Tressette
No trump, played for points
- Deck
- Italian 40-card · 40
- Players
- 2 players · 4 players (partners)
Tressette has no trump suit at all, which changes everything: the highest card of the led suit always wins, and you must follow suit if you can. It is the most disciplined of the five.
How to play
Ten cards each, and you must follow the suit that was led. The ranking is unusual — three is highest, then two, then ace, then king, knight, jack, and the plain cards from seven down to four.
Scoring
The ace is worth a full point; the three, two, king, knight and jack are worth a third each. The last trick is worth one point. Fractions are dropped at the end, so a hand is worth eleven points.
A few tips
Because there is no trump, the ace is the strongest card in every suit and also the most expensive to lose. Leading a suit where you hold the three and the two is a reliable way to draw the ace out.