GameTwist

Tarock, also known as 'Königrufen' (German for 'Call the King'), is a card game for 4 players. The game's origins hark back to the Austro-Hungarian empire in the 18th century.

The game utilises a total of 54 cards:

22 Tarock cards (Tarock I - XXI, Joker Tarot or 'sküs')
32 Suit cards (8 cards per suit - Hearts, Diamonds, Aces & Spades)

Apart from negative contracts and 'Farb Dreier' tricks, the forehand always leads the round. Suit and trump must be followed. Each player receives 12 cards. The dealer then places 6 cards on the middle of the table in two lots of 3. This stack of six cards is called the talon.

Beginning with the player next to the forehand, each player is given the chance to place a bid greater than the last (more details under 'Bidding' in 'Rules'). The player who placed the highest resulting bid becomes the declarer. In positve contracts, the declarer and his/her partner must score at least 35 points or two-thirds of the total points to win the game. In negative contracts, the bid must simply be fulfilled.

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