Mariáš is a three-player trick-taking card game which is considered the most popular in both Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The game is also sometimes played under the name Mariasch. Mariáš is traditionally played using the special German Suited Czech deck. This is a 32 card deck which consists of eight cards in each of the four suits, hearts, leaves, acorns and bells. The eight ranks of cards in each of these suits are seven, eight, nine, ten, Under Knave, Over Knave, King and Ace. If such a special suited deck is not at hand, the game can be played using a standard 52 card International deck in which all cards of rank six, five, four, three and two have been removed. The rank of Under Knave would be equivalent to a Jack, and the Over Knave would be the Queen. The suit equivalencies from the Czech deck would be Spades - Leaves, Acorns - Clubs, Bells - Diamonds and of course, Hearts as Hearts.

The ranking of the cards in this game are slightly different during hands which feature a trump suit and those that do not. The ranking, from high to low, during a hand in which a trump suit is used, the ranking of the cards is (from highest to lowest); Ace, 10, King, Over Knave (Queen), Under Knave (Jack), 9, 8, 7. On the hands in which no trump suit has been set, the ranking of the cards would be (from highest to lowest); Ace, King, Over Knave (Queen), Under Knave (Jack), 10, 9 ,8, 7. All cards of rank 10 and Ace have a point scoring value and are thus called "sharp cards" in this game.

Determination of seating positions and first dealer can be performed using a variety of methods, with a draw for high cards a common such method. Using this method, the players would each draw a card from the shuffled deck, with any players drawing cards of equal rank discarding those cards and drawing again. Each player would then take their preference of seat at the table in order of cards drawn, from highest to lowest. The player drawing the highest card of all would be set as the first dealer. After each hand the role of dealer rotates around the table in a clockwise direction.

A unique feature of this game is that the cards are not normally shuffled between hands. The cards are generally only shuffled at a few specific times during a game:

• At the start of a new game.
• At midnight, if the game is still in progress.
• Every two hours thereafter.

Thus, on the first hand, the dealer will thoroughly shuffle the deck, however after this hand, the cards should instead all be gathered together from the table, formed back into a deck and then cut and dealt. The cut is mandatory, by the player to the dealer's immediate right. He then begins dealing the cards. He first gives the player at his immediate left (called the forehand) a packet of seven face-down cards, and the player at the left of that player a packet of five cards, and five cards to himself. He then distributes another packet of five cards to every player, resulting in the forehand player having 12 cards and the other two players (including himself) each having ten total cards.

Immediately after the deal, the forehand player is allowed to pick up only the original packet of seven cards he has been dealt and look at them. Based on these seven cards dealt, he has the option to select a trump suit. He does this by selecting any one of these seven cards, and placing it face-down on the table (with the identity of that card currently only known to himself). However, as an alternative, if he is not sure which suit to select, he may instead randomly select one of the five cards from his five card packet (sight unseen) and place it face-down on the table). This is called to "choose from the people". If the dealer selected this trump card unseen, he may look at it, not showing it to the other players, but leave the card face-down on the table. He then picks up all the but this face-down trump card, taking them into his hand. The suit of the card so selected sets the trump suit to be used for this hand. However, based on the results of the bidding, the hand may actually end up being played with no trump suit. The other players also pick up their ten cards, taking them into their hand.

After the forehand has thus selected a trump suit, a special round of bidding begins, starting with the forehand player. The forehand player must then select one of the following five contracts for play of this hand (shown from lowest ranked bid to highest):

