French Tarot Rules: The Ultimate Guide to Bidding, Scoring, & Where to Play Online

The 3 Golden Rules of French Tarot

Before we dive into the deep strategy of the tarot french game, we have to establish the foundational mechanics that keep the game moving. This isn't your standard poker deck; we are dealing with 78 cards of pure tactical potential. To get your head in the game, focus on these three non-negotiables first:

• The 78-Card Hierarchy: You have four suits (1-10 plus Page, Knight, Queen, King), 21 trumps (Atouts), and the wildcard Excuse.
• The Asymmetric Contract: One player (the Declarer) takes on the rest of the table (the Defenders) based on the strength of their initial hand.
• The Objective: It is not just about winning tricks; it is about winning the right tricks containing 'Bouts' or high-value cards to meet your contract points.

Picture yourself at a sun-drenched bistro in Lyon, the scent of espresso in the air and a heavy 78-card deck in your hand. You feel that slight flutter of nerves because the bidding is about to start, and your friends are watching your every move. You aren't just playing a game; you are participating in a century-old cultural ritual that demands both cold logic and a sharp eye for human behavior. This is where you prove you can navigate the complex 'Garde' contracts without flinching.

Technically, the game functions as a point-trick system where the 'Bouts' (the 1 of trumps, the 21 of trumps, and the Excuse) determine how many points you need to win. This mechanism creates a shifting target. If you hold all three Bouts, you only need 36 points; if you have none, you need 56. This variable goal-setting is why French Tarot is often considered more intellectually stimulating than Bridge for social play, as it forces constant recalibration of risk versus reward.

Card Values & The Hierarchy of the 78-Card Deck

Understanding the values of the tarot french game is the first step in overcoming the 'Shadow Pain' of looking lost at the table. In psychology, we call this building 'cognitive competence'—the more you internalize these numbers, the more mental bandwidth you have for actual strategy. Use this hierarchy to guide your initial hand assessment:

• The Bouts (Oudlers): The 1 and 21 of Trumps plus the Excuse. These are the most vital cards, worth 4.5 points each and lowering your victory threshold.
• The Kings: Worth 4.5 points; always try to save these for tricks where you can safely capture them.
• The Queens: Worth 3.5 points; powerful, but vulnerable to being over-trumped if played too early.
• The Knights: Worth 2.5 points; the most underrated defensive tool in the deck.
• The Pages: Worth 1.5 points; often used to bleed your opponents of their low-value cards.
• Low Cards (Cartes Basses): Every other card is worth 0.5 points. Individually they seem small, but in a 78-card deck, they make up the bulk of your points.

When we look at these values, we see a system designed to reward focus. The high density of low-value cards means that even if you lose the 'power' cards, a consistent defensive strategy can still lead to a win. This mirrors real-life resilience; it’s often the small, consistent wins (the 0.5 point cards) that accumulate into a successful outcome. Don't let the flashiness of the 21 of Trumps distract you from the workhorse cards in your hand.

The 'Excuse' card is a fascinating psychological element. It acts as a shield, allowing you to bypass a trick you cannot win without losing a valuable card. It represents the 'grace' in the game—a way to say 'I’m not participating in this specific conflict' while preserving your resources for a better opportunity. Mastering the Excuse is the mark of a player who understands that sometimes, the best move is to step back and wait for a more favorable landscape.

Mastering the Bidding: From Prise to Garde Contre

The bidding phase is the soul of the tarot french game. It’s the moment of truth where you decide if your hand has the 'main' (the power) to take on the table. You are essentially making a public commitment to your skill level, which is why it can feel high-stakes. The contracts are ordered by risk and reward, and understanding this hierarchy is essential for any player:

• Petite (Prise): The 'Small' bid. You think you can win, but you aren't certain. The point multiplier is 1x.
• Pousse: A legacy bid often replaced by the 'Prise' in modern play; it signals a slightly stronger hand but still uses the 'Dog' (the extra cards).
• Garde: The most common serious bid. You are confident. The multiplier is 2x.
• Garde Sans (Le Chien): You play without looking at the Dog. The cards in the Dog are added to your score at the end, but you don't get to use them to fix your hand. Multiplier is 4x.
• Garde Contre (Le Chien): The ultimate flex. The Dog goes to the Defenders' score, and you play with just your hand. Multiplier is 6x.

The mechanism behind the 'Dog' (Le Chien) is what makes the tarot french game unique. In a 4-player game, 6 cards are set aside. If you bid a Prise or Garde, you get to incorporate those 6 cards into your hand and then discard 6 cards of your choice (excluding Kings or Trumps). This allows for a 'correction phase' where you can shore up your weaknesses or build a 'void' in a specific suit to allow for trumping later.

Psychologically, the bidding phase is a game of signaling. You are telling the table what you are capable of, but you are also listening to their silence. When everyone passes and you take the bid, you become the 'Declarer'—the soloist against the orchestra. It’s an empowering position that rewards those who have done the internal work to trust their own assessment of a complex situation.

