Mariáš (card game)
| Three-player solo trick-taking game with marriages | |
| Origin | Czechoslovakia |
|---|---|
| Type | Trick-taking |
| Players | 3 |
| Cards | 32 |
| Deck | Piquet |
| Play | Clockwise |
| Playing time | 20 minutes |
| Random 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 winner of the trick places the cards played to own winning stack 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 stacks, 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 opportunity to cut the cards before a new deal. The players can use the information 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 or too long or too short suits in hands of other players.
The cutting act is necessary (cut -1, 0 or 1 card is forbidden) and especially the powerful finesse cause the strong cards can be sent to the cutter´s hand in next deal. Dealer has some possibilities to prevent, he could collect all the stacks in the right way before the cutting. Dealing is ordered by a scheme, after the cutting... alea iacta est)
Kontra (comments by defenders after the contract announce) double finance prices. The contractors can answer rekontra, etc. Hearts set up as trump suit - doubled finance prices too.
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Wikipedia