Mariáš
| Three-player solo trick-taking game with marriages | |
| Origin | Czechoslovakia |
|---|---|
| Type | Trick-taking |
| Players | 3 |
| Cards | 32 |
| Deck | Piquet |
| Play | Clockwise |
| Playing time | 20 min. |
| Chance | Medium |
| Related games | |
| Ulti, Sixty-six | |
Mariáš is a three-player solo trick-taking game of the King–Queen family, but with a simplified scoring system. It is one of the most popular card games in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Hungarian national card game Ulti is an elaboration of Mariáš.
The variants of Mariáš in Czechoslovakia
- Lízaný mariáš (trick-and-draw game, 2 players, very similar to old german card game Mariage)
- Volený mariáš (three-hand, no drawing, "elder hand" player set-up trumph suit, second and third player defense together in partnership)
- Křížový mariáš (four-hand game, 8 tricks, "elder hand" set-up trumph suit and call (choose) one trumph honour card to be in partnership, 2 others are defenders)
- Licitovaný mariáš (three-hand game, bidding phase like Contract bridge, the strongest player makes commitement, 2 others are defenders, 10 tricks)
Basic game rules
- only 32 playing cards - A,10,K,Q,J,9,8,7 in four suits (card 10 is higher than King)
- follow the suit in the trick (like bridge)
- necessity play higher card to kill (take) the trick (unlike bridge)
- if unable to follow suit, necessity play trumph card (unlike bridge)
- if unable to kill the trick, smaller card is possible
No shuffle
The winner of the trick places the cards played to own winning stock on the table (and begin a new trick). Some deals are played only a few tricks and the contractor gives up the game or shows his hand as a winner. The score is calculated by summarizing of value cards in all stocks, but these cards stay in order. The card sequence in the tricks must be conserved. Dealer collect all stacks together with no shuffle and gives the oportunity to cut the cards before a new deal. The players can use the informations about following "cards in a row" in previous deal, if the cards were displayed. This aspect boost the calculations in the next deals, some hands look strong enough, but the reality is different due to curious distribution of honours in hands of other players.
Power of cutting
The cutting is a necessity (Cut -1, 0 or 1 card is forbidden) and especially the powerful finesse cause the strong cards can be send to the cutters hand in next deal. Dealer has some possibilities to prevent, he could collect the stocks in the right way before the cutting. Dealing is ordered by a scheme.
Scheme of dealing cards (after the cutting... alea iacta est)
- 7-5-5-5-5-5 in Volený mariáš (elder hand set-up trumph when he has seven cards in hand, after the setting he takes the second part - another five cards)
- 4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4 in Křížový mariáš (elder hand set-up trumph when he has four cards in hand)
- 5-5-5-2-5-5-5 in Licitovaný mariáš (the winner of bidding process can take two cards left on the table (talon) and put off another two cards and then he pronounces the commitements in his contract).
Further reading
- Tomáš Svoboda and coll.: Oficiální pravidla karetních her, Eminent, Prague 2002, ISBN 80-7281-116-9 Template:Cs icon
External links
 | This card game–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |