Santase (Sixty-six) is the Bulgarian two-player take on the classic marriage game, played with 24 cards (9, 10, J, Q, K, A) and six cards per player. The remaining 12 cards form the talon and the turned card fixes the trump suit. Race to 66 points from cards and declared marriages: 1 game point if the opponent has 33+, 2 points below that, and 3 points if the opponent took no tricks. A match is played to 11 game points.
Play now — it's freeThe deck has 24 cards: in every suit (♠ ♥ ♦ ♣) the 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace. Values: Ace 11, Ten 10, King 4, Queen 3, Jack 2, Nine 0 — 120 card points in total.
Each player is dealt six cards (3+3). The next card is turned up to fix the trump suit, and the remaining 11 cards plus that card form the talon. The non-dealer leads the first trick.
The trick winner draws first from the talon, then the loser, and the winner leads the next trick. A trick is taken by the highest card of the led suit; any trump beats any non-trump, and between trumps the higher one wins.
While the talon still has cards, nobody has to follow suit or trump — you may throw any card. This is the strategic phase: dump low cards, preserve your trumps and marriage combinations.
When the talon is exhausted (the turned trump goes to the loser of that trick), strict rules apply: you must follow the led suit and, if you can beat the card on the table, you must play a card that wins. If void in the led suit you must trump when holding a trump. Only when you hold neither the led suit nor a trump may you discard freely.
While on lead you may declare a marriage by holding the King and Queen of one suit: 20 points in a plain suit, 40 in trumps. The points count only after you have won at least one trick, and each suit can be declared once per hand. Declaring never changes the trump — trump is fixed by the turned card alone.
The holder of the trump nine may swap it with the turned-up trump card while leading, provided they have already won a trick and more than two cards remain on top of the turned card. The swap happens right after drawing, never mid-trick.
On lead, after at least one trick has been played, a player may turn the trump card face down and close the talon. From then on no cards are drawn, strict rules apply, and the +10 bonus for the last trick is cancelled.
If the closer reaches 66 they score by the normal table. If they fall short, or the opponent reaches 66 first, the opponent scores 2 points — 3 if the closer took no tricks.
When you believe your points (tricks plus declared marriages) reach 66, call 66 on your lead and the hand ends. A wrong call hands the opponent 2 points, or 3 if you have taken no tricks.
| Hand outcome | Game points to the winner |
|---|---|
| Opponent has 33 or more card points | 1 |
| Opponent has fewer than 33 points and at least one trick | 2 |
| Opponent took no tricks (a capo) | 3 |
| Failed 66 call or failed closing | 2 (3 if the loser took no tricks) |
If nobody calls 66 by the end of the hand, the last trick is worth +10 to its winner; if that still leaves everyone below 66, the winner of the last trick takes the hand for 1 game point. A match is played to 11 game points, and the winner of a hand deals the next one.
Count the opponent's points — everything they take is public, so you know when 66 is near.
Don't waste the trump nine on a cheap trick; it is valuable both for the exchange and as a late trump.
Time your marriages — they count only after you have won a trick, so don't wait too long to take one.
Only close the talon when you are confident of 66: a failed closing gifts the opponent 2 (or 3) game points.
24 cards — 9 through Ace in each of the four suits, six cards dealt to each of the two players.
After the deal a card is turned up and its suit is trump for the whole hand. Declaring a trump marriage does not change the trump.
The 12 cards left after the deal. After every trick the winner draws first and then the loser; the turned trump sits at the bottom of the talon.
Only once the talon is exhausted or after someone closes it. While the talon lasts you may play any card.
Playing a trump when you are void in the led suit. In the strict phase trumping is compulsory if you hold a trump.
King + Queen of a plain suit = 20 points; of the trump suit = 40 points. They count only after you have taken at least one trick.
On lead you turn the trump card face down: no more drawing, strict rules apply and there is no +10 for the last trick. Failing to reach 66 after closing gives the opponent 2 points (3 if you took no tricks).
At 66 or more points from cards and declared marriages you call 66 and win immediately; if nobody calls, the last trick adds +10 and otherwise the last-trick winner takes the hand.
A hand is worth 1, 2 or 3 game points depending on the loser's card points and tricks; the match is won at 11 game points.
Yes — at santase.yeeqia.com you play Santase online free directly in your browser, no download and no sign-up needed.