Classic Tarot Rules
Game Objective
Tarot is a true strategy game where skill prevails over luck. As the elders used to say, it takes 10 minutes to learn the rules of Tarot and a lifetime to master them. Even if you understand this page easily, know that you'll need to practice again and again, as each game played will bring you more experience and make you stronger.
The 78 cards in Tarot and its 21 trumps make this game stand out in the card game family. On our platform, we offer two variants: 4-player and 5-player games, but the objective remains the same. For the taker (or takers in 5-player Tarot), your goal is to reach the required number of points based on your bid, while the defense — the 3 remaining players — must prevent that from happening.
Setup
Tarot consists of 78 cards: 56 standard suit cards, 22 trumps, including a joker called the Fool. We offer three game modes on our platform:
Classic 4-player Tarot:
The taker must score points, and the three defenders must stop them.
Trump Cards
The 21 trumps are the main cards. They are the strongest cards in the game. In a trick, the highest trump wins. Cards 1 and 21 are two of the “bouts”, the third one being the Fool. The beauty and elegance of the trump cards make Tarot a noble game.
The Fool
The Fool is a joker. If during a trick you don’t want to play a specific card and prefer to save it for strategic reasons, you can play the Fool instead. It is a highly strategic and coveted card.
Suit Cards
There are 56 suit cards, unlike a standard deck which has 52. Indeed, between the Jack and the Queen is a unique card called the Knight. The Knight is exclusive to Tarot and adds both depth and more possibilities to the game.
Card Distribution
In the classic 4-player game, each player receives 18 cards — a random mix of trumps and suit cards. Note that it's entirely possible for the draw to give you only suit cards. The remaining 6 cards form a reserve called the “dog”. This reserve goes to the taker if they choose a “Petite” or “Garde” bid.
Bidding Phase
In Tarot, there are 4 types of contracts with a multiplier coefficient applied to a base of 25 points:
- Petite (coefficient 1): This is the standard contract, with low risks and minimal rewards.
- Garde (coefficient 2): The stakes are higher than the first contract, and so are the potential losses.
- Garde without chien (coefficient 4): The chien is not given to the taker and remains hidden until the end of the game.
- Garde against chien (coefficient 6): The points in the chien go to the defenders at the end of the game.
Gameplay
The game follows these key steps:
1. Trick Taking
Each player plays one card following the suit led. If a player doesn’t have the required suit, they must play a trump or any other card of their choice if they have no trumps. Anticipating future tricks and remembering past ones is key to controlling your hand and avoiding playing cards you had hoped to save.
2. Handful (Poignée)
If a player holds 8, 10, or 13 trumps, they may choose to declare them to the other players. Although the cards are revealed, this allows the declaring player to earn additional points. Some players prefer to stay discreet, while the boldest will lay their handful on the table and take the risk to boost their score.
3. Petit au Bout
If you have Trump 1, also called the Petit, and your hand allows it, it's best to play it last. Successfully taking the final trick with the Petit grants bonus points at the end of the round. Hunting the Petit will be a key objective for other players, as it gives them extra points and can shift the final result.
5-Player Tarot (Setup)
In a 5-player game, each player receives 15 cards, and the dog consists of only three cards.
The taker must choose one of the 4 Kings to determine who their partner will be for the round. The partner is only revealed when the chosen King is played. The round begins with 2 takers against 3 defenders (unless the taker picked a King already in their own hand).
5-player Tarot is a variant highly appreciated by many players for the strategic and subtle depth it offers. Of course, this version is also available on our platform.