• Suit:
This is a contract, only available to the forehand player, to play the hand using the trump suit as previously selected by the forehand player (the card placed face-down by this player). The goal of the forehand player is to win more total points during the hand then the other two players combined.
• Betl:
A contract of Betl, is one by a player to lose every trick during the hand. If the player wins one trick, the opposing players win the hand. No trump suit is used during a Betl contract.
• Durch:
The Durch contract is a contract bid to win every trick during the hand. There is no trump suit used during this hand. If either opponent manages to win one or more tricks, the opponents have won the hand.
• Open Betl:
This contract is similar to standard Betl, with a player undertaking to lose every trick during the hand. After the first trick has been played (which this player must attempt not to win), the high bidder of this contract must place his hand face-up on the table for all players to see. These cards are then compared to those of his opponents, and the cards so displayed must be the lowest remaining cards in their suit, still in play. If any other player has a card which could be beaten by any one of the bidders cards (in the same suit), the opponents win the hand. No trump suit is used in a bid of Open Betl.
• Open Durch:
This contract is similar to the Durch contract, in that the player is contracting to win every trick during the hand. After the first trick is played (in which the bidder must win), the bidder Open Durch must place his entire remaining hand face-up on the table for comparison with the remaining players hands. All nine of these remaining cards must be the highest remaining cards in those suits. If either opponent has a card higher, in the same suit as a card in the high bidding player's hand, the opponents win the hand. No trump suit is used in a bid of Open Durch.

If the forehand player wants to bid (and play) any type of hand higher than a "Suit" bid, he also takes the face-down trump card back into his hand. After making his bid, this player then discards any two cards from his hand, in a face-down packet to the middle of the table, as the talon. If his bid was "Suit" he may not discard any "sharp cards" (cards of rank Ace or ten).

After making this initial bid, forehand then asks each of the two players in turn (from left to right) if they would prefer to play a higher ranked contract. These players each, in turn answer with either "Good", indicating they are ok with the forehand player's current bid, or "Bad", which indicated they intend to make a higher bid, in order to become the high bidder for the hand. If both players announce "Good" the game can proceed with the forehand player's contract set as the high contract for the hand. However, as soon as a player announces "Bad", that player then picks up the two cards forming the talon from the table, adding them to his hand, and then discards any two cards form his hand (which can be the two talon cards he just picked up). He then must make a higher bid than the previous high bid. After making this higher bid, he then asks the other two players, in turn, if they intend to player a higher contract. These players then have the option to answer "Bad" or "Good". This process continues until both opponents of the player making a higher bid announce "Good".

Once a high bid is followed by two such calls of "Good", play of the hand can begin. If the high bid is "Suit" the player (forehand) who made that bid, then exposes the face-up trump card on the table, allowing all players to see the trump which will be used throughout the hand.

After the contract has been determined, if the high bid was for a "Suit" bid, there is also the opportunity to earn additional bonuses or penalties during the hand by winning/losing tricks with certain cards or capturing a minimum number of points during the hand. The following are the bonuses/penalties that are possible during such a "Suit" bid:

• Sedma (Seven):
This bonus can be earned by the high bidder if that player manages to win the last trick with the seven in the trump suit.
• Seven Against:
This penalties applies if one of the opponents of the high bidder wins the last trick with the seven of the trump suit.
• Sto (100):
This bonus applies if the player manages to earn a minimum of 100 points during the hand. This must include one Mariáš (see below). If more than one Mariáš was scored during the hand, those may not be considered for the minimum of 100 points required for earning this bonus.
• 100 Against:
This penalty is applied if the two opponents, combined manage to earn a minimum of 100 points during the hand. This 100 point minimum may contain, at most, one Mariáš, with any Mariáš' not added for purposes of determining if this bonus was achieved and the specific number of Game Points awarded.

Note that these bonuses and penalties can also be announced before play. The high bidder can, if he believes he can achieve the bonus, announce "Sedma" or "Sto", or "Sto and Sedma", if he believes he can earn both bonuses. Announcing the bonus will increase the scoring for that bonus, if achieved at the end of the hand, but will also increase the penalty if not achieved.

Similarly the opponents of the high bidder can announce "Seven Against", "100 Against" or both "Seven Against and 100 Against" if they believe they can fulfill those criteria.

If a player announces Seven or Seven Against, he must have the Seven in his hand, and in play may never play the Seven until that last trick, unless, on an earlier trick that player has no other legal alternative but to so play that card.

