How to play Tarocchi (games based on the Tarot deck)

In my novel I am moving into the Italian Renaissance to explore the origins of the Tarot as a card game know there as the Tarocchi. The game has it's roots in Northern Italy and was first written about in the 15th century. Though the origin of card games are much older, likely as old as the use of paper itself. The earliest history dates back to the mid-Tang dynasty in China sometime between the 8th and 9th centuries. The deck we identify today as the standard playing card deck was introduced into Europe in the 11th century. From there the Italians added a suit of trumps or major arcana to the standard deck to form the Tarot deck. While less popular in modern Italy, the game is still widely played in France and is know by the more common name Tarot.

From Wikipedia we can see the basic rules of the game after the entire deck is dealt out around the table:

Basic rules of play

• Play is typically counter-clockwise; the player to the right of the dealer plays to the first trick. Players must follow suit if they have a card of the suit led, otherwise they must play a trump if possible. The winner of each trick leads to the next.
• After the hand has been played, a score is taken based on the point values of the cards in the tricks each player has managed to capture.

Common value of cards

• Oudlers (Trull) - Trumps 1, 21 and the Fool: 5 points
• Kings: 5 points
• Queens: 4 points
• Cavaliers (Knights): 3 points
• Knaves (Jacks): 2 points
• Pip cards: fraction of a point

The cards are usually counted in groups of two or three depending on the game. After the hand has been played, a score is taken based on the point values of the cards in the tricks each player has managed to capture.

 If you are interested in other unusual or historical card games, especially solitaire, I would also recommend reading Lady Cadogan's Illustrated Games of Solitaire or Patience which was published in 1914. The ebook is available for free on the Kindle Store.