Schafskopf
(Sheepshead)

• Requirements

• 3 people can play; 4 or 5 may participate, but only 3 can actually play at the same time;
• A stripped 32-card deck (A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7).

• Rank of Cards

All queens, jacks, and diamonds are trumps, ranking in the following order: Q (high), Q, Q, Q, J, J, J, J, A, 10, K, 9, 8, 7.

In each of the three side suits, the cards rank: A (high), 10, K, 9, 8, 7,

• The Deal

The draw, shuffle, cut and deal are as in Skat. The dealer gives three cards at a time to each of the players, then two cards face down for the blind, then a round of four at a time, and finally a round of three at a time, for a total of 10 cards per player.

• Determining the Player

The player on the dealer's left has first chance to pick up the blind. If he refuses, the privilege passes to the two other players in turn. Whoever picks up the blind becomes the Player and assumes a contract to win a majority of the points for cards. The Player plays alone against the other opponents. After picking up the blind, the Player discards two cards face down to restore his hand to 10 cards.

If all three players pass, the hand must be played at "least" (as described below).

• Game

For purposes of determining game, the cards have point values as follows (whether trump or plain):

• Each ace -- 11
• Each ten -- 10
• Each king -- 4
• Each queen -- 3
• Each jack -- 2
• (No count for lower cards)

The total points in the pack is 120, and the Player wins game if he takes 61 points or more in tricks. If the Player gathers 91 points or more, it is a called"schneider" as in Skat: and if all the tricks are taken, it is a "schwarz."

• Least

If all three players pass, the hand is played for "least." Each participant plays for himself. The object is then to take as few of the points for cards as possible. The blind is left untouched until the play is completed, when it goes to the winner of the last trick.

• The Play

The player on the dealer's left makes the opening lead. The winner of each trick leads next. A player must follow suit if possible. If unable to follow suit, a player may trump or discard at will. No one is required to win a trick even if he can. The highest trump played, or the highest card of the suit led if no trump is played, wins the trick. It is important to remember that all queens, jacks, and diamonds belong to the same trump "suit."

• Scoring

Individual scores are kept on paper, with a running total for each participant. If the blind is picked up, the scoring values are:

• Game -- 2
• Schneider -- 4
• Schwarz -- 6

If the Player reaches 61 points or more, he is credited with the appropriate figure; if the Player fails to make 61, he is debited the appropriate figure (4 if he fails to catch 31 points, or 6 if he loses all the tricks.)

Scoring the game "least," the player who gathers the fewest points scores plus 2-plus 4 if he wins no tricks at all. If one person takes all the tricks, he is debited 4. If two players tie for low, the one who did not take the last trick wins and gets 2 points. If each player gets 40 points in cards (a triple tie), the winner is the hand that passed third, and that player scores 2.

Auction Sheepshead

This is a version of Schafskopf for four people who play two against two as partners. The cards are dealt four at a time, each hand receiving eight cards. The player on the dealer's left makes first bid or pass, and each other player is allowed one bid. Bidding is by the number of points over 60 that the bidder (with the help of his partner) guarantees to win in play. The only permanent trumps are J (high), J, J, J. The winning bidder names the trump, and the player on the dealer's left makes the first lead. The rest of the rules of play are the same as in Schafskopf.