How to Play Thousand
Description
An Eastern European trick-taking game with bidding and marriages. Reach 1000 points before anyone else — but bid carefully, because failing your contract scores nothing.
Objective
Be first to reach 1,000 points across hands, bidding on how many points you'll score and then delivering on it through tricks and marriages.
Setup
Three players, using a 24-card deck — just 9 through Ace in each suit.
Deal seven cards to each player, with three extra cards set aside as a hidden kitty.
Rules
Bidding starts at 100 and rises in steps — each player either raises or drops out, until only one bidder remains.
The winning bidder takes the kitty, adds it to their hand, and discards two cards face down before play begins.
The bidder leads first. Follow suit if you can; if you can't, play trump if any has been declared, or anything if not.
Holding a King and Queen of the same suit lets you declare a marriage during play for bonus points — the value depends on the suit.
Winning
Card points are tallied from tricks won, plus marriage points, across the hand.
The bidder needs to reach their bid exactly or better — fall short, and the bid amount is subtracted from their score instead of added.
First player to 1,000 points wins the match.