Card playing has always been a major part of the Italian lifestyle. The games are typically easy to learn and lend themselves to hours of socializing and theatrics. For a culture that has made an art form out of the most mundane activities like drinking coffee, card-playing looks like it will remain part of the Italian lifestyle for years to come.
One of the most popular card games among the Italian people is Tresette. Designed for four players, Tresette is a trick taking game in which players compete to win individual hands. The winner of a hand keeps the cards played during that hand, which may be worth points.
An Italian deck of cards is recommended to play Tresette. Italian cards can be found at most Italian specialty shops or on the Internet. If you cannot locate a deck, simply remove the 8s, 9s and 10s from a standard deck.
Players on the same team face opposite of each other and cards are dealt out face down, five at a time, until there are no cards left. Each player holds ten cards in their hand and then arranges them in order. In Tresette, the cards are ranked as follows: 3 (high), 2, 1/Ace, Re/King, Cavallo/Queen, Fante/Jack, 7, 6, 5, 4 (low).
Before play begins, players scan their hands to look for special point scoring combinations. A team can earn points if a player has Four of a Kind, Three of a Kind or Napoletana. A Four of a Kind consists of four 3s, four 2s or four 1s and is worth 4 points. A Three of a Kind consists of three 3s, three 2s, or three 1s and is worth 3 points. A Napoletana consists of a 3, 2 and 1 of the same suit.
If a player has any of these combinations, they declare it by naming their combination and showing it to the other players. The same cards used to make up a Napoletana can also be used to make up a Three or Four of a Kind.
After the declarations are made and points are recorded, play begins. The player to the dealer’s right leads first with any card. The other players must play a card of the suit that led, if they have one. If they don’t, they can play a card from any suit. When all four players have played a card, that is called a trick and the player who threw the highest ranked card of the leading suit wins the trick and keeps all the cards played. He leads the next trick.
Play continues counterclockwise until all ten tricks have been played. Players then count the cards they have won and add up their points. 1s are worth 1 point. 3s, 2s, Res, Cavallos and Fantes are worth 1/3 of a point. The winner of the last trick wins a point. Aside from points won from declarations, there are 11 points available per deal, ten from playing and 1 from the last trick.
When counting points you must round down so that 1 and 2/3 points is only worth 1 point. Teammates then add their points together and the player to the dealer’s right takes the cards, shuffles and deals a new hand. The first team to reach 21 points wins the game.
Tresette is often played as a series of games and there are certain scoring combinations that can win more than one game at a time. If a team wins all ten tricks, that team earns a Capotto and wins 2 games. If one player of a team won all ten tricks, that player earned a Capottone and his team wins 6 games. If a team wins all eleven game points, but didn’t win all the tricks, that team earned a Stramazzo and wins 3 games. If a single player wins all eleven game points but didn’t win all the tricks, that player earned a Stramazzone and his team wins 8 games.
In Tresette, there are often friendly wagers placed on each game. For example, players may wager a round of drinks per game. So, if a team earns a Stramazzone, they win 8 rounds of drinks. The multiple game victories are unique to Tresette and keep the game popular throughout Italy and Italian America. The next time you are looking for an easy, lively way to spend time with some friends, bring out the cards and deal a game of Tresette. You’ll become closer to your roots and happy to be there.
One of the most popular card games among the Italian people is Tresette. Designed for four players, Tresette is a trick taking game in which players compete to win individual hands. The winner of a hand keeps the cards played during that hand, which may be worth points.
An Italian deck of cards is recommended to play Tresette. Italian cards can be found at most Italian specialty shops or on the Internet. If you cannot locate a deck, simply remove the 8s, 9s and 10s from a standard deck.
Players on the same team face opposite of each other and cards are dealt out face down, five at a time, until there are no cards left. Each player holds ten cards in their hand and then arranges them in order. In Tresette, the cards are ranked as follows: 3 (high), 2, 1/Ace, Re/King, Cavallo/Queen, Fante/Jack, 7, 6, 5, 4 (low).
Before play begins, players scan their hands to look for special point scoring combinations. A team can earn points if a player has Four of a Kind, Three of a Kind or Napoletana. A Four of a Kind consists of four 3s, four 2s or four 1s and is worth 4 points. A Three of a Kind consists of three 3s, three 2s, or three 1s and is worth 3 points. A Napoletana consists of a 3, 2 and 1 of the same suit.
If a player has any of these combinations, they declare it by naming their combination and showing it to the other players. The same cards used to make up a Napoletana can also be used to make up a Three or Four of a Kind.
After the declarations are made and points are recorded, play begins. The player to the dealer’s right leads first with any card. The other players must play a card of the suit that led, if they have one. If they don’t, they can play a card from any suit. When all four players have played a card, that is called a trick and the player who threw the highest ranked card of the leading suit wins the trick and keeps all the cards played. He leads the next trick.
Play continues counterclockwise until all ten tricks have been played. Players then count the cards they have won and add up their points. 1s are worth 1 point. 3s, 2s, Res, Cavallos and Fantes are worth 1/3 of a point. The winner of the last trick wins a point. Aside from points won from declarations, there are 11 points available per deal, ten from playing and 1 from the last trick.
When counting points you must round down so that 1 and 2/3 points is only worth 1 point. Teammates then add their points together and the player to the dealer’s right takes the cards, shuffles and deals a new hand. The first team to reach 21 points wins the game.
Tresette is often played as a series of games and there are certain scoring combinations that can win more than one game at a time. If a team wins all ten tricks, that team earns a Capotto and wins 2 games. If one player of a team won all ten tricks, that player earned a Capottone and his team wins 6 games. If a team wins all eleven game points, but didn’t win all the tricks, that team earned a Stramazzo and wins 3 games. If a single player wins all eleven game points but didn’t win all the tricks, that player earned a Stramazzone and his team wins 8 games.
In Tresette, there are often friendly wagers placed on each game. For example, players may wager a round of drinks per game. So, if a team earns a Stramazzone, they win 8 rounds of drinks. The multiple game victories are unique to Tresette and keep the game popular throughout Italy and Italian America. The next time you are looking for an easy, lively way to spend time with some friends, bring out the cards and deal a game of Tresette. You’ll become closer to your roots and happy to be there.
