TAGÒ is a game of skills and chance that is completely new and unlike any other existing card game.
TAGÒ promotes competition between various players instead of betting against the “Bank” (typically represented by a Gambling House or Casino). The rules, symbols on the cards, design of the table and layout are all novelties of the card game as you know it.
TAGÒ is easier to play than traditional card games and the thrill and excitement that derives from the direct competition with other players remains untainted. The game not only involves luck, but also the ability and possibility for each player to flaunt their skills of prudence, pure risk, calculated risk and bluffing. The sequence of bid raising, which depends on the minimum and maximum bets, will determine the size of the kitties being won; however, they will not allow for amounts too extravagant.
TAGÒ is easy to learn, different each hand, and sophisticated enough to highly reward skill and strategy employed via memory and intelligence.
TAGÒ is the game of the future and is worthy of joining the ranks of all of its illustrious predecessors.
The game of TAGÒ is played with a deck of 30 cards dealt one at a time until each player has three cards: two showing and one hidden. In the deck, the cards have 10 different values, which are repeated three times. They are: 0, 1⁄2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
The game can be played with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 8 players. Each player is given three cards, while three cards (called the Point), visible to all players, are placed in front of the dealer. The Point determines the score of the hand being played.
The rules of the game specify the value of each hand and establish a precise hierarchy of scores based on the calculation of probability, ensuring that the game is won by the player with the highest score. The bets rely on the hope of getting the highest score or on the chance that the other players will fold.
For the vast majority of hands, the objective consists in trying to obtain the same numeric value with your three cards as the POINT person, or to get as close as possible (higher or lower) to their numeric value.
The cards are always dealt starting from the first position (the player left of the dealer) and continuing in a clockwise rotation, while the “block”, the player to the right of the dealer and the first player to start the hand, changes position in a clockwise direction after each deal.
1. An “Ante” (or minimum bet) is collected from each player.
2. The first covered card is dealt to the first position and subsequent covered cards are dealt in a clockwise direction and always starting from position no.1.
3. The first covered card of the POINT is displayed in front of the dealer’s position.
4. A second uncovered card is dealt (following the same procedure as #2).
5. The second uncovered card of the POINT is displayed.
6. A third uncovered card is dealt (following the same procedure as #2).
7. The third and last card of the POINT, uncovered, is displayed.
8. First round of bets.
9. The POINT is completely defined by the unveiling of its hidden card.
10. Second round of bets.
11. Each player views their covered card.
12. Third round of bets.
* On reaching their turn, each player must bet or withdraw from the game.
* The raising of the bids progresses as follows: one in the first round of bets; two in the second; and three in the third.
1. ZERO
– three zeros,- the highest score possible and is able to win the Jackpot.
2. Copy Cat
– the same three cards as the Point.
3. Three of a Kind
– three of 1⁄2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.
(Except for the Zero, any other three of a kind each have the same exact value. Therefore, in the event of a tie, with two or more players having a three of a kind, these players should proceed as is described in the section entitled “Several Winners.”)
4. Value
– Achieving the same numeric value as the Point.
5. Closest
-The closest score to the Point, higher or lower.
A player with a pair has the advantage of having two different scoring methods available:
1. Adding together the numeric value of each card.
2. Voiding the numeric value of the pair.
Example: Player A holds the following cards: 1, 8, 8. The two scores at Player A’s disposal are therefore: 17 and 1
The dealer will automatically choose the best score for the player, relating to the POINT of reference.
If the POINT is formed by a pair, the player whose hand (first player of the hand) it is will be the one to decide which score will be the final one for that hand: In this event that the player whose hand it is decides to fold, the decision of which definite score it will be lies with the next player (in clockwise rotation), in which case that player by default becomes the first player of the hand, and so on.
The Restoration Move option allows every player to increase their amount of chips. This action may be taken either between hands or during a hand of play.
• The player must always announce to the dealer their intention of carrying this action out.
• The minimum sum allowed to make this move must correspond to that which is necessary to participate in the game (ex.: Table 5/300 = 300.)
• During a current hand being played, the Restoration Move is only permitted to happen before the unveiling of each player’s hidden card, during the player’s turn (not during any other player’s turn) and each player is only allowed one per game.
• “Under the raise” (that is to say when the player is unable to cover the preceding bet of an adversary) the minimum amount required to perform the Restoration Move must be able to cover the bet or the current raise in play. Example: Player A bet 1,000, Player B only has 500: Player B, in order to cover the spread must put in at least 500, to raise the stakes (if permitted) he or she must put in at least 1,500, inasmuch as the minimum raise must always correspond to twice that of the preceding bet.
This notable option allows each player to play the total amount of chips of which he or she is in possession of in that moment, those present on the table and those visible in front of him or her, allowing this player to thus remain in the game despite the impossibility of said player covering their adversary’s bet. In Tagò, the Remainders are allowed to be played only when they do not amount to a sum sufficient enough to cover the adversary’s raising bet and if they are equal to or greater than twice the amount of the original bet.
Example 1:
Player A bets 1,000 and Player B only has 800 in front of them: In this case Player B may play their Remainders. If Player B wants to cover the bet or raise (if permitted), they must employ the Restoration Move.
