If you are looking for a card game that is easy to learn, fun to play, and challenging to master, then you should try Marriage Card Game. This is a rummy variant that originated in Nepal and is popular among the Nepali diaspora. It is played with three decks of cards and involves making sets of cards based on rank, suit, or sequence. In this article, we will explain what is Marriage Card Game, how to play it, and where to download it for free.
Marriage Card Game is a matching card game that is based on making sets of three or more cards of the same rank (trials), the same rank and suit (tunnels), or three or more consecutive cards of the same suit (sequences). It is also known as 21 cards Rummy or Marriage Rummy.
The game was first documented in 1715 in Leipzig, Germany, where it was called Mariage-Spiel. It was popular among ladies and played with German-suited cards. The game spread to other parts of Europe and gave rise to many offshoots, such as Sixty-Six, which is still the national card game of many countries. The game was also introduced to Nepal, where it became known as Marriage. It is unclear when and how the game changed from using German-suited cards to French-suited cards, or when the feature of closing the stock was added.
The game can be played by two to five players. It uses three standard 52-card decks, without printed jokers. However, in each deal, a number of wild cards are created based on the rank or suit of a certain card. These wild cards are sometimes collectively known as "jokers".
The overall objective of the game is to arrange all twenty-one cards into valid sets. The first objective is to make three pure sets, which are either tunnels or sequences. A tunnel is a set of three cards of the same rank and suit, such as 4 4 4. A sequence is a set of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit, such as 5 6 7 8. A player who makes three pure sets can see the joker card, which determines the wild cards for that deal. The second objective is to end the game by making four more valid sets from the remaining cards. The final objective is to score the highest number of points based on the sets made and the bonuses earned.
Here are some terms used in the game:
L'Amour or Duseur: A set of two cards of the same rank and suit, such as 9 9. It is worth 1 point.
Marriage: A set of three cards consisting of a king and a queen of the same suit, and a tiplu, poplu, or jhiplu. It is worth 5 points.
Double Marriage: A set of six cards consisting of two marriages of the same suit. It is worth 10 points.
Triple Marriage: A set of nine cards consisting of three marriages of the same suit. It is worth 15 points.
Quadruple Marriage: A set of twelve cards consisting of four marriages of the same suit. It is worth 20 points.
The game is played in two phases: initial play and final play. In the initial play, the players try to make three pure sets. In the final play, the players try to make four more valid sets from the remaining cards.
The dealer is chosen randomly and deals twenty-one cards to each player, one at a time, face down. The dealer also places one card face up on the table, which becomes the joker card. The remaining cards are placed face down in a stack, which becomes the stock. The player to the dealer's left begins the game and play proceeds clockwise.
A turn consists of two actions: drawing and discarding. A player must draw one card from either the stock or the discard pile, which is formed by placing the discarded cards face up next to the stock. Then, the player must discard one card from their hand and place it on top of the discard pile. A player can also choose to close the stock by placing their discarded card face down on top of it. This means that no more cards can be drawn from the stock for the rest of the game.
A player who makes three pure sets can see the joker card and announce it to the other players. This reveals the wild cards for that deal, which are as follows:
A player who sees the joker can use any of these wild cards to make sets from their remaining cards. However, they must still follow some rules:
A player who sees the joker can also claim bonuses for making certain sets or combinations:
| Bonus | Description | Points |
|---|
| Tiplu | The same card as the joker card | 3 |
| Poplu | The same suit as tiplu but one rank higher | 2 |
| Jhiplu | The same suit as tiplu but one rank lower | 2 |
| Dublee | A pair of identical cards | 1 |
| L'Amour or Duseur | A set of two cards of the same rank and suit | 1 |
| Marriage | A set of three cards consisting of a king and a queen of the same suit, and a tiplu, poplu, or jhiplu | 5 |
| Double Marriage | A set of six cards consisting of two marriages of the same suit | 10 |
| Triple Marriage | A set of nine cards consisting of three marriages of the same suit | 15 |
| Quadruple Marriage | A set of twelve cards consisting of four marriages of the same suit | 20 |
| Tunnela | A set of three tunnels of different suits | 10 |
| Tunnela with Marriage | A set of three tunnels of different suits and a marriage of any suit | 15 |
| Tunnela with Double Marriage | A set of three tunnels of different suits and a double marriage of any suit | 20 |
| Tunnela with Triple Marriage | A set of three tunnels of different suits and a triple marriage of any suit | 25 |
| Tunnela with Quadruple Marriage | A set of three tunnels of different suits and a quadruple marriage of any suit | 30 |
| Jokerless Set | A set that does not contain any wild card or bonus card | < |
| 5 |
| Jokerless Hand | < |
| All seven sets are jokerless sets | 50 |
| < |
| Clean Hand | All seven sets are pure sets | 100 |
| Mixed Hand | All seven sets are mixed sets (containing both pure and impure cards) | -50 |
| Duplicate Hand | All seven sets are duplicates (containing two or more identical cards) | -100 |
| Invalid Hand | The hand does not contain seven valid sets | -200 |
A player can end the game by declaring their hand after making four more valid sets from their remaining cards. They must show their hand to the other players and claim their points. The other players can challenge the declaration if they think it is invalid. If the declaration is valid, the declarer scores their points and the other players score zero. If the declaration is invalid, the declarer loses 200 points and the other players score zero.
If no one declares their hand before the stock is closed, the game ends in a draw and no one scores any points.
The game can be played for a fixed number of deals or until a player reaches a certain score. The player with the highest score at the end wins the game.
If you want to play Marriage Card Game on your smartphone or tablet, you can download it for free from various app stores. Here are some options:
If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can download Marriage Card Game from the App Store. This app has a user-friendly interface, smooth gameplay, and various features. You can play offline against computer opponents or online against real players. You can also customize your game settings, such as difficulty level, number of players, number of decks, and scoring system. You can also chat with other players, view your statistics, and earn achievements.
If you have an Android device, you can download Marriage - Offline Card Game from Google Play. This app lets you play offline against smart AI opponents or online against your friends. You can also choose from different game modes, such as Classic, Time Trial, or Challenge. You can also adjust your game preferences, such as speed, sound, and vibration. You can also track your progress, view your rankings, and share your results on social media.
Another option for Android users is Marriage Card Game on Google Play. This app offers a simple and elegant design, fast and smooth gameplay, and various options. You can play offline with bots or online with other players from around the world. You can also select from different game variants, such as 21 Cards, 10 Cards, or 7 Cards. You can also change your game settings, such as card size, background, and sound. You can also view your game history, check your score, and invite your friends to play with you.
Marriage Card Game is a fun and challenging rummy variant that you can play for free on your mobile devices. It is a game of skill, strategy, and luck that requires you to make sets of cards based on rank, suit, or sequence. It also involves using wild cards and claiming bonuses for making special sets or combinations. You can play offline against computer opponents or online against real players. You can also customize your game experience by choosing from different game modes, settings, and options. If you are looking for a card game that will keep you entertained and engaged, then you should download Marriage Card Game today.
Here are some frequently asked questions about Marriage Card Game: