TRESSETTE

OBJECTIVE OF TRESSETTE: The objective of Tressette is to score the most points by the end of the game.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 4 Players

MATERIALS: 1 40 Card Pack with Italian Suits

TYPE OF GAME: Point- Trick Card Game

AUDIENCE: Adults

OVERVIEW OF TRESSETTE

Tressette is a point-trick game from Italy. It is closely related to the game Calabresella, which only allowed for three players. This game requires a good amount of skill and strategy. Without a strategic plan, you can quickly fall behind other players.

SETUP

Firstly, the dealer and partnerships are determined. This is done by drawing for the high card. The two players with the highest cards will form a team, and the two players with the lowest cards will form a team. The player with the highest card will become the first dealer. The dealer will then deal ten cards to each player, five at a time. Once the players have their cards, the game is ready to begin!

GAMEPLAY

There are no trump suits in this game. The player to the right of the dealer will lead the first trick. They may do so with any card in their hand, but other players must try and follow suit. If a player does not have a card of the leading suit, then they may play any card. The highest card of the leading suit wins the trick.

There are some combinations that score more points when they are held. If a player has four threes, twos, or aces, then they score four points. If they have three threes, twos, or aces, they score three points. If they have a Napoletana, which is a three, two, and ace of a suit, they score three points.

A player must declare their combination at the end of the first trick to immediately earn points for it. It does not matter if a card of the combination was played to the trick. Players have to specify the suit of Napoletana if they are to score points.

Players may use game specific words to communicate with their teammate and the group. If a player announces Busso, then they want their player to play their highest card in the suit they led. If they announce Volo, then they have no more cards of the leading suit. Finally, if Striscio is announced, the player is announcing that they have one more low card of the leading suit.

Players must make the announcements when leading a trick. They are not allowed to make them at any other times. The deal comes to an end after ten tricks have been played. The teams will then tally their scores, earning one additional point for winning the last trick.

Card Ranking

These cards are slightly different than the standard deck. From highest to lowest, the cards are ranked as followed: three, two, ace, King, Knight, Jack, seven, six, five, and four.

END OF GAME

The game comes to an end when a team earns twenty-one points. This team is the winner! There are some ways to end the game immediately and win numerous games. Each game won should result in that team winning a bottle of wine, in the traditional game.

Cappotto occurs if one team is able to win all of the tricks. They then win two games or two bottles. Stramazzo occurs if one team is able to win all the points but not all the tricks. This occurs when tricks are not worth any points if won. They then win three games or three bottles. Cappottone occurs if one player wins all the tricks for their team. Their team then wins six games or six bottles!

Nakoa Davis
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