This chapter teaches the basic East-Austrian table version. Popular additions, each fully documented online:
- Holding, the fine print. The basic game above already plays with holding (the traditional call is “Ich halte!”). Some circles extend it into a full running duel with repeated holds and counter-raises mid-auction; the complete positional-priority rules live online.
- The forced Solo. A rare curiosity: hold all of XX through XVI and there is no one left to call. The rules then send you into a Solo, and with five trumps that high, you weren’t going to share the glory anyway.
- Farberl entry ticket. Strict tables demand at least five color-suit cards in hand before you may bid Farberl. An edge case, but if your group loves Farberl, agree on it up front.
- Throwing in (Zusammenwerfen). Many circles allow a player with not a single Tarok (or only a lone Trull card) to toss their hand; the same dealer redeals. Agree on it before you play.
- The Traditional Scoring. Tarok grew up as a money game, and classic tables score zero-sum: winners collect the value FROM the losers, a soloist from all three (win a Solo: +12 for you, minus 4 for each defender). Same contracts, same values, more bookkeeping. If your table likes the old way, play it; the full method is online.
- Kontra tables. At some tables, a defender who is convinced the Declarer’s contract will fail may call “Kontra!” before the first trick. That doubles the contract’s Victory Points, win or lose. If the Declarer’s side is just as convinced of the opposite, they may answer “Rekontra!” and double it again. Confidence, priced in. Full rules online.
- The traditional count. Old-school tables count captured cards in groups of three. Our tally is simply easier. The full method lives online.
- Tappen. The three-player sibling: full 54-card deck, a talon, and a bidding ladder of its own. Rules online.