Écarté Rules for 2 Players

Game Overview

Écarté, a two-player trick-taking game, originated in 19th century Paris and was popular among gamblers. The game is played with a 32-card French-suited pack, where each suit ranks from high to low: King, Queen, Jack, Ace, 10, 9, 8, 7. Today, it is still played in some 'cercles de jeu' in France.

Objective

The main objective of Écarté is to win at least three out of the five tricks in a round.

Setup

1. Shuffle the 32-card deck and deal five cards to each player.
2. Turn the top card of the remaining deck to determine the trump suit. If the turned card is a 2, the game continues with no trumps (the game is then called Écarté sans trèfle).
3. Players examine their hands and may choose to discard up to three cards if neither player wants to attempt to win three tricks with the initial cards they were dealt. In this case, both players are dealt an equal number of fresh cards in exchange.

How to Play

1. The player to the left of the dealer leads any card of their choice to start the first trick.
2. The other player must follow suit if possible, playing a card of the led suit. If they cannot follow suit, they can play any card, including a trump card.
3. Tricks are won by the higher card of the led suit, or the highest trump card if a trump was played. The winner of the trick leads to the next trick.
4. Play continues until all five tricks have been played.

Scoring and End of Game

The player who wins at least three tricks scores one point for each trick won over three. The game continues until one player reaches a predetermined number of points, typically 11 or 21.

Common Variants

Some common variants of Écarté include games where the players are dealt six cards instead of five and where the player who wins the first trick leads to the second trick, instead of the player who won the previous trick.

Where to Get the Game

Start your Écarté journey with a 32-card French-suited deck, available here on Amazon.

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

1. Not understanding the trump suit: If the turned card is not a 2, it determines the trump suit. Remember, no trumps means the game is Écarté sans trèfle.
2. Forgetting to exchange cards: If neither player wants to attempt to win three tricks with the initial cards, they can discard up to three cards and receive an equal number of fresh cards in exchange.
3. Not following suit when possible: If you have a card of the led suit, play it to win the trick.

FAQ

1. Q: Can I play Écarté with a deck other than a 32-card French-suited deck? A: While it is traditionally played with a 32-card French-suited deck, you can adapt the rules to fit other deck sizes, but the ranking of the suits may need to be adjusted.

2. Q: What happens if both players choose to discard cards and exchange? A: If both players discard cards and exchange, the game is considered a 'pass' and no points are scored. The game continues with the next deal.

3. Q: Can I play Écarté with more than two players? A: No, Écarté is designed for two players only.

4. Q: Is there a strategy to win more often in Écarté? A: While there is no one-size-fits-all strategy, understanding the trump suit, following suit when possible, and having a good understanding of the cards in your hand can increase your chances of winning.