Example 2:
Player A bets 1,000 and Player B has 1,200 in front of him/herself: In this case Player B may not play their Remainders because the chips in front of them are greater in value than Player A’s bet. Player B can, however, cover by betting 1,000 or they may raise the stakes, with the Restoration Move (if allowed) to a sum that allows him/her to bet at least 2,000.
In the event of a tie, two possibilities arise:
1 Even if only one of the players requests it, the pot will be divided.
2 If all players agree, a further 3th round of betting is carried out as follows:
• Each player involved “discards” one of three cards in his possession, keeping the other two open in front of him.
• The reference “POINT” cards remain unchanged, as well as the “Pot” and the cube position indicating the first hand player.
• The dealer mixes all the remaining cards, excluding those of the “POINT” and the two discovered cards belonging to the players involved, to whom he distributes a new hole card, starting a further 3th round of betting.
• The following amount of BETS will join the previous one in the main POT .
• If this leads to (an)other tie(s), the same procedure is repeated as often as necessary.
In these types of hands constituted by multiple kitties, every player is obligated to split with the other winners.
The amount in every hand, which is deducted by the total of the difference between each jackpot, is withdrawn from the Ante before the distribution of the cards: this amount is the value of the Ante and can correspond to the minimum of the table or to half of that. Both are up to the discretion of the Game Director.
The player in possession of two uncovered zeros and the winner of the first or second round of bets because of other players folding, is granted permission to look at their hidden card and if that card is another zero, is awarded the jackpot.
Since the minimum and maximum bets for each table are established by the Gambling House, it is a fundamental rule that all players must always start with the same value in chips showing in front of them on the table. There are also two distinct ways of playing: one is called LIGHT and the other HEAVY.
In LIGHT mode, the minimum and maximum stakes are those which are indicated (ex.: 5/300) and the second number refers to the minimum amount necessary to participate in the game.
Example: Table 5/300
5 = minimum bet permitted
300= maximum raise allowed and the minimum amount needed to participate in the game
In HEAVY mode, while the minimum remains that which was pre-established, the maximum does not exist, amounting to the type of game without maximum bet limits, but limits itself from suggesting the minimum bet necessary to participate in the game.
Example: Table 5/300
5 = Minimum bet allowed (to raise stakes)
300= Minimum amount allowed to participate in the game
The minimum raise allowed must always be twice that of the preceding bet.
The player has a right to touch the cards only after he or she has caught sight of their hidden card: a good rule is to make it so, once the card is seen, that card doesn’t ever get moved back to its original spot, meaning under the player’s other two cards but arranged within the player’s competency, up to the number that indicates the player’s position. The player that decides to fold before having seen his/her hidden card, is forced to declare “fold”: It is then the dealer’s responsibility to take that player’s cards away and deposit them together with the others in the pile to his left.
Alternatively, the player that decides to fold after having seen their hidden card is not forced to declare “fold” vocally, but in this case, is forced to position the same card, carefully hidden, above his/her’s other two cards: such a gesture indicates a fold. Players are only allowed to bet or fold during their turn: every other gesture otherwise is to be considered incorrect and is punishable. The player that expresses their intention to gamble prematurely, verbally or with a gesture, must when his/her turn comes confirm their intentions and suffer elimination from the current hand of play.
A player who decides to abandon the current hand but who wishes to look at the covered card at the end of the round, may satisfy their curiosity by making a request to the dealer and placing a chip corresponding to the current Ante on top of his/her uncovered card. At the discretion of the Director of Play this chip will then be included either in the Jackpot or in the employee tip jar.
A player will be eliminated from the current round of play if, for any reason whatsoever, he/she has looked at their own covered card before the rules allow; that card will be displayed to all players before being taken away, and the play will continue.
At the opening of the table, the stack of cards must be spread out on the table to form three horizontal lines, each one comprised of ten numeric values in order from zero to 8. In the presence of at least two players, the so-called “salad” will follow, which is not repeated again until the next opening of the table. This is followed with the card shuffle which must be done at the beginning of each hand as well.
The positioning of the first player of the hand happens at the beginning of the game. Once the cards have been shuffled, the dealer hands one out to each player and the player that gets the card closest to Zero will be the first player of the hand. In cases where there is a tie, the first person seated closest to the dealer in clockwise formation will be the first player of the hand.
• Card Shuffle (Shuffle, Shuffle, Bridge, Shuffle)
• Withdrawal of the Ante and deduction for the jackpot
• Movement of the Cube indicating the first player of the hand (always in clockwise rotation)
• Distribution of the cards
Fold When a player abandons their play in the hand
Bet Amount of money allotted to a hand
Call Matching the raised amount of chips during any given hand
Raise Amount of increase above the original bet of the hand
The dealer must always announce the POINT:
• Ladies and Gentlemen, the POINT of this round is X (first round of bets)
• Ladies and Gentlemen, the POINT is X (second round of bets)
The dealer must always announce the bets, the calls, the folds and the raises, always specifying which announcements he or she is making.
If the dealer mistakenly uncovers a player’s covered card, or prematurely uncovers the covered card of the Point, the hand is cancelled and the cards are dealt again.
The so-called Rapid version consists of starting the game from the second round of bets with all three cards of the Point exposed.
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