Ulti, or Ultimó, is Hungary's national trick-taking card game for three players. It is virtually unknown outside its home borders.
History Its name derives from the winning of the last trick with the lowest trump, a feature derived from several games like Trappola and Tapp Tarock played in Central Europe and in the former Austro-Hungarian empire, though the game as a whole is probably a further development of Mariaš, first mentioned in Hungary in 1787 and first described in 1883 as suggested by its alternative title Talonmariaš, described as "ultimáriás" by G. J. Potter in 1930. All games ultimately derive from the old French game of Mariage.John McLeod Ulti - Historical Data at Pagat.com
Different sets of rules The rules of the game are not universal, and typically each group of players will have their own set of rules that they agree upon. When people play together for the first time, it often takes considerable amount of time until they can agree on a rule set that is played. Some rules can significantly alter the strategy (see references for a different set of rules from what is described below).
Preliminaries Three players use a 32-card pack, with cards normally ranking in descending order Ace X King Over Under IX VIII VII. The first dealer is chosen by any agreed means and thereafter the turn to deal and play passes to the right. The dealer deals a batch of five cards to each player, seven to the first player on their right, and then another batch of five cards to each of the other two players.
Object and contracts Each game starts with an auction. The highest bidder becomes the soloist and plays alone against the other two with an objective to fulfill whatever contract they bid for. In trump games, Aces and Tens captured in tricks worth 10 points each, and winning the last trick is worth a further 10, making a possible total of 90. In addition, declaring a marriage (King and Over of the same suit) scores 20, or 40 in trumps, bringing the maximum possible total to 190. Ties are not possible because of the extra 10 points for the last trick. In no-trump contracts, card points and marriages do not count, and cards rank from top to bottom A K O U X IX VIII VII.
Bids Type of bidWinning conditionsLosing conditionsValue if wonValue if lostTrump gameRank of tensExtra Simple bidSimpleThe calling player ends the game with a score higher than the defending team.The calling player ends the game with a score lower than the defending team.11YesHigh-40-100The calling player has a marriage in trumps and scores at least 60 additional points from tricks. No players may declare more marriages in this game.The calling player fails to score at least 60 points from tricks.44YesHighNoFour AcesThe calling player wins all tricks where aces are played.The calling player loses at least one ace to the defending team.44YesHighYesUltiThe calling player wins the last trick with the Seven of trumps.The calling player fails to play the Seven of trumps on the last trick or loses the last trick to a higher trump.44+4YesHighYesBetliThe calling player loses all tricks.The calling player wins at least 1 trick.55NoLowNoPlain DurchmarsThe calling player wins all tricks.The calling player loses at least 1 trick.66NoLowNoTrump DurchmarsThe calling player wins all tricks.The calling player loses at least 1 trick.66YesHighNo20-100The calling player has a marriage in a non-trump suit and scores at least 80 additional points from tricks. No players may declare more marriages in this game.The calling player fails to score at least 80 points from tricks.88YesHighNo
All bids have a form of two distinct bids; for trump games a single value bid where the trump is either Acorns, Bells or Leaves (but is not announced during the auction) and a double value bid where the trump is Hearts. In the latter case, the suffix "of Hearts" is appended to the bid. The suit of Hearts itself bears no other distinction in the game; however, by otherwise naming the trump during the auction the player gives away information and is thus slightly disadvantaged.
In no-trump games such as Betli or Plain Durchmars, the double value form of the bid is merely an identical, second stage which helps the auction keep going for higher bids.
Betli and Durchmars also have an additional form called Open. When playing an Open bid, all players put their cards on the table and show it to the others right after the first trick. Professional players usually end the game after "opening", as they inspect the hands and conclude whether the calling player would win or lose the game. Open bids are worth quadruple the base value of Betli and Plain Durchmars, and double in Trump Durchmars.
Bids can be freely combined as long as they do not conflict. The value of a combined bid is the sum of the individual components' values. At the conclusion of the game, the constituent bets are evaluated and scored independently. A 40-100 Durchmars Ulti therefore nets 4+6+4=14 points if all undertakings succeed and 4−6+4=2 points if the Durchmars happens to fail. Doubling is done component-by-component as well, meaning that if a defender successfully doubles Durchmars in the above example the net result of the round is 4−12+4=−4 points.
Ulti is a unique bid in the sense that it carries an additional penalty of 4 points if lost (8 for Ulti of Hearts). Doubling, however, doesn't affect the penalty so a doubled and lost Ulti of Acorns costs 8+4 points for the bidder (16+4 if redoubled, 32+4 if surdoubled and so on).
Ulti and Four Aces are worth an extra point (2 for Hearts) besides their standard value if they were not combined with any other bids as they implicitly get combined with a Simple. Therefore, the soloist should attempt to complete an extra objective in this case: to score more than the defending team. However, since the constituent bets are handled independently, failing to complete the Simple will still cost the soloist the value of Simple. The Simple component like any component in any bid can be doubled separately.
Usually a player who bids a single value (non-Hearts) Simple forfeits the game doubled if no higher bid is made by anyone including themselves. This is done to prevent opponents from completing silent bids and to speed up the game playing more valuable bids. In certain circles, forfeiting a game of Simple is not optional but done by convention.
