212 lines
13 KiB
Markdown
212 lines
13 KiB
Markdown
# Trictrac Rules — Quick Reference
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This document summarises the rules of grand trictrac based on the 2013 Malfilâtre edition ([full text](refs/laws_and_rules_of_trictrac.md)).
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French terms follow the mapping in [vocabulary.md](refs/vocabulary.md).
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---
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## 1. Board and Starting Position
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- 24 triangular fields (_flèches_ / _cases_), numbered 1–24 from each player's perspective.
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- 4 quarters of 6 fields: **small jan** (1–6), **big jan** (7–12), **opponent's big jan** (13–18), **return jan** (19–24, exit zone).
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- Field 12 (White) / 13 (Black) is the **rest corner** (_coin de repos_).
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- Each player starts with all 15 checkers in a stack (_talon_) on field 1.
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- Checkers always move in the same direction (White: 1→24; Black: mirror of that).
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## 2. Dice and Movement
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- Both dice are rolled together; both must be played if possible.
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- If only one can be played and there is a choice, the higher number must be played.
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- A single checker may play both dice successively — a **chained move** (_tout d'une_) — stopping on an intermediate resting field (_repos_) between the two dice.
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- **Fields are single-color**: a checker may only land on an empty field or one already occupied by own checkers.
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- Landing on a field with ≥ 1 opponent checker is **forbidden** (blocked field).
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- An unplayed number is a **helpless man** (_jan-qui-ne-peut_): 2 points penalty per unplayed die, credited to the opponent.
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## 3. The Rest Corner (Field 12 / 13)
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- Must be entered **simultaneously** (_d'emblée_): exactly 2 checkers must enter together.
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- Must be vacated simultaneously: exactly 2 checkers must leave together.
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- Always holds ≥ 2 checkers while occupied; a single checker there is forbidden.
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- Three ways to take the corner:
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- **By effect** (_par effet_): normal die values land exactly on it.
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- **By puissance** (_par puissance_): the opponent's corner is empty; the player could take both corners simultaneously, but by privilege takes their own instead (as if stepping back one field).
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- **By chance** (_par effet_): general case when it results from the dice.
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- If both by-effect and by-puissance are possible, by-effect takes priority.
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- An empty corner may serve as a resting field during a chained move (not a landing).
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- Placing checkers on the **opponent's** corner is always forbidden.
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## 4. Scoring: Points and Holes
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- Points are tracked with tokens (0–11); **12 points = 1 hole** (_trou_).
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- A **hole won bredouille** (_bredouille_) counts as **2 holes**: the active player scored 12 consecutive points from zero without the opponent scoring anything in between. The second player to start marking takes a double token (the _pavillon_ / flag) and can also win bredouille.
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- The ordinary game ends when one player reaches **12 holes**.
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## 5. Scoring Events (Jans)
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All point values: normal roll / double.
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### 5a. Opening Jans (first rolls of a setting only)
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| Jan | Condition | Points |
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| --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ |
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| **Two tables jan** | First 2 checkers deployed; roll covers both rest corners; opponent's corner is empty | 4 / 6 (to player) |
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| **Contre two tables** | Same, but opponent has already taken their corner | 4 / 6 (to opponent, as false hit) |
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| **Mezeas jan** | Corner just taken (2 checkers); next roll shows one or two aces; opponent's corner empty | 4 per ace / 6 for double (to player) |
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| **Contre mezeas** | Same, but opponent's corner is occupied | 4 / 6 (to opponent) |
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| **Six tables jan** | After 2 rolls a checker is on 4 of the first 6 fields; 3rd roll could complete all 6 | 4 (always; not possible on a double) |
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### 5b. Jan Filling and Conserving
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A jan is **full** (_plein_) when all 6 of its fields hold ≥ 2 own checkers.
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- **Filling**: the last checker is brought in to complete the jan.
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- Up to 3 ways: each direct die value covering the last field, or the combined sum (chained move).
