MARIGLIA

OBJECT OF MARIGLIA: The object of Mariglia is to be the first team to score the needed number of points to win.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 4 players

MATERIALS: A modified deck of 52 cards or a 40-card Italian deck, a way to keep score, and a flat surface.

TYPE OF GAME: Trick-Taking Card Game

AUDIENCE: Adult

OVERVIEW OF MARIGLIA

Mariglia is a trick-taking card game for 4 players. The goal of the game is to achieve the needed number of points in order to win before your opponents.

The points needed to win should be discussed and agreed upon before the game. Typically, the score is 35 or more points. keonhacai

SETUP

If you are modifying a deck to play with remove all the 10s, 9s, and 8s. this leaves you with a 40-card deck.

The first dealer is chosen randomly and passes to the right for each new deal. The deck is shuffled and the player to the dealer’s left may cut the deck.

The dealer then deals each player a hand of 10 cards in 2 batches of 5 cards each. The last card, which is dealt to the dealer is dealt face up to determine the trump suit. If the card has a point value associated with it the dealer’s team scores that many game points when the card is revealed, which may win them the game.

Card Ranking and Values

The ranking for this game is 7 (high), Ace, King, Jack, Queen, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 (low).

The cards have values associated with them for scoring. 7s are worth 5 points, aces are worth 4 points, kings are worth 3 points, jacks are worth 2 points and queens are worth 1 point. All other points do not have a point value.

GAMEPLAY

The game starts with the player to the right of the dealer. They may lead any card they wish to the trick. The following players must follow suit if possible, and if their opponent is winning, they must, if possible beat them. If you cannot follow suit you may play trumps and if you are not required to play trumps to beat your opponent, or you cannot beat your opponent at all, then you may play any card.

The trick is won by the highest trump played, if applicable. If no trumps were played, the trick is won by the highest-ranking card of the suit of the originally led card. the trick is collected into a score pile and the winner leads to the next trick.

SCORING

Once all tricks have been played and won the points are scored. Players will tally the value of all their won cards and also earn an extra point for each trick that was won. The team that scores more than 35 points will subtract their point total from 35. The remaining value is how many game points they earn for the round. the other team scores nothing.

END OF GAME

The game ends when a team reaches or exceeds the point total agreed upon before the game. They are the winners.