Round sequence
The server shuffles all 54 cards, selects the dealer and starting player, then deals. Declaration or bidding follows, then counter-clockwise trick play, scoring, and the end of the round.
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Game rules
Learn the shared foundations first, then continue with the rules for four, three, or two players.Rules shared by every version
These rules apply whether Tarock is played by two, three, or four players.
Deck
Tarock uses 54 cards: 32 suit cards and 22 trumps. Pagat, Mond, and Sküs form the trula.
Following
Follow the led suit when possible. Otherwise play a trump; if you have neither, play any card. A trump lead must be followed with a trump when possible.
Winning a trick
The highest trump played wins the trick; if no trump was played, the highest card of the led suit wins. The winner leads the next trick.
Direction and goal
Play moves counter-clockwise. Winning a standard game requires more than 35 card points.
Counting
Card values and the exact counting method are shown in the table below.
Counting tricks
Card values
What is a counting card?
The counting cards are the trula (Pagat, Mond, and Sküs), kings, queens, cavaliers, and jacks. Each is worth at least 2 points.
What is a platelc?
Platelci are the low suit cards: ace, 2, 3, and 4 in hearts and diamonds; 10, 9, 8, and 7 in spades and clubs. Ordinary trumps are not platelci, but they are also counted as 1-point cards.
| Card | Examples | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Trula | Pagat (I), Mond (XXI), Sküs | 5 points |
| King | King of any suit | 5 points |
| Queen | Queen of any suit | 4 points |
| Cavalier | Cavalier or knight | 3 points |
| Jack | Jack of any suit | 2 points |
| Other cards | Ordinary trumps and platelci | 1 point |
How are the cards totalled?
Arrange the cards in groups of three, add their values, and subtract 2 points from every complete group. In other words: subtract 2 from three counting cards; with two counting cards and one ordinary card, subtract 1 from the counting-card total; one counting card with two ordinary cards keeps its full value. Three ordinary cards count as 1 point.
When the final group is incomplete:
- Two counting cards: add their values and subtract 1 point.
- One counting card and one ordinary card: the counting card keeps its full value.
- Two ordinary cards, including two platelci: together they count as 1 point.
- One card: a counting card keeps its full value; an ordinary card counts as 0 points.
Complete scoring
Contracts, announcements, and the final score
Announcements
After using the talon and before the first card is led, the declarer may announce extra objectives. A successful announcement scores its full value; a failed one scores the same value negatively. An unannounced, quiet achievement is worth less.
| Announcement | Quiet | Announced |
|---|---|---|
| Trula | 10 | 20 |
| Kings | 10 | 20 |
| Pagat ultimo | 25 | 50 |
| Trulapagat | 50 | 70 |
| Valat | 250 | 500 |
Trula means winning Pagat, Mond, and Sküs; kings means all four kings; Pagat ultimo means winning the last trick with Pagat. Trulapagat combines trula and Pagat ultimo, while valat means winning every trick.
Contracts by value
A higher contract outranks a lower one during bidding. The chosen contract determines how many talon cards are taken.
| Contract | Value | Talon |
|---|---|---|
| Three / solo three | 10 / 20 | 3 cards |
| Two / solo two | 20 / 30 | 2 cards |
| One / solo one | 30 / 40 | 1 card |
| Solo without talon | 50 | no talon |
| Piccolo | 60 | no talon |
| Beggar | 70 | no talon |
| Open beggar | 80 | no talon |
Games without the talon
Klop
Everyone plays alone, the talon stays closed, and a higher legal card must be played when possible. All won card points are negative; a player taking no trick scores +10.
Solo without talon
The declarer plays alone, does not open the talon, and the opponents add it to their cards after play.
Piccolo
The declarer must win exactly one trick or lose the contract.
Beggar and open beggar
The declarer must win no tricks. In open beggar, the declarer's hand is exposed on the table.
Opposition
Contra doubles the challenged result (×2), re quadruples it (×4), and sub multiplies it by eight (×8). If only one announcement is challenged, only that item is multiplied.
Complete scoring example
In a three-player hand, the declarer plays ‘two’, wins 39 card points, and completes an announced trula. There is no contra.
Card result
39 − 35
+4
Two contract
base value
+20
Announced trula
successful
+20
Declarer's final score
+44
The full 39 card points are not added—only the margin above 35. The declarer's side scores +44 and the defending side −44. A contra on the entire game would make it +88 and −88.
Two-player tarock
A heads-up variant using open cards and three closed piles for each player.
Deal
Each player receives three batches of five cards, giving 15 in hand. Three piles of four closed cards are then placed before each player.
Declaring
The declaration is based only on the 15 cards currently held in the player's hand. The three piles remain closed during the declaration and must not be considered. The non-dealer first chooses whether to play for at least 36 points or pass the decision to the dealer. If both pass, the hand is still played without the declaration multiplier.
Opening piles
After the declaration, both players turn over the top card of each pile. If it is a trump or king, the player takes it into hand and immediately reveals the next card in that same pile. This continues only while consecutive trumps or kings remain on top. The player stops at the first ordinary card, which stays face up while the cards beneath it remain hidden. If all four cards are trumps or kings, the player takes all four and leaves the pile empty.
Playing exposed cards
Exposed top cards count as part of the player's available cards. Reveal the next card whenever one is played. When leading a trick, the player must use a card held in hand; they may lead from a pile only after their hand is empty. When playing second, they may answer with an exposed pile card, provided they still follow the suit or trump rules.
Winning and scoring
A player wins with at least 36 card points. Scoring multiplies only the difference from 35, not all card points collected. A successful declaration with 36 points scores (36 − 35) × 2 = +2; 40 points score (40 − 35) × 2 = +10. If the declarer loses with 34 points, the result is (34 − 35) × 3 = −3; 30 points score (30 − 35) × 3 = −15. A declared win is therefore doubled and a declared loss tripled. If neither player declares, the difference from 35 is scored without a multiplier and the loser loses as many result points as the winner gains: a 36–34 result scores +1 and −1; a 40–30 result scores +5 and −5.
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Portal rules
Rules that apply to rooms, started games, and player responsibility on the portal.
Cancel game
Only the room creator may cancel a started game, only during the first round and before the cards are dealt. From the second round onward, cancellation is not possible even before shuffling. Confirmation is always required.
25-point penalty
The game has not started yet. Cancelling it will deduct 25 points.
After the cards are dealt
The game can no longer be cancelled because the cards have been dealt.
The rating remains unchanged
An allowed game cancellation deducts 25 game points. The player rating does not change because the cards have not been dealt and the round has not been played.
How the player rating is calculated
The rating changes after every completed round. The portal uses an Elo calculation with K = 24 and compares the player's round result with every other player.