Editing Tarocchini (section)

===Ottocento===
Ottocento, is the most popular version. It is played by 4 players in two partnerships sitting opposite each other. The middle part of the game is very similar to the basic tarot game. It adds a round of point-counting before and after the game based on sets and runs of the cards. An unusual feature is that the partners are allowed to make certain limited signals to each other during play.<ref name="History" />

As usual for Tarot card games, dealing and card play are counter-clockwise. The dealer gives 15 cards to each player, in 3 rounds of five cards apiece. The dealer picks up the last two cards adding it to those in hand. The dealer has to discard two cards, which can not be "5 point" cards (such as kings, or the trumps worth 5 points). The discards are counted as points to the dealer's side, unless they make no tricks at all during the card play in which case the discarded cards must be surrendered to the opponents.

After the first 5 cards have been dealt, if all players agree the game may ''andare a monte''. If this happens, all the cards are thrown in, and the deal passes to the next player. Eldest hand speaks first, declaring a monte if wishing to restart the game. This continues with each player until it reaches the dealer. If all have declared a monte, then the game will be restarted.

The game consists of three parts.  Just after the [[Hand (card games)|hand]] has been dealt, all players may score their hands according to the meld points contained within.  Next, normal card play occurs.  Finally, the partners score any [[Meld (cards)|meld points]] that they have in their captured tricks. The scoring of meld points after card play is unique to Tarocchini and [[Minchiate]].

====Declarations====
After the cards have been dealt, each player may declare certain combinations of hand cards to collect meld points.  The player does not have to declare anything, and may optionally declare a smaller set or run than actually held.  Anything that is declared must be placed face-up on the table. The decision of what to declare is an interesting strategic choice.

====Game play====
Once the first declaration of points is finished, normal card play ensues. Note that some information has been disclosed by the declarations, so players will have more clues than usual as to the contents of the other players' hands. As in all tarocchi games, there is the rule that a player that can't [[follow suit]] must trump if possible. If lacking trumps, then any card can be discarded. The Fool excuses the player from following suit: it is played to the trick instead of following suit, and then retrieved to its player's pile of won tricks. The Fool's player gives a low valued card to the trick's winner (only if it is an opponent) at the end of the hand. If the Fool's team failed to win any trick, the Fool is surrendered to the opponents but this is very rare. One of the most important strategies is to capture or protect the Begato as it is very useful in scoring. The last trick has a bonus of 6 points.

During play, eldest is permitted to make certain signals to his or her  partner. The current game allows only three signals:
*Throwing up the card up which means "I'm now void in this suit". Originally, the signal was opening a hand.
*Drawing back the card towards oneself means "You should lead with trumps".
*Knocking the table with a fist means "You should try to win with your highest card and lead the next trick with the same suit."

These are some of the formerly allowed signals:
*Saying ''sminchiate'' means " Lead your highest trump"
*Striking the centre of the table means "I have the highest card of the suit (including trumps)." 
*Striking the table's edge means "I have the second highest card..."
*When on lead, drawing back the card slightly towards oneself before laying it down means "Do not play your highest card of the suit in question".

====Scoring====
Once all tricks have been completed, the captured cards are examined for meld points. Combine these meld points with the meld points from declarations at the beginning of the hand. Next, count card points in pairs with one point subtracted from each pair. Then add the last trick bonus. After adding the meld points with the card points and last trick bonus, the first team to reach 800 wins. It is actually possible to win at the declarations if one team can reach 800 points. If both teams can do it, the team with the higher points win.<ref name="History" />