Tysiąc – Rules

Play Tysiąc against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Tysiąc is one of the most popular three-player games in Poland, Russia and Ukraine. The highest bidder takes the three cards of the “musik” (widow) and must make their bid. Trumps only exist once someone declares a marriage (king and queen of a suit) – and the heart marriage is worth a full 100 points.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 24 cards: 9, jack, queen, king, 10, ace in four suits.
• Ranking (high → low): A, 10, K, Q, J, 9.
• Card points:

• Total: 120 card points.
• Marriages: hearts 100, diamonds 80, clubs 60, spades 40.
• Face up and face down: Hands concealed, the musik face down (turned up after the bidding).

3. Preparation and start

1. Deal: Everyone gets 7 cards; 3 go to the musik.
2. Bidding: Starting left of the dealer, players bid, usually from 100 in steps of 10. A player who passes is out. Only a player with a marriage may bid over 120.
3. Musik: The highest bidder turns up the musik, takes it and gives each opponent one card. Now everyone has 8 cards.
4. Raising the bid: The highest bidder may still raise their bid now.
5. Start: The highest bidder leads.

Start example: Player 1 bids 110 and wins. The musik holds the king of hearts, 9 of spades and 10 of clubs. Player 1 gives Player 2 the 9 of spades and Player 3 a weak card.

4. Goal and winning

• A deal: The bidder must reach at least their bid with card points and marriages.
• Made: They score their bid (no more).
• Missed: The bid is subtracted.
• Game: The first to 1000 points wins.

5. Play in detail

A trick.

1. The leader plays any card.
2. Follow suit and head the trick (play higher) if possible.
3. If you can't follow, you must play a trump (if trumps exist yet).
4. The highest trump wins, otherwise the highest card of the suit led.

Declaring a marriage. A player on lead who has already won at least one trick may show king and queen of a suit and lead one of them:

• The marriage scores at once (hearts 100, diamonds 80, clubs 60, spades 40).
• That suit becomes trumps – until the next marriage is declared.

Example with Players 1 to 3. Player 1 plays 110.

1. Player 1 leads the ace of clubs. Player 2 follows with the king of clubs, Player 3 with the 9 of clubs. Trick to Player 1: 15 points.
2. Now Player 1 may declare: he shows the king and queen of hearts – heart marriage, 100 points. Hearts are trumps. He leads the queen of hearts.
3. With 115 points Player 1 has already made his bid of 110. At the end he scores 110.

6. Scoring

• Recording: One column per player.
• End: First to 1000 points – usually the last stretch must be reached as bidder.

7. Special rules and situations

• Barrel (beczka): From 800 (or 880) points only made bids count; you have a few attempts or fall back (variant).
• Poor musik: If the musik holds fewer than 5 points, the cards are often redealt (variant).
• Four nines: A player with four nines may ask for a redeal.
• Marriage without a trick: Not allowed.
• Common mistakes: bidding high without a marriage; forgetting the duty to head the trick; declaring the marriage too late.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: three players, bidding in steps of 10 from 100, target 1000.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play three-handed with steps of 10 (Polish) or 5 (Russian), to 1000 or 500 points.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Count marriages: A heart marriage is worth 100 – that makes bidding worthwhile.
2. Over 120 only with a marriage: Otherwise the bid is hardly possible.
3. Win a trick first: No trick, no marriage.
4. Aces and tens: They are the most important counters.
5. Distribute the musik wisely: Give opponents cards that don't help them.
6. As an opponent: Work with the other opponent to make the bidder fail.
7. Bid carefully: A missed bid costs as much as it would have earned.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 24 cards, three players, 7 each, musik 3.
2. Bid from 100 in steps of 10.
3. Over 120 only with a marriage.
4. The highest bidder takes the musik, gives each opponent 1 card.
5. They may raise the bid and lead.
6. Follow and head, else trump.
7. Marriage after your own trick: points and new trumps.
8. A 11, 10 10, K 4, Q 3, J 2.
9. Made: + bid; missed: − bid.
10. First to 1000 wins.

11. Frequently asked questions

Are there trumps from the start?

No. Trumps only arise from the first declared marriage.

What is a marriage worth?

Hearts 100, diamonds 80, clubs 60, spades 40.

When may I declare a marriage?

When you're on lead and have already won a trick.

What if I miss my bid?

The bid is subtracted from your score.

What do the opponents score?

Their own card points and marriages, rounded to 10.

How long does a game take?

To 1000 points one to two hours.

Origin & history

Tysiąc ('thousand') has been popular in Poland and the former Soviet Union since the 20th century and belongs to the marriage games. Typical is that a declared marriage determines trumps – and the target of 1000 points.