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Download on Google Play- 3 players with a 54-card Italian Tarot deck.
- Deal 16 cards each; 6 remaining cards form the talon (scarto).
- Bid for the right to be declarer and pick up the 6 talon cards.
- Discard 6 cards face-down (they count toward your trick points).
- Play 16 tricks following suit; must trump if unable to follow.
- Highest trump or suit card wins each trick.
- The Fool, trump 1, and trump 21 are the most valuable cards.
- Declarer needs more than half the total card points to win.
- Declarer collects from both defenders if successful, pays both if not.
Rules
Scarto is a three-player Italian Tarock game where the declarer exchanges cards with a face-down talon and then battles the other two players for card points.
Objective
As the declarer, use the talon exchange to strengthen your hand and win more card points than the combined total of the two defenders.
Setup
- Players: 3 players.
- Deck: 54-card Italian Tarot deck with 22 trumps (trionfi) and 32 suit cards.
- Deal: Each player receives 16 cards. The remaining 6 cards form the talon (scarto).
Gameplay
- Bidding: Players bid for the right to be declarer. The highest bidder picks up the 6 talon cards.
- Discarding (Scarto): The declarer discards 6 cards face-down. These discards count toward the declarer's trick points.
- Trick play: The declarer leads the first trick. Players must follow suit; if unable, they must play a trump. The highest trump or suit card wins.
- Full play: All 16 tricks are played out.
Scoring
- Card points: Standard Italian Tarot point values. The Fool, the 1 of trumps, and the 21 of trumps are the most valuable.
- Winning threshold: The declarer needs more than half the total card points to win.
- Payout: The declarer collects from both defenders if successful, or pays both if they fail.
Variations
- Solo: The declarer plays without using the talon for a higher reward.
- Forced game: If all players pass, the holder of the lowest tarock is forced to be declarer.
Tips and Strategies
- Discard low-value suit cards to void a suit, allowing you to trump in that suit during play.
- Bid aggressively when you hold the high tarocks — the talon exchange often provides the extra strength you need.
Tips & Strategy
Void a weak suit in your discard to create trumping opportunities. Keep your high tarocks and honour cards.
Defenders should coordinate their leads to attack the declarer's weakest suit — the suit they are most likely to have voided.
Trivia & Fun Facts
The name 'Scarto' literally means 'discard' in Italian, referring to the key strategic decision of the game.
How many cards does the declarer exchange with the talon in Scarto?
History & Culture
Scarto has been a popular Tarot game in northern Italy since the 18th century, particularly in the Piedmont region.
Scarto represents the enduring Italian tradition of Tarot as a game rather than a divination tool, preserving centuries of card-playing heritage.
Variations & House Rules
Solo contracts skip the talon for a bigger reward, while forced games ensure that someone always has to play as declarer.
Allow new players to look at the talon before bidding to help them learn which hands are worth competing for.
