Tysiąc
Game Rules
Tysiąc is one of the most popular Polish card games, also known in other Eastern European countries.
Setup
Although 1000 is a three player game, four players can be accommodated if one player sits out on each hand. This, of course, should alternate between all active players.
The game uses a 24 card deck, taking 6 cards from each suit. Below they are ranked by point value:
- Ace: 11 points
- Ten: 10 points
- King: 4 points
- Queen: 3 points
- Jack: 2 points
- Nine: 0 points
It is important to remember there is a total of 120 points in the deck. This game also includes marriages, this occurs when a player holds both a King and a Queen is able to collect additional points if declared.
- King & Queen of Hearts: 100 points
- King & Queen of Diamonds: 80 points
- King & Queen of Clubs: 60 points
- King & Queen of Spades: 40 points
The deal moves clockwise, or to the left, as does the bidding and gameplay. The first dealer can be chosen in any manner. Cards are dealt one at a time to the three active players until they have a hand of seven. After, three cards are dealt face-down to the center of the table. These cards are called Прикуп or prikup. Cards are dealt to the prikup in the first three rounds of the deal. They are dealt one at a time, typically in between the second and third cards dealt in that round.
Bidding
A bid is a number, this is an estimate of how many points a player thinks they could win that round. The minimum bid is 100, and increases in multiples of five (100, 105, 110, 115, 120, etc).
The bidding begins with the player to the left of the dealer and moves on. Each bid must exceed the one before it. If a player passes they may not bid again. Bidding continues until all but one player has passed, they become the declarer. Since points in the deck do not exceed 120 you may not bet over 120 and must have a King-Queen pair to do so.
The declarer reveals the three prikup cards in the center and takes them in hand. After, the declarer discards two unwanted cards, one to each opponent. The three players should all have 8 cards. Now, the declarer has the ability to raise their bid, following multiples of five, or stay.
After the exchange, if an unlucky player has four 9s in hand they may abandon that hand and receive no score. Cards are shuffled and re-dealt.
Gameplay
The first trick is led by the declarer, each following trick is led by the winner of the previous trick. At the start, there are no trumps. If a player has a marriage (King and Queen pair) they may announce this and lead with either card on the next trick. The suit of the pair becomes the trump suit until another pair is played. Note, you may only announce a marriage directly after winning a trick AND both cards must be in hand.
During a trick, it is important to follow suit as much as possible. If a player is unable to follow suit or play a trump card they may play any card. Tricks are won by the highest ranking trump card or, if there are no trumps, the highest ranking card in the suit led. Tricks won are kept in a side pile for scoring.
Scoring & end of game
Players added up the value of cards won in tricks + any declared King-Queen pairs, following the values listed above. Each player starts with zero points and attempts to reach 1000 points first. Point totals are summed and rounded to the nearest multiple of five, then added to each player’s cumulative score.
If a declarer is able to score at least the amount they bid, their bid is added to their total score. If they fail to collect the amount they bid their bid is subtracted from their total score.