French Tarot (Jeu de Tarot) — free online Card game
France's great four-player card game: 21 trumps, the Excuse, the chien — bid a garde and play alone against three.
French Tarot (le jeu de tarot) is free to play in your browser: the classic four-player trick game played in clubs and cafés all over France, with you against three computer players. The 78-card pack has four suits with a knight, 21 numbered trumps and the Excuse. Bid petite, garde, garde sans or garde contre to become the taker and play alone against the other three; with a petite or garde you pick up the six-card chien and make your écart. You must follow suit, trump when you can't and always play a higher trump if you can, while the Excuse can be played at any time. The 1 and the 21 of trumps and the Excuse are the oudlers: the more of them you win, the fewer points you need — 56 with none, 36 with all three. The score is multiplied by the contract, and leading the petit to the very last trick earns the petit au bout bonus. Play four or eight deals against three computer levels. No download, no sign-up.
Quick start
- Press Start and choose 4 or 8 deals.
- When it is your turn to bid, choose a contract or pass. The highest bidder becomes the taker and plays alone.
- If you take a Petite or Garde, the chien joins your hand: select 6 cards and press DISCARD to make your écart.
- Play by tapping a highlighted card. The highest total after the last deal wins.
How to play French Tarot (Jeu de Tarot)
- Tarot uses 78 cards: four suits of 14 (1 to 10, valet, cavalier, dame, roi), 21 trumps and the Excuse. Each player gets 18 cards; 6 go face down to the chien.
- Bidding goes round once. Each player may pass or bid higher: Petite, Garde, Garde sans, Garde contre. The highest bidder is the taker; if everyone passes, the cards are dealt again.
- With Petite or Garde the chien is shown, the taker adds it to the hand and puts 6 cards aside (the écart) — never kings or oudlers. With Garde sans the chien counts for the taker unseen; with Garde contre it goes to the defence.
- You must follow suit. If you can't, you must trump, and whenever trumps are in the trick you must play a higher one if you can. With no trumps either, play anything.
- The Excuse can be played at any time; it never wins the trick but stays with its owner's side (who gives back a half point).
- The taker needs 56 points with no oudler, 51 with one, 41 with two and 36 with all three. The score is (25 + the difference) × the contract (Petite 1, Garde 2, Garde sans 4, Garde contre 6), paid by each defender to the taker or the other way round.
- Petit au bout: whoever wins the last trick with the 1 of trumps in it earns 10 × the contract for their side.
Card points
- Oudlers: the 1 (petit), the 21 and the Excuse4.5
- They also lower the points the taker needs.
- Roi (king)4.5
- Dame (queen)3.5
- Cavalier (knight)2.5
- Valet (jack)1.5
- Other cards and trumps0.5
- 91 points in the whole pack.
Controls
- Bid with the buttons in the middle of the table
- During the écart, tap 6 cards (the cards from the chien are outlined) and press DISCARD
- Tap a highlighted card to play it
- Enter or Space lets the computer decide your bid, écart or card
Tips
- Count your hand before bidding: trumps, the 21, the Excuse and kings are what make a garde.
- As taker, empty a short suit in the écart so you can trump it.
- Protect the petit: play it when it can't be caught, or keep it for the last trick.
- In defence, load points on a trick your side is sure to win.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the fortune-telling tarot?
No. Tarot is above all a card game in France; the 21 trumps simply beat the four suits.
Are poignées and chelem announced?
Not in this version: it plays the FFT rules without poignée or chelem announcements.
What happens if I hold the petit alone?
A petit sec (the 1 as your only trump) cancels the deal; the cards are dealt again automatically.
Is it free?
Yes, completely free in your browser, with no download and no account.