In addition to the potential calls for these bonuses, an opponent of the current high bidder may also make a bid to double the base point value for the current hand. He does this by stating "Flek" after the high bidder has made his bid. The high bidder may double again by stating "re". The opponents can then again double by stating "tutti". This doubling of the base point value for the hand can continue indefinitely, alternating between an opponent of the high bidder and the high bidder. Each double made serves to double the current value of the base bid for that contract. In addition to the doubling of the base value of the contract, a similar doubling can be announced for any of the announced bonuses. Thus, the base call and each bonus can be independently doubled as wanted, which would thus increase the point value for that particular bonus.

Once all the bidding and announcements have been made, actual play of the hand begins. The first trick is led by the high bidder (also called the lone player).

The leader to a trick may play any card of choice from their hand to start the trick. Each other player plays a card from their hand to the same trick. If the player to an existing trick has a card of the suit originally led to the trick he must play it. And if he has a card of that suit in his hand that could currently win that trick he must play it, regardless of which other player is currently winning the trick. If you only have lower cards of that suit, you may play any such lower card.

If a player has no card of the suit originally led to the trick, but has a card from the trump suit he must play that card, and must play a trump card higher than any other trump card in the suit, if he has one.

If the player to an existing trick has no cards of the suit originally led to the trick, and no cards of the trump suit, he may play any card of choice from his hand.

After each player has played one card to the trick, it is determined who won that trick. Each trick is won by the player of the highest card to the trick in the trump suit. If the trick contains no cards in the trump suit, or the hand is played without a trump suit, the highest card of the suit originally led to that trick wins it. Cards won in tricks are set aside, out of play, usually in a face-down pile near the player who won that trick.

After the last trick has been played and won, the hand can be scored. The two opponents of the high bidder combine their earned scores for determination of whether the high bidder was able to make his total score. The following are the scores during the hand:

• Each Ace or Ten Captured during play earns the capturing player (or team) 10 Points



• Winning the Last Trick - The player or team that wins the last trick earns 10 Points



• A player also has the opportunity, during play, to score for Mariáš. This is a player having a combination of the King and Over Knave (Queen) of the same suit in his hand. A King and Over Knave combination in a non-trump suit scores 20 points and such a combination in the designated trump suit scores 40 points. In order to earn this score, the player must play the Over Knave to a trick before the King, and in playing the Over Knave to the trick, announce either 20 or 40, based on the scoring value of the Mariáš. The Over Knave from the trick is removed from the trick (after the trick is won by a player) and set in front of the playing announcing the Mariáš to help recall this bonus score for that player. A Mariáš can only be announced and scored on hands in which the high bid was "Suit". This combination is also sometimes called hláška.

Based on the results of the final score earned by the players during the hand, a number of "Game Points" will be exchanged amongst the players. If the high bidder manages to fulfill his contract, he will earn a number of Game Points from each opponent based on the following chart, but if he does not so manage to fulfill his contract, he will instead lose a number of Game Points to each opponent. Thus, during each hand, some players will add Game Points and others subtract Game Points from their ongoing score. Similarly, for any announcements and bonuses during the hand, a number of Game Points will be exchanged amongst the players. The following chart shows the Game Points that may be earned or lost by players during a hand.

