Tarot is a trick-taking game that can be played with two to six players (usually 3 or 4).

The Object of the Game: The object is to capture the most points. Only some cards count as points.

The Play: The player to the left of the dealer leads by placing a suit card on the table. Each player (moving clockwise) must follow with one card of that suit.

The highest card of the lead suit wins.
You must always beat the highest card of the lead suit (when possible).
If you don’t have a card in the suit that was led you MUST play trump!
If a trump card is played, the highest trump always takes the trick.
If you are out of both suit and trump, play any card.
Aces are low.
The winner leads for the next trick.

Winning the Trick: High trump wins; if there’s no trump, then high card of suit led wins. The winner of the trick collects the cards and keeps them face down on the table.

The Excuse: The Fool is a special card, known as “The Excuse.” If dealt the Fool, you can play it at any time instead of another card, but it can’t win a trick. At the end of the trick, the Fool is returned to the person who played it. It counts with the tricks she won (unless she wins no tricks and then it goes to the person who won that trick). You usually play the Fool to protect a high point card.

Points:

5 points: Kings (R) and 21, 1, 0 of Trump (World, Magician, Fool)
4 points: Queens (r)
3 points: Knights (C)
2 points: Jacks (F)
0 points: All others (including all Trump and suit cards except those named above)
10 point bonus if 1-Trump (Magician) takes the last hand.