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- Each way: **4 / 6** points.
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- Doubles allow at most 2 ways.
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- "Filling in passing" (player must break the jan to play the other die) scores nothing.
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- **Conserving**: both dice can be played without disturbing any of the 12 checkers of the full jan.
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- Worth **4 / 6** points (at most one way).
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- Conservation by helplessness (_par impuissance_): only die value 6 triggers this (smaller values can always be played within the jan by breaking it).
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- The full return jan may be conserved by exiting one or more checkers.
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- After marking points for filling, the player **must** actually fill the jan with the appropriate checker(s) — failure is a false move and a school.
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### 5c. Hitting (_Jan de Récompense_)
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Hitting is **always fictitious**: a checker is "hit" when a die value could cover an opponent checker on a half-field (_demi-case_), but **no actual checker moves**. The opponent's checker stays.
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**True hit**: a die (direct or combined sum) fictitiously covers the opponent checker.
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- In the **small jan table** (fields 1–12): **4 / 6** points per way.
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- In the **big jan table** (fields 13–24): **2 / 4** points per way.
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Ways to hit:
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- **1 way**: only one direct die, or only the combined sum, covers the checker.
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- **2 ways**: both direct dice cover it, or one die + the combined sum.
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- **3 ways**: both dice + the combined sum (requires a normal roll; doubles max at 2 ways).
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**Combined-sum hit** requires a free **resting field** between the two dice stops: the field must be empty, own, or a single opponent checker (which is then also hit).
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**False hit** (_à faux_): the combined sum could hit but no valid resting field exists (all intermediate options are full opponent fields). The opponent gains the points the player would have scored.
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- True-hit points are always marked before false-hit points.
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- A checker already hit truly cannot also be hit falsely in the same move.
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- Multiple checkers may be hit simultaneously (some true, some false).
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**Corner hit**: player holds their own corner; opponent's corner is empty; the dice could simultaneously take the opponent's corner. Worth **4 / 6** points. Never false.
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### 5d. Exit
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- When all 15 checkers are in the return jan (fields 19–24), the player may exit.
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- The exit rail counts as one additional field value.
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- **Exact exit**: die value brings the checker directly to the exit rail — allowed.
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- **Overflow** (_nombre excédant_): die value would carry the farthest checker past the rail — must exit.
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- **Failing number** (_nombre défaillant_): die cannot reach or overflow — must play within the jan.
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- A player may choose not to use an exact exit value and play within the jan instead — but overflow must always exit.
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- It is forbidden to deliberately play a die within the jan to force the second die to be played as an overflow (using a checker closer to the exit).
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- When the last checker exits: **4 points** on a normal roll, **6 points** on a double.
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- After exit: checkers reset; the player who exited keeps first-move privilege for the new setting.
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## 6. Forbidden Jans
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A player **may not** place a checker in the opponent's small jan or big jan as long as the opponent can still materially complete a full jan there (i.e., enough of their own checkers remain to fill it).
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Exception: during a chained move, an empty field in the opponent's big jan (including their empty corner) may serve as a resting field to pass a checker into the return jan.
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## 7. Sequence of Play
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Each turn follows this order:
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1. Mark opponent's helpless man points or contre-jans from the **previous** move.
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2. Mark opponent's schools; rectify false moves if any.
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3. **Roll dice.** Opponent may mark schools for steps 1–2.
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4. Mark own points: opening jans, hits, fills, conserves, exit.
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5. Decide to **stay** (_tenir_) or **leave** (_s'en aller_) if a hole was won on own roll.
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6. If exiting: reset checkers, keep token positions, roll again.
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7. Play both dice.
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Points and holes must always be marked **before** touching checkers for the next move.
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## 8. Staying or Leaving
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After winning one or more holes on **own dice roll**, the player chooses:
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- **Stay** (_tenir_): mark holes, reset opponent token to zero, mark remainder points, continue.
