Mariage (card game)

Mariage is a fun card game. Two people play it together.

You look for special pairs. A king and queen of the same suit make a pair. This pair is called a marriage. It earns you extra points.

In some games, you can also find a special pair of a ten and an ace. This is called an amour.

Players must win a trick first. Then they can show their special pairs. This makes the game exciting.

Many other games come from this one. It is a very old game. It is a great way to play with a friend.

Mariage is an old card game for two players. It was first written about in 1715 in Leipzig. The name comes from finding a special pair. This pair is a king and queen of the same suit. People call this a marriage.

Finding a marriage earns you bonus points. You can also look for a second special pair. This pair is an ace and a ten in the trump suit. This pair is called an amour.

To start, each player gets six cards. One card stays face-up to be the trump. A player can use a seven to swap for that card. This is called a robbery. In the first part of the game, players do not have to follow suit. Once the deck is gone, they must follow the suit led.

Some players play a version called sixty-six. This game grew from Mariage. In the 1800s, players could also "close the book." This means they stop drawing cards to try and win quickly. If they fail, their opponent wins right away. Mariage is a game of skill and quick thinking.

Mariage is a classic card game for two players. It is a trick-taking game with a special twist. Players try to earn bonus points by finding a "marriage." This happens when you hold a king and a queen of the same suit. The game is part of a large family of card games. This family is named after the marriage bonus itself. One famous relative is a game called sixty-six. Many different versions of these games are still played as national games today.

To play, each person starts with a hand of six cards. One card is turned face-up to be the trump card. This card sets the rules for that round. A player can use a seven of trumps to swap for it. This move is called a robbery. In the first part of the game, you do not have to follow suit. You can play any card you want. Once the stock of cards is gone, the rules change. Now, you must follow the suit that was led.

History tells us this game is very old. The first written rules appeared in 1715 in Leipzig, Germany. A book for ladies mentioned it was a popular game. At that time, the marriage bonus used a king and an Ober. An Ober is a specific type of face card. By 1720, the game was well known enough to be in a sermon. Some say it might have even started in Westphalia in 1652. However, 1715 is the earliest date we can prove.

There are many ways to score points in Mariage. A regular marriage is worth 20 points. If the marriage is in the trump suit, it is worth 40 points. This is called a "bon mariage." You can also look for an amour. This is a special pair of an ace and a ten in trumps. In the 1800s, players could also "close the book." This means they stop drawing cards to try and win quickly. If the player fails this big move, the opponent wins automatically.

Mariage has many different versions for different groups. Some people played with three people by taking turns being the king. There was even a four-player version called Kreuz-Mariage. In these versions, players often play in pairs. The game has changed a lot over hundreds of years. It moved from using German cards to using French cards. Even though the rules shifted, the joy of finding a marriage remains the same. It is a game of skill and careful planning.

Mariage, also known as Mariagenspiel, is a traditional German trick-and-draw card game. It is designed for two players to compete for points. The game is famous for a specific bonus called a "marriage." This occurs when a player holds a king and a queen of the same suit. This special combination is the namesake for an entire family of card games. This group includes the widely known game sixty-six. Many of these related games serve as national card games in various countries. The game relies on a mix of trick-taking strategy and the luck of the draw.

To play the game, players follow a structured sequence of dealing and drawing. In the 18th-century version, each player receives a hand of six cards. The dealer turns one card face-up to establish the trump suit. A player holding the seven of trumps may perform a move called "rauben," or robbery. This allows the player to exchange their seven for the face-up trump card. During the first phase, players draw from a central stock to replenish their hands after each trick. Once the stock is depleted, the game enters a second phase. In this phase, players must follow the suit that was led. If they cannot follow suit, they must play a trump card if they have one.

There are several distinct ways to score bonuses in Mariage. A standard marriage of a king and queen in a plain suit earns 20 points. If the marriage occurs within the trump suit, it is called a "bon mariage" and is worth 40 points. Another significant bonus is the "amour," also known as "duseur" or "douceur." This is a specific pair consisting of the ace and the ten of the trump suit. In some historical versions, players could also achieve a "whitewash," or "Wäsche." This happened if a player failed to win any of the final six tricks. A whitewash was a major event that scored 40 points or earned specific side payments.

The history of Mariage is filled with interesting debates and shifts in rules. The earliest documented rules appeared in 1715 in a ladies' encyclopedia in Leipzig, Germany. While some claim the game originated in Paderborn in 1652, 1715 is the first verified record. Interestingly, the 1715 rules defined a marriage differently. At that time, the bonus was earned by holding a king and an "Ober." An Ober is a specific type of face card in German-suited decks. By the 19th century, the game had transitioned to using French-suited cards. This shift changed how players viewed the hierarchy of the cards.

Scoring and winning involve specific numerical targets and stakes. In many versions, a player needs 66 card points to win a deal. If both players reach 65 points, the deal is a draw. In such cases, the next deal might be worth double the value. The value of a game could be measured in points or "hard score" using currency. For example, a marriage might earn one groschen or three pfennigs. In the 19th century, a simple win was worth two chips. If a player failed to reach 33 points, they were called a "Schneider," or tailor. This failure resulted in the winner earning extra points or chips.

The game also features a high-risk strategic move called "closing the book." A player may decide to stop the drawing of cards from the stock. This is an undertaking to win the deal using only the cards currently held. If the player who closes the book fails to win, the opponent wins automatically. This move can be used to win a single deal or an entire game. This adds a layer of intense psychological pressure to the gameplay. It forces players to weigh their current hand strength against the risk of an immediate loss.

Beyond the standard two-player format, several variants of Mariage exist. There was a three-hand version where players took turns acting as a "king." In this version, the king shuffled and dealt but did not play cards. Another version was called "Kreuz-Mariage," or Cross Mariage, which was played with four people. In Kreuz-Mariage, players often competed in fixed pairs. This version used 36 cards and required players to follow suit and trump from the start. These variations show how the core concept of the marriage bonus could adapt to different social settings and group sizes.