Mattazza

 

 

This is one of those fun, the more the merrier, type of games and, like the Queen of Spades, the object is to avoid winning the most points and so becoming the loser. However, if a player wins no points at all, then they automatically lose the hand instead. It can be played with up to 6 players for a fixed stake.

 

 

Deal

 

First Dealer is chosen at random, usually by cutting the cards. Deal and play are, as usual, counter-clockwise, with deal passing to the right after each hand.

 

Each player, no matter how many are playing, receives two packets of 5 cards. The remaining cards are put aside unseen and play no further role.

 

 

Play

 

Eldest leads to the first trick, playing any card in his/her hand to the middle of the table. Each player in turn must follow suit. If a player cannot follow suit, then they must play a trump. If they cannot play a trump, then they can play any card, though it will not win. If no trumps have been played, then the highest card of the suit led wins the trick, otherwise, the highest trump played wins the trick. The player that wins the trick, adds the cards to his/her trick pile.

The Fool may be played to any trick as an excuse for not playing a card you are otherwise obliged to play, though it beats nothing. If the Fool is led to a trick, then the next player’s card determines the suit to be followed. At the end of a trick to which the Fool has been played, the player takes back the Fool and adds it to his/her own trick pile and gives the trick’s winner a card from his/her trick pile in exchange - if possible, they give a card that will increase the trick winner‘s score.

 

If the cards of an individual trick contain a cricce or sequence, then the player that wins the trick, scores for these extra points.

 

At any point in the game, a player may call out for a partner to help prevent a particular player win any tricks. If someone joins in the enterprise, they may not announce it. This is a risky gambit because, if they fail, then one of the players is very likely to find themselves the loser of that hand.

 

 

Scores

 

At the end of the hand, players add up their card points and score for any cricce or sequences as normal. The usual practice of just one person checking for these scores is not possible unless only two are playing. If two or more players tie for the most points, then they are considered joint losers.

 

Each time a player loses a hand, they get a mark by their name. Once a player has six marks, they are declared the game’s loser and must pay the agreed stake to each of the other players. However, if at any stage two players have 3 or more marks between them then they are declared joint losers and must share the cost.