The Dealer's Tarot
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Pairs well with
Cards are not included. This is the book with the 22 games: play with any 78-card tarot deck, even one you already own. Alternatively, pair it with one of the dedicated Level 99 decks.
FroGames — Moments You'll Remember
That evening you said "just one more," then "let's try this other one," and by midnight you had played seven different games without even realizing it. Same cards, a new game every time.
What it's about
A book with 22 games, to be played with a tarot deck
The Dealer's Tarot is not a board game: it's a book of 22 original card games by D. Brad Talton Jr., with illustrations by Redd Cohen. Each game is inspired by one of the Major Arcana and is played using a classic tarot deck.
The Dealer's Tarot brings together widely different genres under the same 78 cards: trick-taking, set collection, betting, deduction, even a dungeon-crawler. Lottery, Disappearing Act, Crowns, Tango, Hot Pursuit, The Lion's Share — some support up to 8 players, others are played solo. Most can be explained in 5 minutes.
Important: in the box you'll find the rulebook. To play, you need a tarot deck — one you already own, or one of the five dedicated Level 99 decks (Baroque, Constellation, Fantasy, Gamer, Prototype), available separately.
What they say abroad
"The designs are varied, clever, and often surprisingly deep."
The games are varied, clever, and often surprisingly deep.
— Little Board Gamers
"A pretty wide range of genres, from trick-taking to lane-battling. There's even a dungeon-crawler!"
A pretty wide range of genres, from trick-taking to lane-battling. There's even a dungeon-crawler!
— Gaming Trend
The Dealer's Tarot
Several games in the book are designed for solo play (like Hot Pursuit), others adapt well. Not all 22 work solo, but those that do offer real challenges without bots or extra rules.
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews, and play sessionsWhat's inside (and what you need)
A book that solves your evening
The book of 22 games
Rules, setup, examples, and variants for 22 complete games, each linked to a Major Arcana. Clean layout with strategy tips for quick learning.
A tarot deck (not included)
To play, you need a classic 78-card tarot deck. One you already own is fine — or one of the five dedicated Level 99 decks, sold separately.
Very different genres
Trick-taking, set collection, betting, deduction, flip-and-write, even a dungeon-crawler. The same cards, but your brain works differently every time.
Immediate setup
Choose a game, read two paragraphs, shuffle, and start. Most can be explained in 5 minutes and played in 5 to 45.
In six months, you won't remember which of the 22 you played first. But you'll remember the evening you pulled out the deck and played three games in a row.
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Choosing the game
Open the book, scroll through the index. Lottery? Tango? The Lion's Share? It depends on how many players you have and how much time. Someone pulls out a deck of tarot cards. The choice of game already sets the tone for the evening.
First cards
Hands fill up. Someone asks if they can make that move, someone responds by looking at the book. The first moves are timid. Then someone understands the game's trick and starts playing seriously.
The pace quickens
Now everyone knows what to do. Cards fly fast. Someone is winning, someone is bluffing. The table comes alive, voices rise. It's no longer a new game: it's a competition.
The twist
A card turns everything around. A risky choice pays off. Someone overextends and loses. It's the moment that creates the story — the one you'll tell later, when you play again.
End of game and replay
Someone wins. The others want a rematch. But then someone says, "Let's try that other one?" Same deck, different game. And you start all over again.
How to play
The structure of each game
Each game has its own rhythm, but the basic structure is always straightforward: choose, prepare, play, conclude. You'll need the book and a deck of tarot cards.
Flip through the index and choose based on how many players you have and how much time. Each game indicates players, duration, and difficulty. Read the page — usually that's enough.
Shuffle and deal as instructed. Some games use all 78 tarot cards, others only a part. Setup takes only a few seconds.
Play a card, draw one, perform the game's action. Each game has a different basic action: betting, exchanging, discarding, bluffing, collecting.
You win by points, sets collected, or objectives completed — it depends on the game. Some end when the deck runs out, others when someone reaches the goal.
Why it's different from others
Six things that make it unique
22 games, one book
You're not buying a game, you're buying a library. Each game is complete, tested, and has its own variations. These are not variations of the same concept: they are independent projects that share the same deck.
Any tarot deck you have is enough
No dedicated box needed: you play with a classic 78-card tarot deck, even one you already own. Or you can combine it with one of the five specially designed Level 99 decks.
Same cards, different logic
In Lottery you bet, in Crowns you collect sets, in Hot Pursuit you chase. The cards are always the same, but your brain works differently each time. 22 games that weigh as much as one book.
1 to 8 players
Some games are tight duels, others support eight people at the table, and some are true solitaires. The book covers every situation: choose based on who you have in front of you tonight.
Rules in 5 minutes
Most games can be explained in five minutes, and each is contained within a few pages, with examples and strategic tips. Read, understand, play. No endless FAQs.
Themed around the Major Arcana
Each game is inspired by one of the Major Arcana, with illustrations by Redd Cohen. The Fool opens with Lottery, The Chariot races with Hot Pursuit. Aesthetics serve design.
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
Each game has its own conditions. Some end by points, others by objectives, others by elimination — but the substance is always the same: reach the end better than the others.
Victory
- Collect the required set (Crowns, The Lion's Share)
- Accumulate more points than your opponents (Lottery, Tango)
- Complete the specific game objective (Hot Pursuit)
Defeat or elimination
- Run out of cards when you need them
- Are overtaken by opponents in the race
- Fail the objective when the deck runs out
The Dealer's Tarot is an entire bookshelf in book format. Twenty-two games that really work, to be played with a tarot deck — and that pay for themselves on the first night.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about The Dealer's Tarot
Are the cards included or do I need to buy them separately?
The package contains the book with the rules for 22 games. To play, you need a classic 78-card tarot deck: one you already own is fine, or one of the five dedicated Level 99 decks (Baroque, Constellation, Fantasy, Gamer, Prototype), sold separately.
So it's just a book? Is it really worth it?
It's a book, but it contains 22 complete and independent games, each with rules, examples, strategy tips, and up to five variations. If you already have a tarot deck, it's the most economical way to bring home dozens of different evenings. The book format is its strength, not a limitation.
Are all 22 games of the same type?
No. They cover very different genres: trick-taking, set collection, betting, deduction, flip-and-write, and even a dungeon-crawler. Lottery is betting, Crowns is set collection, Hot Pursuit is chasing. Each game has its own mechanics; they are not variations of the same concept.
How long does a game last?
From 5 to 45 minutes, depending on the chosen game and the number of players. Most stay under 20 minutes. These are fast games, made for multiple rounds in a row or for changing games on the same evening.
Does it work well solo too?
Yes, in part. Several games in the book are designed for solo play (like Hot Pursuit), others adapt. Not all 22 work solo, but those that do offer real challenges without the need for automatons. The book always specifies which games support solo play.
Is it available in Italian?
No, this edition is in English. The book contains the rules for the 22 games, and the cards in the dedicated decks have English text and references. A good understanding of the language is required to read the rules.
The Dealer's Tarot is a book with 22 modern card games designed by Dave Brad Talton Jr. and published by Level 99 Games, with illustrations by Redd Cohen. The games are inspired by the Major Arcana and are played with a classic 78-card tarot deck (not included): they range from 1 to 8 players, lasting 5–45 minutes, ages 10+. Variable mechanics — hand management, set collection, trick-taking, deduction, betting, and even a dungeon-crawler — with rules explainable in minutes. The book is the core product; the five dedicated Level 99 decks (Baroque, Constellation, Fantasy, Gamer, Prototype) are available separately. English edition. Available on FroGames.it.
The Dealer's Tarot
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
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