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Download on Google Play- Use a 32-card deck (7 through Ace) with 3 players.
- Deal 10 cards each; 2 cards form the talon.
- Players bid on progressively harder contracts.
- The bid winner takes the talon, discards 2, and declares trump.
- Declare king-queen marriages for 20 points (40 in trump).
- Follow suit and overtrump when required.
- Aces: 11, Tens: 10, Kings: 4, Queens: 3, Jacks: 2.
- Simple game requires 61+ of 120 points.
- Ulti contract pays a large bonus but failing costs double.
Rules
Ulti is a Hungarian three-player card game closely related to Mariáš, featuring an elaborate contract system where the highest-level declaration requires winning the last trick with the seven of trumps. It is considered one of the most strategically demanding card games in Central Europe.
Objective
Win the bidding and fulfill your declared contract. The ultimate challenge is the 'ulti' contract itself: winning the final trick with the lowest trump card, the seven.
Setup
- Players: 3 players.
- Deck: 32-card deck (7 through Ace in German or Hungarian suits).
- Deal: Each player receives 10 cards, with 2 cards forming the talon.
- Bidding: Players bid on progressively harder contracts, each with specific requirements and scoring values.
Gameplay
- Talon exchange: The winning bidder takes the talon, discards two cards, and declares trump.
- Marriages: Declaring king-queen pairs scores 20 points (40 in trump) and can be done when leading one of the paired cards.
- Trick play: Standard trick-taking rules apply with mandatory suit following and overtrumping.
- Ulti declaration: If the bidder declares ulti, they must win the last trick specifically with the seven of trumps.
Scoring
- Card values: Aces 11, tens 10, kings 4, queens 3, jacks 2.
- Simple game: The bidder must score at least 61 of 120 points.
- Ulti contract: Successfully winning the last trick with the trump seven pays a large bonus but failing costs double.
- Additional contracts: Betli (lose all tricks), durchmars (win all tricks), and combinations increase the stakes further.
Variations
- Double Ulti: Some groups play with a variant requiring two specific conditions to be met simultaneously.
- Ulti with hearts: A variation where hearts are always trump, simplifying the bidding phase.
Tips and Strategies
- Declaring ulti requires careful planning to ensure you can control the final trick with a lowly seven.
- Strip opponents of their trump cards early if you intend to play an ulti contract.
- Defenders should save their high trumps specifically to block an ulti attempt on the last trick.
Tips & Strategy
To succeed at the ulti contract, you need both the trump seven and enough high trumps to clear the field before the final trick. Plan your entire hand backward from the last trick.
The defenders' best tool against an ulti attempt is keeping one high trump hidden until the last trick. Even a single high trump surviving to the final trick can defeat the seven.
Trivia & Fun Facts
The ulti contract is considered so challenging that successfully completing it in a competitive setting earns genuine respect from fellow players, regardless of how the rest of the session goes.
Which specific card must be used to win the final trick in an ulti contract?
History & Culture
Ulti developed in Hungary in the 19th century as a local evolution of the Mariage family of games. It became the preeminent card game in Hungarian intellectual and social circles.
Ulti occupies a special place in Hungarian culture as a game of intellect and nerve, played in coffee houses, homes, and formal clubs throughout the country.
Variations & House Rules
Some Hungarian communities play with additional compound contracts that combine ulti with betli or durchmars for astronomical stakes and bragging rights.
New players can practice with simplified contracts before attempting the full ulti. Some groups allow a 'practice ulti' where the penalty for failure is halved.
