Game Rules
Tysiąc1000 Points as Goal

Polish national card game. Bid, choose trumps, be the first to reach 1000 points.

Players3
Duration20 – 35 min
Deck24 Cards · 1 Deck
LevelChallenging
I · Game Idea

Bidding for
the Contract

I

Tysiąc (Polish for "Thousand") is Poland's most popular card game for three players. It is played with 24 cards – players bid for the right to determine trumps.

Similar to Skat, the bidding phase is important: the highest bidder plays alone against the other two and must fulfill their bid through tricks and declarations.

II · Preparation

Before the
Game Begins

II
1
Reduce Deck
Use 24 cards: 9 to Ace of each suit.
2
Deal Cards
7 cards per player. 3 cards remain face down as the Skat.
3
Bid
Players bid higher in turn, based on the expected strength of their hand.
Before Starting

Marriages (King + Queen of the same suit) count different points depending on the suit – know the values before you make your bid.

III · Card Values
What Marriages
are Worth
III
♠
Spades
40 Points
King + Queen of Spades: 40 points – lowest marriage value.
♥
Hearts
60 Points
King + Queen of Hearts: 60 points.
♦
Diamonds
80 Points
King + Queen of Diamonds: 80 points.
♣
Clubs
100 Points
King + Queen of Clubs: highest marriage value with 100 points.
IV · Gameplay

Trick by
Trick

IV
1
Bidding
Players bid higher in turn or pass, based on hand strength.
2
Take Skat
Highest bidder takes the 3 Skat cards, discards 3 of their own face down.
3
Declare Marriages
During play: announce King + Queen of the same suit when playing them.
4
Follow Suit
Play the demanded suit if possible, otherwise trump or off-suit.
5
Score
Bidder needs to fulfill their bid through trick points plus marriages. Success: bid becomes points. Failure: bid is subtracted. First to reach 1000 points wins.
V · Variants
Variants
V

Tysiąc is also played in Lithuania, Ukraine, and Russia.

L
Lithuanian Variant
Different marriage values and slightly varying bidding rules.
4
Four Players
With four players: one sits out each round.
U
Ukrainian Rules
Own bidding structure with different maximum bids.
∅
Without Skat
Simplified variant without the three face-down Skat cards.
VI · Tips & Tricks

What really
Matters

VI
Strategy Tips
+

Calculate your bid based on the actual marriage values in your hand – Club marriages are worth twice as much as Spade marriages.

+

Carefully consider the Skat before making your final bid – it can significantly strengthen or confirm your hand.

+

As opponents, play in a coordinated manner – even without open communication, you can cooperate through card choices.

+

Declare marriages as early as possible – they count regardless of the further course of the game, once announced.

Common Mistakes
–

Making too high a bid without realistically assessing the actual marriage chances of your hand.

–

Overestimating the contents of the Skat before even seeing it.

–

Forgetting that Club marriages are the most valuable – this affects which suit you prioritize.

–

As opponents, playing uncoordinatedly and unintentionally giving each other tricks.

Berlin Hold'em · Matching Decks
Get the right deck

Tysiąc is Poland's favorite game for three – ready to play with a reduced deck.

See all designs →
20s Playing Cards – Double Pack For larger groups and long game nights. To product Viking Playing Cards – Double Pack Two decks, suitable for 5+ players. To product
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