Mariáš


Mariáš or Mariasch a three-player, solo trick-taking game of the king–queen family of ace–ten games, but with a simplified scoring system. It is one of the most popular card games in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but is also played in Bavaria in Germany as well as in Austria. The Hungarian national card game Ulti is an elaboration of Mariáš.

Variants in former Czechoslovakia

Lízaný mariáš – trick-and-draw game, two players, very similar to old German card game, Mariage and Polish Tysiąc Volený mariáš – three players, no drawing, eldest hand determines the trump suit, the other players defend together in partnershipKřížový mariáš – four players, 8 tricks, elder hand sets up the trump suit and calls Licitovaný mariáš – three players, ten tricks bidding phase like in the contract bridge, the strongest player chooses the contract, the other two players become the defendersHvězdicový mariáš – five players, six tricks, bidding phase and contractor calls the trump honour, the other three players become the defenders

Basic rules

  • only 32 playing cards: A, 10, K, O, U, 9, 8, 7 in four suits
  • follow the suit in the trick
  • necessity play higher card to kill the trick
  • if unable to follow suit, necessity play trump card
  • if unable to kill the trick, smaller card is possible

No shuffling

The winner of the trick places the cards played to own winning stack on the table. Some deals are played only a few tricks and the declarer resigns or shows a winning hand. The score is calculated by adding the counters in all the stacks, but these cards stay in order. The card sequence in the tricks must be conserved. Dealer collect all stacks together without shuffling and offers 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 shown. This aspect boost the calculations in the next deals, some hands look strong enough, but the reality is different due to odd distribution of honours or suits that are too long or too short in the hands of other players.

Cutting

Cutting is necessary

Dealing

  • 7-5-5-5-5-5 in Volený mariáš
  • 4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4 in Křížový mariáš
  • 5-5-5-2-5-5-5 in Licitovaný mariáš.

Scoring

  • Ace = 10 points, 10 = 10 points, last trick = 10 points
  • Marriage trump suit 40 points, other suits 20, 20, 20 points
  • draw-game is not possible

Special contracts with bonuses

  • Betl or Durch are special plain-trick games incorporated
  • 7 – play the smallest trump card in the last trick
  • 100 – score 100 points or more
  • 2x7 – need win no-trump suit 7 in the penultimate trick, trump 7 after that in the last trick
"Flek!" doubles the stake. The declarers can reply with "Re", etc.
Hearts set up as trump suit – double payments.

Rufmariasch

Rufmariasch is a Danube Swabian variant of Marias for 4 players with variable partnerships. A William Tell pack of 32 cards is used with Aces ranking high and the usual four suits: Green, Bells, Acorns and Hearts.
The dealers shuffles and has the cards cut before dealing 4 cards each. Forehand in this game is the declarer must now "call" by naming any card in the pack. The called card determines trump and its holder becomes the declarer's secret partner. The dealer now deals the remaining packet of 4 cards to each player.
Players may score bonus points by melding the King and Ober of the same suit. This may be done before play begins and up to the play of the last card of the first trick. A player melds by laying both cards on the table. Provided the melder takes at least one trick during play, this scores 20 points that team. A trump meld scores 40.
The declarer leads to the first trick. Players must follow suit if able; otherwise must trump if possible. Subject to those rules, players must also head the trick if they can. The highest trump takes the trick or the highest card of the led suit if no trumps are played. The trick winner leads to the next trick.
Teams score 10 points for each Ace and Ten taken in tricks; in addition there are 10 points for winning the last trick. Melds are added to the score if the melder took at least one trick. The team with the higher score wins and the losers pay the difference to the winners.