Play consists of five stages: The overall objective of the game is to arrange all twenty-one cards[clarification needed] into sets.

Creating a set of seven pairs (two cards of the same rank and suit) also counts as meeting this objective.

The dealer deals a hand of twenty-one cards counter-clockwise to each player.

The top stock card is removed and placed face up; the player on the dealer's right picks it up to start the game.

For the rest of the round, this card is the "Main Maal" and is called "Tiplu".

Subsequent players who display the primary sets can look at the Tiplu, but not change it.

The game ends when a player arranges the cards in complete sets with or without wildcards and displays them.

When the game ends, players who have not completed pure rounds will know the Tiplu and other points cards.

Each player gets (or loses) points based on: When the game ends, the round is over and a new deal follows.

Scoring in Marriage involves calculating the total number of points (maal) in the game.

At the end of a round, each player separates their maal cards from the rest and totals them.