Deal and dog
In the five-player game, each player receives 15 cards and the dog contains three. The core contracts, oudlers and targets are the same as in four-player Tarot, but the dog is smaller and the taker’s hand matters more.
Calling the King
After bidding and before turning the dog over, the taker names a King, for example “I call the King of Hearts.” Whoever holds it becomes the taker’s partner for that hand, but must not reveal the partnership by speaking or gesturing. The other players discover it when the called King is played.
If the taker holds all four Kings, a Queen may be called; if all four Kings and Queens are held, a Knight may be called. The taker may also call a card they themselves hold, which means playing alone. If the called King is in the dog, the taker also plays alone.
A lead rule to remember
A player may not lead the suit of the called King unless they are leading that King itself. This prevents a defender from forcing the secret partner to reveal themselves straight away.
Handful thresholds
| Handful | Trumps required | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 8 | 20 points |
| Double | 10 | 30 points |
| Triple | 13 | 40 points |
Score sharing
If the taker has a partner, the taker is worth two parts, the partner one part, and each of the three defenders one part in the opposite direction. If the taker plays alone, the taker is worth four parts against the three defenders. The scores should always add up to zero.
Example: a successful Guard with one oudler and 55 points has a target of 51, so the base unit is (25 + 4) × 2 = 58. The taker scores +116, the partner +58 and each defender −58.