Tarot (Card Game)
Officially Tarot
Trick-taking card game family using TAROT DECK (78 cards including 21 TRUMPS + FOOL). Originated 15th-century Italy. FRENCH TAROT (Tarot Français) most popular — 4-player game. Also Italian Tarocchi, German Tarok, Hungarian Tarokk. Different from Tarot DIVINATION (started 18th century). Serious mind sport in France; Tarot Federation organized.
What is Tarot (Card Game)?
Tarot is TRICK-TAKING CARD GAME FAMILY using TAROT DECK — 78 CARDS including 4 standard suits (14 cards each = 56) + 21 TRUMPS (Trionfi / Trumps Major) + 1 FOOL (Excuse). ORIGINATED 15TH-CENTURY ITALY (Milan area) as GAME BEFORE DIVINATION. Divination usage started 18TH CENTURY France by ETTEILLA + later ROMANTIC MOVEMENT — modern tarot reading is LATE addition; original purpose was CARD GAME. Major variants: (1) FRENCH TAROT (Tarot Français) most popular internationally — 4 players (3+dummy possible), uses 78 cards, considered SERIOUS MIND SPORT in France with FÉDÉRATION FRANÇAISE DE TAROT + national tournaments. (2) ITALIAN TAROCCHINI (78-card + regional variants). (3) GERMAN TAROK (Cego, Königrufen — Austrian). (4) HUNGARIAN TAROKK (Königrufen variant). GAMEPLAY generally: DECLARER bids to take certain trick target; PARTNERSHIPS + TRUMPS + BONUS CARDS (Bagat, Mond, Skus in some variants). SCORING complex — specific bonus cards + trump captures + declarer contract fulfillment. Serious depth comparable to Bridge. TAROT NOUVEAU deck (18th century French) is game standard; RIDER-WAITE deck (1909) DIVINATION standard. Popular France + Central Europe + Austria + Hungary + parts Italy.
Quick facts
Category
Card Games
Type
Individual
Players
3–5
Duration
~120 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
card table
Country of origin
🇮🇹 Italy
Estimated origin
Originated 15th-century Milan Italy; French Tarot developed 18th century; divination usage started late 18th century
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
In French Tarot: declarer wins/loses contract based on trick captures + bonus card holdings.
Rules
Basic rules
French Tarot: 4 players, 78 cards
Each dealt 18 cards; 6-card 'chien' (dog) set aside.
BIDDING: 4 bid levels (Petite, Garde, Garde Sans, Garde Contre)
Higher bid = declarer needs more tricks + can't use dog.
DECLARER plays alone vs 3 defenders
Declarer takes dog cards into hand + discards 6 (except Garde Sans+Contre).
Trump suit always trumps; Fool = 'Excuse' (special)
Trumps 1-21 + Fool = 22 trumps; suit cards below.
BONUS CARDS: Petite (Trump 1), Mond (Trump 21), Fool — 'Oudlers'
Declarer needs specific trick count based on # of oudlers won (0-3+).
Contract Bonuses: Poignée (10-15+ trumps in hand), Chelem (all tricks)
Declared before or during play.
Scoring
Complex — trick points needed based on oudlers held + bonuses + contract multipliers.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| 0 oudlers: need 56 pts | -30 base + margin |
| 1 oudler: need 51 pts | -30 base + margin |
| 2 oudlers: need 41 pts | -30 base + margin |
| 3 oudlers: need 36 pts | -30 base + margin |
| Contract multipliers: Petite ×1, Garde ×2, Garde Sans ×4, Garde Contre ×6 | Applied to margin |
| Poignée (10-13-15 trumps) | 20/30/40 bonus |
| Chelem (all tricks) | 200/400 bonus |
Win condition · Highest cumulative score after set hands.
Playing area
Called
card table
Dimensions
standard 4-seat table
Table with card layout + score sheet.
Equipment
Tarot Nouveau deck (78 cards)
€10-20 game-appropriate deck (Grimaud brand French standard)
Score sheet + pencil
Track complex scoring
Strategies
Count oudlers to determine bid safety
0-1 oudlers = risky contract; 2-3 = safer.
Manage Petite (Trump 1) carefully
Highest-value single card; win last trick with it = 10-pt bonus.
Discard high suit cards to dog carefully
Dog cards go to declarer's score pile.
Terminology
- Trump
- Any of 21 numbered trumps (Trionfi).
- Oudler
- Bonus card: Petit (1), Mond (21), Fool. Declarer target depends on # held.
- Fool / Excuse
- Special card; can be played anytime; captured to owner's team.
- Petite / Petit
- Trump #1; valuable oudler; extra points if wins final trick.
- Mond
- Trump #21; oudler + high value.
- Chien / Dog
- 6 cards set aside for declarer in Petite + Garde bids.
- Poignée
- 10/13/15+ trumps held bonus.
- Chelem
- Win all tricks; 200/400 bonus.
- Preneur / Declarer
- Player who won bid + plays alone.
Major competitions
French Tarot National Championship
annual · France · since 1973
European Tarot Championship
biennial · Europe · since 2000
Königrufen tournaments (Austria)
annual · Austria · since 1950
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Fédération Française de Tarot (FFT)
Founded 1973 · France
Official site ↗International Confederation of Tarot Players (ICT)
Founded 2000 · France
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Various French Tarot champions
- Etteilla (Jean-Baptiste Alliette, France, 1738-1791) — Popularized tarot divination (different use)
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Play French Tarot online (BOARD GAME ARENA, TarotClub)
Learn against AI + humans.
- 2
Buy Tarot Nouveau deck (Grimaud, €15)
Standard French game deck.
intermediate
- 1
Master bidding + oudler counting
Foundation of French Tarot strategy.
- 2
Local tarot club in France or francophone community
Community learning.
advanced
- 1
Fédération Française de Tarot tournaments
National + regional ranked play.
Frequently asked
What is Tarot the card game?+
TRICK-TAKING CARD GAME FAMILY using TAROT DECK (78 cards including 21 TRUMPS + Fool). Originated 15th-century ITALY as GAME (divination use came MUCH later, 18th century). FRENCH TAROT (4 players) most popular internationally. Also Italian Tarocchini, German Tarok/Cego, Austrian/Hungarian Königrufen/Tarokk. Serious MIND SPORT in France with national federation + tournaments. Considered comparable in depth to BRIDGE.
Is Tarot the card game different from Tarot for divination?+
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT USE, SAME DECK ORIGIN. TAROT WAS INVENTED AS A CARD GAME (15th-century Italy) — divination usage started 300+ years later (late 18th century France by Etteilla + Romantic movement). MODERN DIVINATION uses RIDER-WAITE SMITH deck (1909) with different art + occult symbolism. TAROT GAME uses TAROT NOUVEAU deck (French, 18th century, non-occult imagery). Both decks have same STRUCTURE: 22 major arcana (trumps + Fool) + 4 suits × 14 cards = 78 cards. Game came first. In France + Italy today, MANY people play tarot as CARD GAME with NO divination association.
How popular is French Tarot?+
VERY POPULAR IN FRANCE — considered serious mind sport comparable to Bridge. FRANCE has FÉDÉRATION FRANÇAISE DE TAROT (FFT, founded 1973) with 30,000+ registered players, 500+ clubs, national championship annual. Estimated MILLIONS play informally in France. Also popular ITALY, AUSTRIA, HUNGARY. GLOBALLY LESS KNOWN outside these countries — many mistakenly think Tarot only used for divination. TAROT NOUVEAU decks widely sold French supermarkets alongside standard playing cards.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — French tarot— Wikipedia
- Fédération Française de Tarot— FFT