Rules
Auction Mariáš · Rules
Three players are dealt ten cards each; two cards form the talon. The auction comes before the contract and trump choice.
Objective
Win the auction with a contract you can complete, or help the defence defeat the bidder.
Deal and setup
Three players are dealt ten cards each; two cards form the talon. The auction comes before the contract and trump choice.
How to play — step by step
- In the auction, offer a higher contract, hold your position or pass; the auction consists of two successive contests.
- The winner takes the two talon cards and declares a contract at least as strong as their bid, choosing trump and any secondary suit.
- Discard two permitted cards, then process any doubles. Follow suit, overtake when possible, or trump without the led suit.
- After ten tricks, each part of the contract is scored separately. Check the contract ranking before you bid.
Important rules to remember
Play example
If you bid a higher contract, your later declaration must be at least as strong as the bid. Check the contract order before raising.
Key terms
- trump
- Suit that can take over a trick
- talon
- Two cards set aside after selecting the contract
- Betl
- Contract to take no tricks
- Durch
- Contract to take every trick
Contracts and scoring in this club
These are the rules implemented in Dáme Karty, not universal stakes for every Mariáš table. The amounts below are club units per opponent before doubles and special settlement. The auction offers twelve contract levels. A level is the minimum bid; the declarer then chooses a legal contract at or above that level.
1Seven (Sedma)2 + game
The trump seven must win the last trick for the declaring side.
2Red seven(2 + game) × 2
The trump seven must win the last trick for the declaring side. Hearts as trump double the total non-Betl/Durch settlement.
3Hundred (Sto)4+
100 qualifying points: card points plus the HIGHEST marriage of your side.
4Hundred and seven4+ + 2
100 qualifying points: card points plus the HIGHEST marriage of your side. The trump seven must win the last trick for the declaring side.
5Red hundred4+ × 2
100 qualifying points: card points plus the HIGHEST marriage of your side. Hearts as trump double the total non-Betl/Durch settlement.
6Red hundred and seven(4+ + 2) × 2
100 qualifying points: card points plus the HIGHEST marriage of your side. The trump seven must win the last trick for the declaring side. Hearts as trump double the total non-Betl/Durch settlement.
7Betl15
Take no tricks. The contract ends as soon as the declarer wins one.
8Durch30
Take all ten tricks. Settlement stops once any defender wins a trick.
9Two sevens40
Both target sevens must win the penultimate and last tricks (auxiliary seven first, trump seven last).
10Two sevens and hundred40 + 4+
Both target sevens must win the penultimate and last tricks (auxiliary seven first, trump seven last). 100 qualifying points: card points plus the HIGHEST marriage of your side.
11Two sevens — red trumps40 × 2
Both target sevens must win the penultimate and last tricks (auxiliary seven first, trump seven last). Hearts as trump double the total non-Betl/Durch settlement.
12Two sevens and hundred — red trumps(40 + 4+) × 2
Both target sevens must win the penultimate and last tricks (auxiliary seven first, trump seven last). 100 qualifying points: card points plus the HIGHEST marriage of your side. Hearts as trump double the total non-Betl/Durch settlement.
Worked club example
- Example: a won trump game (1) plus a successful announced seven (2) gives 3 units per defender; with hearts as trump the amount is doubled to 6.
- Example: in the auction, 60 card points plus the HIGHEST marriage of 40 gives a qualifying hundred (4 base units).
- A successful Betl pays 15 base units per defender; a successful Durch pays 30, before any valid doubles.
A player’s final balance also depends on which side declared the bonus, doubles and the exact deal. A net result is capped to 500 units per defender.