3 vs 4 vs 5 Players: The Dynamic Scoring Table

Adaptability is a key marker of emotional intelligence, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the variations of the tarot french game depending on the number of players. Whether you are at a crowded party or a quiet dinner, the game shifts its shape to accommodate the group. This flexibility is what has allowed the game to endure across generations. Use the table below to quickly understand how the mechanics change.

In the 5-player version, the mechanic of 'Calling a King' introduces a brilliant psychological twist. The Declarer names a King, and whoever holds that card becomes their secret partner. The partner doesn't reveal themselves until the King is played. This creates a period of 'social paranoia' where the Defenders don't know who to trust, and the Declarer is searching for their ally. It’s a masterclass in reading subtext and body language.

From a systems-thinking perspective, the 3-player game is the most 'pure' because the information density is highest. With 24 cards in hand, you have significant control over the flow of the game, making it a favorite for those who enjoy deep, calculated competition. Conversely, the 5-player game is the peak of the 'Social Strategy' category, emphasizing alliances and hidden roles over pure card-counting.

The Petit au bout: High-Stakes Strategy

The 'Petit au bout' is perhaps the most exciting and heartbreaking mechanic in the tarot french game. The 'Petit' is the 1 of Trumps. It is one of the three Bouts, making it incredibly valuable, but because it is the lowest trump, it is also the most fragile. If you manage to win the very last trick of the round while playing the Petit, you earn a 'Petit au bout' bonus for your team.

• The Reward: A 10-point bonus (multiplied by your contract) added to your score.
• The Risk: If you play the Petit in the last trick and lose it to a higher trump from the opposition, they get the bonus instead.
• The Strategy: As the Declarer, you must 'protect' the Petit by forcing the Defenders to play their higher trumps early so the Petit is safe at the end.
• The Defense: Defenders will try to 'hunt' the Petit, forcing the Declarer to play it early so it can be captured.

This specific rule creates a 'game within a game.' The entire round might pivot on whether that single, tiny card survives until the final trick. It’s a perfect metaphor for protecting your most vulnerable assets until the timing is exactly right. Many beginners make the mistake of playing the Petit too early out of fear, but the seasoned player knows that timing is everything.

Winning the last trick with the Petit is more than just a point boost; it’s a psychological victory. It signals to the table that you have perfect control over the card flow and the 'pulse' of the game. It’s the tarot equivalent of a walk-off home run, and the intellectual satisfaction it provides is a major reason why players keep coming back to this 78-card masterpiece.

The Excuse: The Wildcard of Emotional Intelligence

The 'Excuse' is the only card in the tarot french game that doesn't belong to a suit or the trumps. It is essentially a 'get out of jail free' card. When you play the Excuse, you do not win the trick, but you also do not lose the card. You simply set it aside and take it back into your score pile at the end, replacing it with a low-value 'Carte Basse' from your winnings if necessary.

There are a few key exceptions to keep in mind, because the Excuse has its own set of 'boundary' rules:

• If the Excuse is played on the last trick, it is lost to the winner of that trick (unless played as part of a 'Chelem' or Slam).
• If the Declarer plays the Excuse, they must be careful not to trigger a 'Petit au bout' accidentally if the Excuse was their only way to follow suit.
• The Excuse can be used to 'dodge' a trick where you suspect a Defender is about to play a high King or a high Trump.

Psychologically, holding the Excuse provides a sense of 'emotional safety.' It’s the card that allows you to stay in the game even when the pressure is high. It teaches us the value of strategic non-participation. In our busy lives, we often feel we have to respond to every 'trick' or conflict that comes our way. The Excuse reminds us that we have the right to hold onto our value and wait for a trick that actually matters.

In the hands of an expert, the Excuse is a tool for disinformation. By playing it early, you might lead your opponents to believe you are weaker in a suit than you actually are. It is the ultimate card for 'Social Strategy & EQ,' requiring you to understand not just the rules, but the expectations of the people sitting across from you.

Where to Play Online: Practice Like a Pro

Once you've mastered the rules of the tarot french game, the next step is practicing until the 'Bouts' and 'Contracts' become second nature. You don't need a trip to Paris to get a game going; the digital world has some incredible platforms where you can sharpen your claws against AI or join a lobby with players from around the world. Here are my top recommendations for practicing your strategy:

• Tarot Club: A classic community-driven site that offers free play and a very loyal French-speaking player base. Great for immersion!
• VIP Tarot: Available on mobile and web, this platform has excellent tutorials and a sleek UI that makes the 78-card deck feel manageable.
• Board Game Arena: A premier destination for all things strategy. Their Tarot implementation is rigorous and follows the official French Federation rules.
• GameDuell: Perfect for those who want a bit of competitive edge, offering tournaments and skill-based matching.

When you start playing online, my advice is to observe for a few rounds. Every digital table has its own 'vibe' and pacing. Some players move with lightning speed, while others take the full time to calculate every point in the Dog. Use this as an opportunity to practice your 'Garde' bidding logic without the pressure of a physical audience.

Remember, every expert was once a beginner who accidentally played their King into a trump trick. Don't be afraid of the learning curve. The complexity of the tarot french game is exactly what makes the eventual mastery so sweet. If you ever feel stuck on a specific hand, you can always ask a game strategist to help you break down the probabilities. Mastery is a journey, not a sprint, and these platforms are your training ground.