Situation	Game Point Value	Modifiers
"Suit" Game Contract Won/Lost (in the Suits of Bells, Acorns or Leaves)	1	-
"Suit" Game Contract Won/Lost in the Suit of Hearts	1	In addition to the base Game Point value for a Suit Contract played in the suit of hearts, for any game played in the "Suit" contract in which the suit of hearts is the trump suit, all other game points won and lost during that hand are doubled.
Betl Game Contract Won/Lost	5	-
Durch Game Contract Won/Lost	10	-
Open Betl Game Contract Won/Lost	10	-
Open Durch Game Contract Won/Lost	20	-
Winning Last Trick with Trump Seven (Not Announced)	1	-
Winning Last Trick with Trump Seven Announced	2	This can either be the high bidder announcing Sedma and winning the last trick with the trump seven, or alternatively the opposing team announcing "Seven Against" and one of the opponents winning the last trick with the trump seven
Winning the Last Trick in which another Player played the Trump Seven	1	-
Winning the Last Trick in which another Player played the Trump Seven (Announced - Seven Against)	2	-
Announced "Seven" unachieved	2 for the Opposing Team	-
Hundred (Unannounced) by the high bidder	2	The bonus earns double for each 10 additional points earned by the player over 100, for example earning 110 points during the hand earns that player 4 bonus game points, and earning 120 points during the hand earns the player 8 bonus points. Although only one Mariáš can be added in the initial total to determine if a player actually qualified for the "100", if the player does so qualify, they may add each additional Mariáš to this total for determination of the bonus game points earned. If the high bidder manages to thus score for the "100" this replaces the base game score the player would normally earn.
Hundred (Unannounced) by the two scores combined of the opponents	2	The bonus earns double for each 10 additional points earned by the player over 100, for example earning 110 points during the hand earns that player 4 bonus game points, and earning 120 points during the hand earns the player 8 bonus points. Although only one Mariáš can be added in the initial total to determine if a player actually qualified for the "100", if the player does so qualify, they may add each additional Mariáš to this total for determination of the bonus game points earned.
Hundred (Announced and earned by the high bidder)	4	The bonus earned doubles for each 10 additional points earned by the player over 100, for example earning 110 points during the hand earns that player 4 bonus game points, and earning 120 points during the hand earns the player 8 bonus points. Although only one Mariáš can be added in the initial total to determine if a player actually qualified for the "100", if the player does so qualify, they may add each additional Mariáš to this total for determination of the bonus game points earned. If the high bidder manages to score this bonus for the "100", this replaces the base game score the player would otherwise earn.
Hundred Against (Announced and earned in the combined score of the opponents)	4	The bonus earned by the opponents is the base rate of 4 for the high bidder capturing 90 points and doubles for each 10 fewer points earned by the player under 100, for example earning 80 points during the hand earns the announcing opponents 8 bonus game points, and earning 70 points during the hand earns the opponents 16 bonus points. Only one Mariáš can be added in the initial total to determine the high bidders attempt to reach "100".

Any "flek" and higher doubling should also be calculated in when calculating the final Game Point scores won and lost by each player.

After a number of games have been played, Game Point scores can be compared and the player with the highest Game Point total is declared the game session winner.

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Four hand Mariáš: With the standard three player variant of Mariáš being so popular in it's countries of origin, it is no surprise that other variants have been developed to accommodate differing numbers of players. As such, as a four handed variant of the game has also been developed. The four variant of the game is played identically to the three hand version, with the following differences:

• There are four active players in the game, however there are no permanent partnerships formed amongst these four players.

• The dealing procedures are slightly different. The dealer deals out four cards to each player and the deal temporarily stops. The forehand player then, after looking at his four cards selects one of these cards and places it face-down on the table. The suit of this card may set the trump suit to be used for the hand (in a "Suit" bid). In addition, this player also announces a card by rank only, not mentioning suit. Whichever player ends up having the card of the announced rank in the suit of the face-down trump card will end up the temporary partner of the forehand player if the game ends up being played as a "Suit" game. The two other players will then form a temporary partnership in opposition to these players. After the dealer has thus made this announcement, the dealer finishes the deal by dealing another four card packet to each player.
• In the event of a suited contract, once the trump suit card is exposed, the player who has this card should not make any indication that he is the partner of the dealer. If the called card ends up being in the forehand players hand, he will play alone against the other three players who will form a temporary partnership of three players.
• After the remaining four cards are dealt (with each player thus receiving a total of eight cards), a round of bidding begins, as in the standard game. The forehand player can expose this face-down card to play the game in a "Suit" contract, or may take this card back into their hand, announcing a higher bid, using the same bids and bid ranking as in the standard game.
• Since all the cards are dealt out, with each player receiving the same number of total cards, there is no talon used, and each player plays with the cards originally dealt to him.
• The bidding continues as in the standard game, with players announcing "Good" or "Bad" based on their intentions in bidding.
• The play of the hand and scoring is also identical to the standard game. If a "Suit" game is played with a temporary partner, both teams gain or lost a number of "Game Points" based on the results of the hand. If the eventual high bidder ends up playing without the aid of a partner, he earns (or loses) the appropriate number to or from each opponent.

