This game for four players is named, as with the last, for the possibility of calling a King for a partner. However, there are a some more bids and possible bonuses to be won. Michael Dummett writes that for many people, Austrian Tarock means Konigrufen and I can’t blame them for that!


Cards

This is played with an Austrian Tarock pack of 54 cards using irrational ranking. It is made of:

22 Trumps, numbered I-XXI, and the Fool which counts as the highest trump.

Swords & Batons / Spades & Clubs
K, Q, C, V, 10, 9, 8, 7

Cups & Coins / Hearts & Diamonds
K, Q, C, V, 1, 2, 3, 4

The card values are:

The card points are counted in groups of 3 cards, subtracting 2 points for every group. Two odd cards count for 1 less than their sum and one odd empty card counts for nothing. This gives a total of 70 card points.


Deal

The first Dealer is chosen at random, deal then moves to the right after each hand. Each player, beginning with Dealer’s right is dealt two packets of six cards with the last six being dealt to a stock.


Bidding

Starting with Eldest, each player may bid to play as Declarer, either against all the other players or with a partner. Eldest has the privilege of calling “I wait”, instead of bidding or passing. Eleven bids are open to all players:

Just One: The stock is ignored, Declarer plays without a partner and must take just a single trick, no more, no less. If a player is able to win a trick, then he/she is obliged to do so. Scores 2 points.

Just Two: The stock is ignored, Declarer plays without a partner and must take just two tricks, no more, no less. If a player is able to win a trick, then he/she is obliged to do so. Scores 2 points.

Call without the stock: Declarer calls a King for a partner and must win 36 or more card points to win the hand. The stock goes unseen towards the defender’s tricks. Scores 2 points.

Beggar: The stock is ignored and Declarer contracts to lose every trick. If a player is able to win a trick, then he/she is obliged to do so. Scores 3 points.

Call and a Bird: Declarer calls a King for a partner and must win 36 or more card points to win the hand. Declarer may exchange with the stock for 3 cards and also contracts to win one of the Birds (ie Pagat Ultimo, The Owl, The Cockatoo, or The Marabou). Scores 2 points plus the points for the bonus.

Solo: Declarer plays without a partner and must win 36 or more card points to win the hand. Declarer may exchange with the stock for 3 cards. Scores 4 points.

Just One Exposed: The stock is ignored, Declarer plays without a partner, must expose his/her hand and must take just a single trick, no more, no less. If a player is able to win a trick, then he/she is obliged to do so. Scores 5 points.

No Trumps: Declarer plays without a partner and must win 36 or more card points to win the hand. There is no exchange and no trumps – the trump cards work as an ordinary suit. Scores 5 points.

Beggar Exposed: The stock is ignored and Declarer contracts to lose every trick with his/her cards exposed. If a player is able to win a trick, then he/she is obliged to do so. Scores 6 points.

Solo and a Bird: Declarer plays without a partner and must win 36 or more card points to win the hand. Declarer may exchange with the stock for 3 cards and also contracts to win one of the Birds (ie Pagat Ultimo, The Owl, The Cockatoo, or The Marabou). Scores 4 points plus the points for the bonus.

Solo Without: Declarer plays without a partner and must win 36 or more card points to win the hand. Declarer does not exchange with the stock. Scores 8 points.

If Eldest called “I wait” and everyone passes, then Eldest may choose from three possible plays:

Call: Eldest becomes Declarer, calls a King for a partner and must win 36 or more card points to win the hand. May exchange 3 cards from the stock. Scores 1 point.

All Beggars: There is no Declarer, players all compete to win the fewest points. The Pagat may not be played until it is the holding player’s last trump. The player who takes the most points loses and must pay each of the others 1 points. If the player takes more than 36 card points, then this is doubled.

Solo With: Declarer plays without a parnter and must win 36 or more card points to win the hand. Declarer may exchange six cards with the stock. Scores 2 points if won but 4 points if lost.


Calling for Partner

If the bid requires it, then Declarer must call a King and whoever holds that card is Declarer’s partner for the hand. As is common in these games, partner may not identify him/her self in any way but through playing their hand or by declaring for a bonus (see below). It is acceptable for Declarer to call a card that he/she holds and thus play alone, though they might have done better to bid a higher contract if they had such a strong hand. If Declarer has three of the Kings, then ‘the fourth King’ can be called, instead of naming the suit. If the called King is in the stock, then Declarer must play alone.


The Exchange

Some contracts allow Declarer to exchange 3 cards from the stock. The stock is divided into two groups of three cards, which are then exposed to all players. Declarer must then choose one group and take those cards into his/her hand. The remaining three cards will count towards the defender’s tricks at the end. Declarer must then discard 3 cards but may not discard Honours or Kings and may only discard trumps if there is no other option, if trumps have to be discarded, they must be declared to the other players. The discarded cards count towards Declarer’s tricks at the end.


Bonuses

After bidding is resolved, then players may, in turn announce for a bonus. It is not necessary to announce a bonus to win it but if you do, payment is doubled. Bonuses are won or lost by a team and payments to or by them are shared.

However, there are rules about who can announce and when. Declarer may announce freely, as may Declarer’s partner. However, other players may only announce if it known that they are opponents. So, if Declarer had bid to play without a partner, then there is no restriction on announcing. If Declarer has bid to call for a partner, then unless partner can announce a bonus, thus identifying him/her self, the other players cannot announce.

Pagat Ultimo: The last trick is won by the I of trumps. Scores 1.

The Owl: The second to last trick is won by the II of trumps. Scores 2.

The Cockatoo: The third to last trick is won by the III of trumps. Scores 3.

The Marabou: The fourth to last trick is won by the IV of trumps. Scores 4.

These above four bonuses are called The Birds.

King Ultimo: Wins the last trick with the called King. Scores 1 point.

Slam: Win all the tricks. Scores the game points x 4.

Honours: Win all three Honours in tricks. Scores 1.

Full Kings: Win all four Kings in tricks. Scores 1.

Captured King: The called King is won in tricks. Scores 1.

Captured Mond: The Mond is won in tricks. Scores 1.

Captured Fool: The Fool is won in tricks. Scores 2.


Play

If the successful bid was to win points, then Eldest leads to the first trick. If the bid was to avoid winning tricks (which includes bids of ‘just one’ etc), then Declarer leads. Play moves to the right, each player in turn must follow suit or, if they cannot, they must play a trump. If they can neither follow suit or trump, then they may play any card - though it cannot win. The highest card of the suit led wins the trick unless a trump was played, then it is highest trump that wins. However, there is one exception to this called the Emperor Trick: if all three Honour cards are played to the same trick, then it is the Pagat that wins it.


Scores

If the hand is won, then Declarer’s side is paid the score by each of the defenders. If lost, then Declarer’s side must pay each defender the score. Likewise, bonuses are won or lost by a side, not by individuals - unless Declarer is playing without a partner.