In the auction, a bid is ranked above another bid if its total value is either higher than the other bid's or is equal but made up of less components. An Ulti (4+1 points) thus can be declared over a 40-100 (4 points) and a Betli (5 points) can be declared over an Ulti. There is one exception to this rule: although having the same total value and number of components, Ulti of Hearts and Four Aces of Hearts can be overbid by 40-100 Durchmars or Ulti Durchmars to facilitate playing more of these infrequent but arguably more exciting bids with lower potential silent bonuses. If more bids have the same value and the same amount of component then the valid is that said sooner, but in equal position Ulti is always higher than Four Aces. For example, 40-100 Ulti Four Aces (12 points) is lower than 20-100 Four Aces (12 points) which is lower than 20-100 Ulti (12 points).Hungarian Ulti Association - Official competition rules in hungarian
The following table recites all 54 possible bids in ascending order of value and precedence. Ranking and alternating row colors represent increments in this 42-step bidding ladder as there are many combinations of equal value which can never be bid over one another.
RankingTotal single valueComponentsBid nameSilent 100Silent UltiSilent DurchmarsTrump suit111Simple223Acorns/Bells/Leaves222Simple of Hearts446Hearts34440-100-23Acorns/Bells/Leaves454+1Four Aces223Acorns/Bells/Leaves554+1Ulti2-3Acorns/Bells/Leaves655Betli----766Trump Durchmars-2-Acorns/Bells/Leaves766Plain Durchmars----884+440-100 Four Aces-23Acorns/Bells/Leaves984+440-100 Ulti--3Acorns/Bells/Leaves108840-100 of Hearts-46Hearts108820-100-23Acorns/Bells/Leaves1194+4+1Ulti Four Aces2-3Acorns/Bells/Leaves12108+2Four Aces of Hearts446Hearts13108+2Ulti of Hearts4-6Hearts14104+640-100 Durchmars-2-Acorns/Bells/Leaves14104+6Ulti Durchmars---Acorns/Bells/Leaves151010Rebetli / Betli of Hearts----16124+4+440-100 Ulti Four Aces--3Acorns/Bells/Leaves17128+420-100 Four Aces-23Acorns/Bells/Leaves18128+420-100 Ulti--3Acorns/Bells/Leaves191212Plain Redurchmars----191212Durchmars of Hearts-4-Hearts191212Open Durchmars-2-Acorns/Bells/Leaves20144+4+640-100 Ulti Durchmars---Acorns/Bells/Leaves21148+620-100 Durchmars-2-Acorns/Bells/Leaves22168+4+420-100 Ulti Four Aces--3Acorns/Bells/Leaves23168+840-100 Four Aces of Hearts-46Hearts23168+840-100 Ulti of Hearts--6Hearts23164+1240-100 Open Durchmars-2-Acorns/Bells/Leaves23164+12Ulti Open Durchmars---Acorns/Bells/Leaves24161620-100 of Hearts-46Hearts25188+8+2Ulti Four Aces of Hearts4-6Hearts26188+4+620-100 Ulti Durchmars---Acorns/Bells/Leaves27204+4+1240-100 Ulti Open Durchmars---Acorns/Bells/Leaves28208+1240-100 Durchmars of Hearts-4-Hearts28208+12Ulti Durchmars of Hearts---Hearts28208+1220-100 Open Durchmars-2-Acorns/Bells/Leaves292020Open Betli----30248+8+840-100 Ulti Four Aces of Hearts--6Hearts31248+4+1220-100 Ulti Open Durchmars---Acorns/Bells/Leaves322416+820-100 Four Aces of Hearts-46Hearts332416+820-100 Ulti of Hearts--6Hearts342424Open Durchmars of Hearts---Hearts342424Plain Open Durchmars----35288+8+1240-100 Ulti Durchmars of Hearts---Hearts362816+1220-100 Durchmars of Hearts-4-Hearts373216+8+820-100 Ulti Four Aces of Hearts--6Hearts38328+2440-100 Open Durchmars of Hearts-4-Hearts38328+24Ulti Open Durchmars of Hearts---Hearts393616+8+1220-100 Ulti Durchmars of Hearts---Hearts40408+8+2440-100 Ulti Open Durchmars of Hearts---Hearts414016+2420-100 Open Durchmars of Hearts-4-Hearts424816+8+2420-100 Ulti Open Durchmars of Hearts---Hearts
* The names Rebetli and Betli of Hearts are both commonly used; however, the latter suggests a trump suit despite Betli being a no-trump bet. The misleading suffix merely points to the fact that the bet is double value and its use is advised against.
Auction The auction is conducted in an unusual way which is virtually unique to Ulti. The player on the right of the dealer gets two extra cards. They are obliged to select two cards from their hand, place them face down on the table without showing them, and make a bid. The two facedown cards are called the talon.
Thereafter, each player may pass or else pick up the talon and bid. Passing does not prevent the calling player from bidding again. The calling player may pick up the talon again if the other two players pass. A player who takes the talon must make a higher bid than the previous one, then lay any two cards face down on the table to re-form the talon. This continues until all players pass (including the highest bidder) after which the calling player announces the trump unless the game is "plain" or "Hearts", and the other two players become the defending team. Card points in the talon count against the calling player whenever the simple game's score is involved. All doubling takes place after the end of bidding and before the end of the first trick.