Final Wisdom: The Psychology of the Long Game

As we wrap up this guide, it’s important to reflect on why we play games like this. The tarot french game is more than a pastime; it’s a framework for decision-making under uncertainty. It asks us to evaluate our resources (the hand), make a commitment (the bid), and then work either alone or with a partner to achieve a goal. This is the very essence of human agency.

By learning these rules, you have equipped yourself with a sophisticated social tool. You’ve moved past the fear of looking foolish and into the realm of the 'intellectual thrill' that the tarot game provides. Whether you are playing a Petite for fun or a Garde Contre for the glory, you are engaging in a high-level exercise of focus and strategic empathy.

If you find yourself second-guessing your bidding logic, remember that even the most seasoned French players rely on 'probabilistic intuition.' You won't always have the perfect hand, but you can always play the hand you have with dignity and intelligence. That is the real 'Glow-Up' that comes from mastering a game of this depth. Keep practicing, keep observing, and soon you'll find that the 78 cards of the tarot french game feel like an extension of your own strategic mind.

FAQ

1. How many cards are in a French Tarot deck?

A French Tarot deck consists of 78 cards. This includes 56 suited cards (four suits: Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, Spades, each with an extra 'Knight' face card), 21 numbered Trumps (Atouts), and 1 special wildcard called the Excuse. This larger deck size is what gives the tarot french game its unique depth and complexity compared to standard 52-card trick-taking games.

2. What are the Bouts in French Tarot?

In the tarot french game, the 'Bouts' or 'Oudlers' are the three most important cards: the 1 of Trumps (the Petit), the 21 of Trumps, and the Excuse. These cards are vital because they each carry a high point value (4.5 points) and, more importantly, they reduce the total number of points the Declarer needs to win their contract. For example, having all 3 Bouts reduces your target from 56 points down to just 36.

3. What is the Excuse card used for in French Tarot?

The Excuse acts as a wildcard that allows you to skip a trick without winning or losing the card. If you play the Excuse, you do not follow suit; instead, you keep the card for your own score pile at the end of the round. It is a powerful defensive tool used in the tarot french game to protect high-value cards or to avoid being forced to play a trump card at an inopportune moment.

4. What is the Petit in French Tarot?

The 'Petit au bout' refers to winning the very last trick of a round with the 1 of Trumps (the Petit). If the side that wins the last trick also plays the Petit in that trick, they receive a significant point bonus. This is a high-risk, high-reward strategy because the Petit is the lowest trump and can easily be captured by a Defender if not protected carefully by the Declarer.

5. How do you bid in French Tarot?

Bidding in the tarot french game happens at the start of each round, where players assess their hands and decide on a 'contract.' Starting from the dealer's left, each player can pass or bid a Petite, Garde, Garde Sans, or Garde Contre. Each bid increases the multiplier and the risk. The player with the highest bid becomes the Declarer, playing alone against the other players (the Defenders).

6. How does the scoring work in French Tarot?

Scoring is calculated by comparing the points in the tricks won by the Declarer against the target points determined by how many Bouts they held. Each card has a specific value (e.g., Kings are 4.5, Queens are 3.5). After the points are totaled, a base 25-point bonus is added, plus the difference between the target and actual points, all multiplied by the contract level (e.g., 2x for a Garde).

7. Difference between French Tarot and Marseille Tarot?

French Tarot is a competitive trick-taking card game played with a specific 78-card deck, whereas Marseille Tarot is primarily used for divination or fortune-telling. While the tarot french game uses the same symbolic cards (Major Arcana as Trumps), its rules are focused entirely on strategy, bidding, and point accumulation rather than symbolic interpretation or spiritual readings.

8. How do you play French Tarot with 4 players?

With 4 players, the tarot french game is at its most standard. Each player receives 18 cards, and 6 cards are placed face-down in 'the Dog' (Le Chien). One player becomes the Declarer after bidding, taking on the other three players as a team. If the bid is a 'Prise' or 'Garde,' the Declarer can use the Dog to improve their hand before the trick-taking phase begins.

9. Rules for 5 player French Tarot calling a King

In a 5-player game, the Declarer 'calls' a King of any suit. Whoever holds that King becomes the Declarer's secret partner. They play as a team of 2 against the team of 3 Defenders. The partnership remains secret until the King is played. If the Declarer holds all four Kings, they can 'call' a Queen instead. This variation adds a layer of social deduction and hidden alliances to the game.

10. Can you play French Tarot online for free?

Yes, there are several excellent platforms to play the tarot french game online for free, including Board Game Arena and VIP Tarot. These sites offer both AI opponents for practice and live lobbies for human competition. Many platforms also include built-in rule guides and scoring calculators, which is incredibly helpful for beginners who are still mastering the 'Bouts' and contract multipliers.

References

en.wikipedia.org — French Tarot - Wikipedia

playingcarddecks.com — Tarot: Not a fortune-telling tool

iellogames.com — French Tarot Rulebook EN