Terziglio

 

 

This is a game for three players with a bidding round to decide which player shall be Declarer and play against the other two in partnership.

 

 

Deal

 

Players decide who shall deal first, deal moves to the right after each hand is played.  Players are dealt 6 cards in each of three rounds, leaving 8 cards that make a stock pile. Michael Dummett mentions an alternative version in which players are dealt 19 cards with 5 cards making the stock.

 

 

Bidding

 

Starting with Eldest, players may call ‘I Play’ or ‘Solo’ to take the role of Declarer. A call of ‘I play’ is outbid by a call of ‘Solo’.  If called, bidding ends with Solo. If no one makes a call, then the hand is thrown in and deal moves on.

 

If Declarer had called ‘I Play’, then the stock pile is added to the cards dealt and declarer must discard 8 cards to a discard pile. These discards may not include tarocchi or Kings. However, if Declarer had won the bid with ‘Solo’, then the cards go unseen by all towards Declarer’s tricks. They will count toward Declarer’s tricks at the end unless all tricks are lost, then they must be surrendered to the opponents.

 

 

Declarations

 

Starting with Declarer, players take turns to declare any sequences or cricche that they individually hold in their hand.  The cards used to score these points must be exposed to all players, thus play can begin with important information in the open – however, these declarations are not obligatory and a player may declare for less than the cards actually held.

 

 

Play

 

Declarer then leads to the first trick and the standard pattern of play is followed. If any sequences or cricche are in a single trick, then the side that wins it scores those points.

 

Once the cards have been played, the card points are totalled, then the points for sequences and cricche.

 

The game is won by the side that has the most points.

 

 

Game Points

 

Game points are then awarded, often for gambling to determine the money won – or lost.

 

The winning side’s score is rounded to a multiple of 50 – if the score falls short by up to 4 points, then it is rounded up, if by more, then it is rounded down. This result is divided by 50 to give the game points won against each of the opponents. This score is doubled if a call of Solo was made. However, if all the tricks were won, then 40 game points are awarded!