Straw almonds

Straw almonds , also called straw men tarock, is a card game from the Austrian branch of the Tarock family for two players. It takes its name from the three packs of talons of four cards, the “straw men”, which each player has in front of him at the start of the game.

The cards

The game is played with the sheet of 54 cards, which is also used for other tarot games in Austria and other areas of the Habsburg Monarchy and is described in detail under King Call . This hand contains 22 tarots as trumps and 32 suit cards in the four French suits .

Rules of the game

The description of the rules largely follows that of Fritz Beck.

Stitch rules

Higher-quality color cards stand out in their color lower, Tarocke sting color cards and lower Tarocke. There is a compulsory color (also for tarot), but no compulsory trick; but if the suit played cannot be used, a tarot must be used (tarot or trump compulsory).

The sharing

A drawing is drawn to determine which of the two players starts sharing, and then it is shared alternately. After shuffling and cutting, forehand and dealer each receive three times five cards, on which they judge them. If someone starts the game (see below), three packs of four talons are placed in front of each player .

Game recording

After assessing her hand, Forehand decides whether she will start the game. If not, Teiler can decide whether to start the game. If he also passes, the cards are merged and a new forehand is dealt. (It can be agreed that in this case you will still play, but at half the game value.)

Function of straw men

When the game is started and the straw men are placed, the top card of the first is revealed. Tarocks and kings are set aside face up for the player concerned, other color cards remain face up as the top card on the straw man. The process of uncovering and setting aside is repeated with the other straw men. The last card of each pack, regardless of its value, is put into the player's hand without being revealed, followed by the cards set aside after the process of revealing is finished and the opponent has looked at these cards.

The top cards of the straw men that are now exposed play along and their owners can add, play and stab them at will. The compulsory color and tarot must always be observed: If a player cannot operate correctly from the hand, he must do it from the straw men if possible, and vice versa.

After using the top card of a straw man, the next card is turned up again, tarocks and kings are shown and added to the hand of the respective player, other color cards remain on the package, the last cards are taken into the hand without showing.

Game progress and announcements

Forehand always leads to the first trick, then the taker of the last trick in each case until all cards have been played. If a player has the Trull (Tarocke I, XXI, Sküs) or the Königstrull (all four kings) in his hand, he can announce this when playing the first card and earns a bonus of the simple game value.

It is possible to play the Tarock I ultimo, ie as the last card. This brings (depending on whether it is overstabbed or not) the gain or loss of the simple game value. (There is also the way of playing that the second to last card played Tarock II is scored in the same way.)

Card values ​​and counting

The most common values apply (also e.g. for Königruf ):

- 5 Points: Kings, I, XXI, Sküs

- 4 points: women

- 3 Points: Cavalle

- 2 Points: Jacks

- 1 point: Other tarots and color cards

Counting takes place in groups of three cards, two of the points in each group are deducted, e.g. B. King + Cavall + XIII = 9 points, minus 2 points equals 7 points. If there are less than three cards left, 2/3 points must be deducted from each. Finally, 1/3 or 2/3 points are rounded up or down.

Profit calculation

To win the game you need 36 points (out of a total of 70). If both players have 35 points (possibly after rounding), the game is considered a draw, for which only announcements are written or paid out. (The variant is also played that in such a case the recorded game is considered lost for the picker.) The following values ​​apply:

- 1 value unit: for a game won if the game was not recorded

- 2 units of value: for a game won if the game was recorded

- 2 value units: for the announcement "Trull" or "Königstrull"

- 2 value units: for the last card played tarot I (also, if played that way, for tarock II as the penultimate card)

- 2 units of value: for the captured moon, for the player who pierces the moon with Sküs

Related variant in Skat

There is a variant related to straw almonds in the Skat games. Officer's skat , also called Kutscherskat, works on a similar principle for two people.

Web links

• This is what the rules look like , In: Wiener Zeitung of September 25, 2007

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Beck Fritz: Tarock complete. Alle Spiele , Perlen Reihe No. 640, Vienna, 1972. Pages 40–45