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- **Leave** (_s'en aller_): announce it; opponent agrees or raises a fault. All checkers and tokens reset to zero; only holes remain. Player who left has first-move privilege in the new setting. Remainder points are forfeited; opponent scores nothing for that move.
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If the winning points come from the **opponent's** roll (helpless man, schools), the player **must** stay — leaving is not an option.
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---
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## 9. Schools (Marking Penalties) — _Not Yet Implemented_
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Schools are penalties for marking errors. They are worth exactly the number of points over- or under-marked on the faulty move. They are marked last in the turn sequence.
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Key rules:
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- A school is committed once dice are rolled or a token has been advanced too far and released.
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- The opponent is never obliged to mark a school — but if they do, it must be marked in full.
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- **False school**: incorrectly claiming a school — itself becomes a school for the opponent.
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- **School escalation** (_augmentation d'école_): dispute over a school that escalates back and forth.
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- No "school of school" exists (marking a school is never itself penalised).
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- No school of holes for marking a bredouille hole as simple; a school of points applies for forgetting holes due to earned points.
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---
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## 10. The Scored Game (_Partie à Écrire_) — _Not Yet Implemented_
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The scored game is played for an agreed number of **rounds** (_marqués_) and supports 2, 3, or 4 players (the 3/4-player format is called _chouette_).
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### Goal of a Round
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- A player must score at least **6 holes** and then **leave** to win the round.
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- If both players are tied at ≥ 6 holes when one leaves, the round is **drawn** (_refait_) and replayed immediately.
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- Winner of a round = player with the most holes after a leave.
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### Bredouille in the Scored Game
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- **Small bredouille** (_petite bredouille_): ≥ 6 consecutive holes → round counts **double**.
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- **Big bredouille** (_grande bredouille_): ≥ 12 consecutive holes → round counts **quadruple**.
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- The second player to score holes takes the flag (_pavillon_) at their peg. If the first player scores again, they take back the flag, cancelling both bredouilles.
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### Payments
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Each round is settled in tokens:
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- Winner receives (winner's holes − loser's holes) tokens, plus **consolation** of 2 tokens.
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- Small bredouille: each winner hole worth 2 tokens; consolation = 4.
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- Big bredouille: each winner hole worth 4 tokens; consolation = 8.
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- Loser holes always deducted at 1 token each.
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- In 3-player games, the non-playing player also receives consolation from the loser.
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- Replays double the consolation price each time.
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A **queue** accumulates tokens from each defeat and is paid at game end to the player with the most tokens.
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**Bets** (_paris_): rounds played beyond each player's average (the _contingent_). The first double-bet is the **postillon** (28 tokens, including 20 from the queue); each subsequent bet costs 8 tokens.
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### Multi-Player Rotation (3 or 4 Players)
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- 3 players: after each round, the winner is replaced by the third player; first-move privilege stays with the player who remained.
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- 4 players: two teams of two; each player plays two rounds in a row then gives way to their partner.
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- Non-active players may advise (opponents in 3-player, teammates in 4-player) but may not touch game components.
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---
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## 11. Implementation Status Summary
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| Feature | Status |
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| ----------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------ |
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| Board state, movement, rest corner | Implemented |
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| Helpless man | Implemented |
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| True / false hits (small jan, big jan, corner) | Implemented |
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| Jan filling and conserving (small, big, return) | Implemented |
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| Opening jans (two tables, mezeas, six tables) | Implemented |
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| Exit and exit points | Implemented |
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| Bredouille (hole bredouille) | Implemented (`can_bredouille`) |
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| Forbidden jans | Implemented |
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| Stay / leave (_s'en aller_) | Implemented (`Go` event) |
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| Big bredouille (`can_big_bredouille`) | Field exists, not used |
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| Schools | Not implemented |
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| Scored game / rounds | Not implemented |
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| Misery pile (_pile de misère_) | Not implemented |
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