| Mariáš | |
| Subtitle: | Three-player solo trick-taking game with marriages |
| Alt Names: | Mariasch |
| Type: | Point-trick |
| Players: | 3 |
| Play: | Clockwise |
| Num Cards: | 32 |
| Deck: | Bohemian or William Tell cards |
| Origin: | Czechoslovakia |
| Related: | Ulti, Sixty-six |
| Playing Time: | 20 minutes |
| Random Chance: | Medium |
Mariáš or Mariasch a three-player, solo trick-taking game of the king–queen family of ace–ten games, but with a simplified scoring system. It is one of the most popular card games in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but is also played in Bavaria in Germany as well as in Austria. The Hungarian national card game Ulti is an elaboration of Mariáš.
The winner of the trick places the cards played to own winning stack on the table (and begin a new trick). Some deals are played only a few tricks and the declarer resigns or shows a winning hand. The score is calculated by adding the counters in all the stacks, but these cards stay in order. The card sequence in the tricks must be conserved. Dealer collect all stacks together without shuffling and offers the opportunity to cut the cards before a new deal. The players can use the information about following "cards in a row" in previous deal, if the cards were shown. This aspect boost the calculations in the next deals, some hands look strong enough, but the reality is different due to odd distribution of honours or suits that are too long or too short in the hands of other players.
Cutting is necessary (note that cutting just one card, or all bar one card, is forbidden) and especially the powerful finesse cause the strong cards can be sent to the cutter´s hand in next deal. Dealer has some possibilities to prevent, he could collect all the stacks in the right way before the cutting. Dealing is ordered by a scheme, after the cutting... alea iacta est)
"Flek!" (reply by defenders after the contract announcement) doubles the stake. The declarers can reply with "Re", etc.Hearts set up as trump suit – double payments.
Rufmariasch is a Danube Swabian variant of Marias for 4 players with variable partnerships. A William Tell pack of 32 cards is used with Aces ranking high and the usual four suits: Green (Grüne), Bells (Schelle), Acorns (Eichel) and Hearts (Herz).The dealers shuffles and has the cards cut before dealing 4 cards each. Forehand in this game is the declarer (Spieler, lit. "player") must now "call" by naming any card in the pack. The called card determines trump and its holder becomes the declarer's secret partner. The dealer now deals the remaining packet of 4 cards to each player.[1]
Players may score bonus points by melding the King and Ober of the same suit. This may be done before play begins and up to the play of the last card of the first trick. A player melds by laying both cards on the table. Provided the melder takes at least one trick during play, this scores 20 points that team. A trump meld scores 40.[1]
The declarer leads to the first trick. Players must follow suit if able; otherwise must trump if possible. Subject to those rules, players must also head the trick if they can. The highest trump takes the trick or the highest card of the led suit if no trumps are played. The trick winner leads to the next trick.[1]
Teams score 10 points for each Ace and Ten taken in tricks; in addition there are 10 points for winning the last trick. Melds are added to the score if the melder took at least one trick. The team with the higher score wins and the losers pay the difference to the winners.[1]