The GAME of tarocchi?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 14 Oct 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Stregaverde	14 Oct 2004
Has anyone here ever played the actual old Italian game of tarocchi? A friend of mine who has a PhD in Italian history saw me studying my Mermaids deck yesterday and got all excited--his father, and grandfather, and great-grandfather, world-without-end-amen all played tarocchi, and taught it to him. He told me that it's similar to bridge, and very, very complex. Old men still play it in bars (cafés) around Bologna. I never knew. He wants to give me a deck (Ancient Tarot of Bologna, I believe) and teach me how to play. I asked him to wait until I'm firmer on my READING of the tarot before I start learning new applications with it, but this does indeed sound cool. Does anyone here have any experience with this?

April	14 Oct 2004
In high school we had a slumber party while a German exchange student was staying with a friend of mine. She taught us a game using my Tarot cards but I don't remember any of it now. You have inspired me to do a search. I will report back if I find any thing. Of course, this is your own preference, but I don't think learning the game would interfere with learning how to read the cards. If anything it might give the chance to see them in a new light. You can learn a lot about the card meanings just by playing. Anyway, good luck in your Tarot studies. And when you do learn how to play, I hope you "trump" them all! Peace, April

magpie9	14 Oct 2004
Trump them all, and then come and teach the rest of us how to play tarocchi !! I've always wanted to know. ;)

blackroseivy	14 Oct 2004
One might do a "tarocchi" search on the Web to look for rules - I swear I saw them around somewhere! Good luck!

Umbrae	14 Oct 2004
During my trip to the UK in August, Kiama taught us ‘French Tarot’ (which we played – she won). Rules found here. :smoker:

Nevada	14 Oct 2004
Stregaverde, (BTW I love your screenname--does it mean Green Witch?) That's great. I hope you learn, and I hope you tell us more about it. I love the mental picture of old men playing card games with Tarot in cafes in Bologna. (Of course my picture is likely not very close to what the real place looks like.) Nevada

SFGMaster	14 Oct 2004
Also look up the German game of Tarock (which is, if I recall correctly, practically identical to the Italian Tarocchi), still widely played today. It's a trick-taking game like bridge, but with a somewhat different ruleset. There should be internet references for Tarock readily available.

magpie9	15 Oct 2004
Thanks, guys--I just did that. I'm all set now, except for other players!! It's wierd, but it really scratches an itch for me. :D

wildchilde	15 Oct 2004
What a wonderful opportunity, Stregaverde!!! I agree with April...playing with the elderlies might give you a much more thorough understanding of the cards in general. I am just blown away by your post and the offer you have been given!! can I come to Bologna and learn Tarocchi with you????! I also did a google search as soon as I saw your post! Found several websites regarding the game, the most thorough description being here (same website that Umbrae posted, but this link goes directly to the Italian version of the game): http://www.pagat.com/tarot/ottocen.html I wonder if it is possible to play this game online? Like in a chatroom or something?? Wouldn't that be fun?!

Stregaverde	15 Oct 2004
I looked at that, and Ottocento does indeed seem to be the game, although I won't know until I actually play it. My friend who wants to demonstrate it is a game designer, and esoteric games are his thing--I think he really wants a playing partner, as only the older folks seem to play it now. He kept saying that it's very much like bridge, and very complex. It uses a 62-card deck that is similar but quite different than the conventional tarot, but since it's a card game and the interpretations are not the important part, I may try to learn it sooner rather than later. Not sure when, as nothing moves rapidly here in Italy, but I'll let you all know! Thanks for the links and the feedback! And if I end up playing this in a sidewalk bar with a group of grizzled old Italians, I'll be sure to get a photo. :)

The The GAME of tarocchi? thread was originally posted on 14 Oct 2004 in the Tarot Games & Fun board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Games & Fun, or read more archived threads.