Tressette rules

The other great Italian game, and the serious one. Four players in partnerships, no trumps at all, and a strict obligation to follow suit. Ten cards each, the three and the two above the ace, and a count in thirds of a point where only the ace is worth a whole one. Partners may talk, but only in three set words — busso, volo and striscio — which is what makes it feel like no other game. Game is 21 or 31.

The deck

40 cards. Ten cards each, and the whole deck is dealt.

The ranking

Three, two, ace, king, queen, jack, seven, six, five, four. The three is the highest card in every suit and the two comes next, which takes some getting used to.

Card values

Ace is worth one whole point. Three, two, king, queen and jack are worth a third of a point each. The rest count nothing, and the last trick is worth one point. That makes 11 points in a deal, and fractions are discarded — so a side holding ten thirds scores three.

The play

The player to the dealer's right leads. You must follow suit if you hold the suit led — there is no exception and no trump to escape into. The highest card of the suit led takes the trick.

Declarations

Before playing to the first trick you declare certain holdings: three, two and ace of a suit (a napoletana) scores 3, and three or four of any of the top ranks scores 3 or 4.

Talking to your partner

The conventional speech is part of the game and is done out loud: busso means play your best card of this suit, volo means I have no more of it, striscio means I have more.

Game is 21 or 31 points.