Other than these differences, this four player variant of Mariáš is played identically to the standard variant.

Lízaný Mariáš: Lízaný Mariáš is a two-player variant of the base game. It is rather more simplistic than the three player game, but can be a fun variant if three players are not at hand for play. Iízaný Mariáš translates into English as Draw Mariáš.

Lízaný Mariáš is played similarly to the three-hand variant with the following differences:

• The game is designed for two players, with each player playing and scoring independently. The non-dealer is considered the forehand player.
• The dealer begins the deal by dealing four cards to both players. Based on the four cards dealt, the non-dealing player announces his choice of trump suit to be used for the hand. The dealer then deals another four cards to each player, such that each player has a total of eight cards. The dealer then places the remaining 16 cards in the deck in a face-down pile near the center of the table as the talon.
• There is no round of bidding, as the game is always played as a "Suit" game, with the durch and betl variants of the bids not used.
• The same bonuses and doubling options are used and can be announced by either player as in the standard three player game.
• During the first eight tricks of the game, while there are still cards remaining in the talon, a player is not obligated to follow suit to the card led to the trick. During these first eight tricks, the winner of the trick draws the top card from the talon, adding it to his hand, and his opponent then draws the next.
• Once the talon has become exhausted, however, the normal rules, as per the three player game.
• If a player has a King and Over-Knave of the same suit in his hand, he may announce for a Mariáš (announcing either "20" or "40) as he plays the Over-Knave to the trick (he must still have the appropriate King in his hand).
• The scoring is identical to that as in the three player game, with one player earning points, and the other losing the same amount.

Other than these differences, Iízaný Mariáš is played the same as the more common three player variant.

Licitovaný Mariáš: Licitovaný Mariáš (or Auction Mariáš) is a somewhat more complex version of the base game. As in the standard variant, Licitovaný Mariáš is designed for play by three. This variant is largely played similar to the standard version, except for a few key differences:

