Game Rules
MauernBlocking is also a trick

Bavarian trick-taking game where blocking is as important as taking your own tricks.

Players3 – 5
Duration15 – 25 Min
Deck32 cards · 1 deck
LevelMedium
I · Game Idea

Preventing rather than
just winning

I

Mauern is a Bavarian trick-taking game where the strategy is not only to take your own tricks – but to actively prevent certain opponents from winning their tricks.

The name comes from "Mauern" (blocking): by deliberately playing low cards, you can prevent opponents from taking valuable tricks.

II · Preparation

Before the
game begins

II
1
Deal cards
Distribute 32 cards evenly among 3–5 players.
2
Determine trump suit
The trump suit is announced before the game or determined by bidding.
3
Set target
Each player has an individual point target based on the number of players.
Before starting

Pay close attention to who plays after you – Mauern works best when you deliberately block the player immediately following you.

III · Card Values
How Mauern
works
III
M
Mauern
Blocking
Deliberately play a low card to prevent an opponent from winning the trick.
T
Trump
Beats everything
Trump cards beat any off-suit, regardless of value.
B
Following suit
Obligation
Play the led suit if possible – otherwise trump or off-suit.
Z
Target
Individual
Each player has their own point target that they want to achieve or prevent.
IV · Gameplay

Trick by
trick

IV
1
Lead player starts
The first card of a trick determines the suit to be followed.
2
Follow suit or block
Play the led suit – consciously choosing high or low depending on your tactic.
3
Win the trick
Highest trump card wins, otherwise the highest card of the led suit.
4
Pursue goal
Keep in mind which opponents you want to block.
5
Evaluation
Each player compares their collected points with their individual target. Whoever reaches their target or successfully blocks others wins points according to house rules.
V · Variants
Variants
V

Mauern is played slightly differently in various Bavarian regions.

2
Two-player Mauern
With fixed two-player teams instead of individual players.
∅
No trump
Variant completely without a fixed trump suit.
S
Stricter
Whoever doesn't block, even if possible, pays a small penalty.
5
Five players
Extended variant with adjusted individual targets.
VI · Tips & Tricks

What really
matters

VI
Strategy Tips
+

Observe carefully which player is next after you – targeted blocking is most effective against the immediately following player.

+

Hold back low cards deliberately to use them for blocking at the right moment, instead of wasting them early.

+

Weigh up with each trick: is winning the trick more valuable than blocking a certain opponent?

+

Observe the individual goals of other players – whoever is close to their goal becomes the primary blocking target.

Common Mistakes
–

Exclusively focusing on your own tricks and completely neglecting tactical blocking.

–

Wasting low cards too early instead of saving them for the crucial blocking moment.

–

Ignoring the individual goals of other players – without this information, targeted blocking is hardly possible.

–

Using trump cards thoughtlessly for unimportant tricks instead of saving them for critical blocking situations.

Berlin Hold'em · Matching Decks
Get the matching deck

Mauern requires tactical foresight – with a 32-card deck ready for the next game.

View all designs →
20s Playing Cards – Double Pack For larger groups and long game nights. To the product Viking Playing Cards – Double Pack Two decks, suitable for 5+ players. To the product
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