Did you know that tarot cards were first used for playing card games and that they were created for that use?

Did you know that the invention of tarot marked the invention of trumps in card games?

Did you know that these games were once the most popular form of card game throughout continental Europe?

Welcome to Tarocchino, a non-commercial site dedicated to teaching and promoting the card games for tarot. You will find here the most comprehensive selection of tarot rules on-line, Anglicized to help introduce new players. There is a growing selection of cards reviewed, links to other sites and web stores that sell cards, and there is now a forum for you to find other players and discuss the games you have discovered.

These are early days for the site but I hope that you’ll take a little time to explore and find much to enjoy.

All original text and images are copyright Jerry Neill Furr

Just Click this image to download your pdf book of 25 games!

People are still surprised to learn that tarot cards are used to play games, more so, that they were invented for that purpose. In fact, this extraordinary family of card games is played across continental Europe. Until now, the only books in English dedicated to these games have been academic in nature. This volume presents an extensive selection from nine countries and in an accessible manner, so that a complete beginner will have no trouble starting play.

Tarot games are often compared to Bridge in terms of their sophistication, though they avoid such complex bidding systems, so that even new players can play well, if they stay sharp!

If you are looking for something new to play, something intelligent, whilst being both entertaining and social, then look no further than tarot! You may never use a 52 card pack again.

There are two editions of the book available. The download is and always will be, free. In the zip folder you will find a pdf of the entire book created for reading on your computer, there is also a folder of printable pdf documents of rules that have been typeset for A4 paper. This site is not commercial, it is about promoting the games! If you prefer your rules in a book, then you can order a printed copy from www.lulu.com - this is listed at a not for profit price, that is, you are only paying the printers, not me.

In the future, there shall be an occasional download publication called The Tarocchino, this will be a supplement to the book, introducing additional games, rules, and reviews, perhaps also becoming a community effort.