• During the deal, the dealer deals a five card packet to each player, two cards to the center of the table (the talon), and then a last packet of five cards to each player.
• As per the name of the game, there is a sort of auction for the right to be the high bidder. The player to the immediate right of the dealer has the first bid, and is bidding directly against the "forehand" player, which is the player to the dealer's immediate left. This player may elect to pass, or make one of the following bids, shown in ranking from highest to lowest:
  • Seven:
  This is a bid for the player to win the last trick of the hand using the trump seven. The high bidder will name his choice of trump suit. This contract has a base score of 2 Game Points.
  • Seven in Hearts:
  This is a bid for the player to win the last trick of the hand with the seven of hearts. The suit of hearts will be the trump suit to be used during the hand. The base score in Game Points for this contract is 4.
  • Hundred:
  This is a bid by a player to earn at least 100 points during the hand. The high bidder announces his choice of trump suit before play begins. The base Game Point score for this bid is 4.
  • Hundred and Seven:
  This is a bid by the player to earn at least 100 points during the hand, but also to win the last trick of the game with the seven of the trump suit. Both requirements are individual, with 2 Game Points at stake if the player manages to win the last trick with the trump seven, and 4 Game Points changing hands dependent on if the high bidder manages to earn a minimum of 100 points during the hand. The high bidder announces his choice of trump suit before play of the hand begins.
  • Hundred in Hearts:
  In making this bid, the bidder is indicating he undertakes to earn a minimum of 100 points during the hand. The suit of Hearts is always set as the trump suit for the hand. This contract has a Game Point value of 8.
  • Hundred and Seven in Hearts:
  This is another composite bid. Both portions ("Hundred" and "Seven") are considered individual components of the bid. Thus, if the player manages to win the last trick of the hand using the seven in the suit of hearts, he earns two Game Points, and an additional four points can be won or lost based on whether the high bidder manages to earn at least 100 points during the hand. The suit of hearts is always set as the trump suit in this bid.
  • Betl:
  A betl bid is one in which the high bidder is indicating they will lose every trick during the hand, with no trump suit used. This bid has a Game Point value of fifteen points.
  • Durch:
  This is a bid to win every trick during the hand, using no trump suit. This bid has a Game Point value of 30 points.
  • Two Sevens:
  This is a bid indicating the player will win the last trick of the hand with the seven in the announced trump suit, and to win the second to last trick with any other seven. If the bidder manages to fulfill both of these criteria, he scores 40 Game Points, but if unable to so win these very specific conditions, the points are awarded to the opposition and subtracted from the high bidder. The high bidder announces his choice of trump suit immediately before play of the hand begins.
  • Two Sevens and Hundred:
  This bid is a declaration by the player that he intends to not only win the last trick with the trump seven, the penultimate trick with any other seven, and also earn a minimum of 100 points during the hand. As a composite bid, the score for winning with the sevens, as indicated, has a value of 40 and the Hundred portion has a value of 4 Game Points.
  • Two Sevens with Hearts Trump:
  This is a bid to win the last trick of the hand with the seven of hearts, and win the second to last trick with any other seven. The suit of hearts is always set as the trump suit for this bid. This bid has a Game Point scoring value of 60.
  • Two Sevens and Hundred with Hearts Trump:
  This is another composite bid, which is a combination of both the two sevens bid and the Hundred bid. Thus, the two Sevens bid is scored independently of the Hundred bid. The two sevens component has a Game Point value of 60 while the Hundred component has a potential score of 8. The suit of hearts is always the trump suit used for this game.
  The initial bidding occurs between the player at dealers right and the forehand. The forehand may make a bid higher than or the same bid as the player at dealer's right to be considered the higher bid, but the player at dealer's right must make a bid higher than any previous bid. Once one of these two players passes, the dealer than has the opportunity to bid against the winner. The dealer must make a bid higher (or the same bid) than the other player, while this other player must make a higher bid than the dealer's, if dealer opts to bid. Once one of these players then passes, the last player to make a legal bid is considered the high bidder. That player then announces the contract to play at, which can be his declared bid, or any higher bid.
• If both the player at dealer's right pass and the forehand player pass, the dealer can simply pick up the talon and announce any game of his choice, or he may instead opt for no play (or score) during the current hand, with the cards thrown in and a new hand dealt by the next dealer in turn.
• If the high bid ends up being "Seven" the player making that bid may opt, after viewing the talon, to fold, with no play taking place. In this event, he loses six points, and each opponent earns six points, but he does not risk any further point loss.
• After the high bidder and bid has been determined, the normal announcements of "Flek" or "100 Against" may be made by the players, as in the standard game (with the usual assigned point values).
• The high bidder then picks up the two card talon adding them to his hand. He then discards any two cards of his choice (set aside and out of play), and announces his choice of trump suit for the hand, unless the hand features no trump suit, or in the case of the hearts bids, in which the suit of hearts is always set as the trump suit.
• In addition to the scoring as shown for the various contracts, as well as for an announcement of "100 Against", there are a few Game Point scores that can be won (or lost) during this game:
  • If a player manages to win the majority of the tricks (except in the case of the betl or durch bid), they earn 1 game point, or lose one game point if they do not.
  • In a bid which does not require the seven to be played as the last trick, if a player manages to so win the last trick with the seven, he earns 1 additional Game Point from each other player. If the bid did not include the "Hundred" requirement, and the player manages to earn 100 or more points during the hand, he earns 2 points from each opponent. For each additional 10 points he wins during the hand, this bonus Game Point is doubled (i.e. 4 for 110, and 8 for 120).
  • In any game in which Hearts becomes the trump suit, all other scoring (other than the base game score) is doubled.

Beyond these differences, Licitovaný Mariáš is thus played identically to the standard game.

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