the Opponents. The total score should be equal to zero (points added to the Declarer and substracted from the Opponents or the reverse).

Each hand is worth 25 base points to which are added the amount of points above the minimum contract (or below in case the contract was not succesfull). For example, if the Declarer succedes with a "Keep without the Crib" by 4, his points will be 25 + 4 = 29 x 4 (see 6.3.4.) = 116 but the "1" was lost to the Opponents, so the total equals 116 - (10 x 4) 40 = 76. The Declarer scores 228, each Opponent - 76.

Extra points must be added for Announces/Declarations (see 4.1.)

9.2. - Summary Tables

9.2.2. - Card Values and Scores

9.2.3. - Minimum points to win a contract (see 6.4)

3 STs 36 pts.	1STs 51 pts.
2 STs 41 pts.	No STs 56 pts.

9.2.4. - Basic hands are worth 25 points mutiplied as follows (see 6.3)

9.2.5. - Bonus points

Fists give the right to bonus points (depending on number of players and trumps in hand) see Table 4.1. These points are not multiplied by the contract (above), whereas in the case of the "0" kept to the last hand, the 10 pts. are multiplied by the contract.

10. Strategy

The limited scope of these rules does not allow us to expose the complex strategy of the game. However, attention to detail, memory and teamwork are involved and remembering the cards played, especially the Trump, Special Trump and Court cards is vital. (Pointers: see 6.5; 7.1; 7.2). Opponents may not openly discuss strategy or exchange information, though it is hard to keep innuendoes from flying ("jouer à la parlante").

Though these rules may seem complex, as with many card games, such as Cribbage, playing a few hands will clarify matters rapidly, this game is often played in France in country houses during vacations or long week-ends late into the night with much humor, laughing, teasing and fueled by inebriating liquids and coffee.

11. Blank Scoring Table

click here and print if you like.

12. Tarot Links

2 sets of Rules in French:

• http://www.chez.com/lhuillier/tarot.html
• http://www.chez.com/pvincend/tarot/texte/htm

Another version in English:

• http://www.netlink.co.uk/users/pagat/tarot/frtarot.html