Tressette – Rules
Play Tressette against the computer
1. Overview
| Name | Tressette (also: Tresette, Terziglio) |
| Type | Trick-taking game without trumps, in teams |
| Players | 4, two teams, partners opposite (variants for 2 and 3) |
| Recommended age | 10 and up |
| Playing time | one deal 5–8 minutes; a game to 21 points 30–45 minutes |
| Material | 40 Italian cards, pen and paper |
| Goal | Win the most points in tricks as a team and be first to 21. |
| Difficulty | medium |
What is it about? Together with Scopa and Briscola, Tressette is one of the great Italian card games. There are no trumps – only the suit led decides who wins. The three is the highest card. Aces are worth a lot, while face cards, threes and twos are worth only a third of a point.
2. Cards and material
- Pack: 40 Italian cards: denari, coppe, spade, bastoni.
- Ranking (high → low): 3, 2, asso (ace), re (king), cavallo (knight), fante (jack), 7, 6, 5, 4.
- Points:
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Asso | 1 |
| 3, 2, re, cavallo, fante | ⅓ each |
| 7, 6, 5, 4 | 0 |
| Last trick | 1 |
- Total: 11 full points per deal (thirds are rounded down).
- Face up and face down: Hand cards concealed, tricks face down with the team.
3. Preparation and start
- Shuffle and cut.
- Deal: Everyone gets 10 cards (in packets of 5).
- Declaring combinations (optional): Before the first trick, napoletana and buongioco may be declared (see scoring).
- Start: The player right of the dealer leads.
Start example: Player 3 deals. Player 1 sits to his right and leads. Player 1 holds the 3, 2 and asso of denari – a napoletana (3 points).
4. Goal and winning
- A deal: Each team counts its points (aces, thirds, last trick, combinations).
- Game: The first team to 21 points wins.
- Tie: If both reach 21 in the same deal, the higher score wins; if equal, play another deal.
5. Play in detail
A trick.
- The leader plays any card.
- The others must follow suit if they can.
- A player who can't follow discards any card – it can never win.
- The highest card of the suit led wins. There are no trumps.
- The winner leads.
Signals (traditional). The leader may give their partner signals:
- Busso (knocking on the table): “Lead this suit back, I hold the top card.”
- Volo (dropping the card flat): “This is my last card of this suit.”
- Striscio (sliding the card): “I have more of these.”
Example with Players 1 to 4. Players 1 and 4 against Players 2 and 3. Order: Player 1, 2, 4, 3.
- Player 1 leads the 3 of denari – the highest card, a sure winner.
- Player 2 follows with the re of denari, Player 4 with the 4 of denari, Player 3 with the 2 of denari.
- Trick to Player 1: 3 (⅓) + re (⅓) + 4 (0) + 2 (⅓) = 1 point.
- Player 1 leads the asso of denari: nobody holds the 3 or 2 of that suit any more – this trick is safe too.
6. Scoring
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Each asso | 1 |
| Every three face cards/threes/twos | 1 |
| Last trick | 1 |
| Napoletana (3, 2, asso of one suit) | 3 |
| Buongioco: three aces, twos or threes | 3 |
| Buongioco: four aces, twos or threes | 4 |
- Thirds: Round down at the end.
- Recording: One column per team.
7. Special rules and situations
- Declaring only: Combinations are shown or named before the first trick ends.
- No talking: Apart from the three signals, partners may reveal nothing.
- Cappotto: A team taking all tricks often scores 11 extra points (variant).
- Revoke: The offending team loses the deal (all 11 points to the opponents).
- Common mistakes: forgetting that the three beats the ace; leading unprotected aces.
8. Variants
Standard in this description: four players, no trumps, game to 21, napoletana and buongioco count.
| Variant | What changes | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| No combinations | Napoletana and buongioco don't count. | beginners |
| 31 or 11 points | Longer or shorter game. | depending on time |
| Two-player Tressette | With a stock and drawing. | two players |
| Terziglio | Three players with a bid. | three players |
When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play with the player opposite as your partner to 21, 31 or 11 points, with or without combinations; there are no signals there.
9. Tips for beginners
- Threes and twos first: They win for sure and draw out aces.
- Protect aces: An asso without the 3 and 2 of its suit is in danger.
- Remember suits: Discards show who is out of which suit.
- Last trick: A whole point – plan for it.
- Declare combinations: A napoletana gives three free points.
- Support your partner: Return the suit your partner opened.
- Worthless cards: 4 to 7 are good discards.
10. Summary in 10 steps
- 40 Italian cards, 10 cards each.
- Anticlockwise, partners opposite.
- Right of the dealer leads.
- Ranking: 3, 2, asso, re, cavallo, fante, 7 … 4.
- Follow suit, otherwise discard anything.
- No trumps: highest card of the suit wins.
- Asso 1, face cards/3/2 ⅓ each, last trick 1.
- Napoletana 3, buongioco 3 or 4.
- Round thirds down.
- First team to 21 points wins.
11. Frequently asked questions
Are there trumps?
No. The highest card of the suit led always wins.
Why is the three higher than the ace?
That's the traditional ranking: 3, 2, asso, then the face cards.
What is a napoletana?
The 3, 2 and asso of the same suit in your hand – 3 points.
May I talk to my partner?
No, only the classic signals busso, volo and striscio are allowed.
How many points per deal?
11 (without combinations).
How long does a game take?
To 21 points about 30 to 45 minutes.
Origin & history
Tressette is documented in Italy since the 18th century; the name means 'three sevens' and alludes to an old combination. It is regarded as a demanding thinking game without trumps in which partners communicate with fixed signals.