Game Rules
SchafkopfBavaria's Card Game Pride

Queens and Jacks are trumps, plus a chosen suit. Schafkopf is Bavaria's most popular card game.

Players4
Duration10 – 20 min
Deck32 cards · 1 deck
DifficultyChallenging
I · Game Idea

Queens, Jacks
and a Suit

I

Schafkopf is played by four players with 32 cards. All Queens and Jacks (8 cards) are automatically trumps – plus a chosen suit as an additional trump.

Whoever declares trump ("Rufer" or "Solo") forms a hidden team with a partner against the other two – team affiliation is often unclear.

II · Preparation

Before the
Game Begins

II
1
Deal Cards
32 cards (7 to Ace): 8 cards each.
2
Announce Game Type
Player with a strong hand announces "Sauspiel", "Wenz" or "Solo".
3
Find Partner
For Sauspiel: owner of the called Ace partner automatically becomes a teammate.
Before the Start

Count your Queens and Jacks carefully – with all four Queens in hand, a Solo is almost always a sure bet.

III · Card Values
What is
Trump
III
Q
Queen
Highest Trump
All four Queens are trump. The Queen of Clubs is the strongest card in the game.
J
Jack
Trump, lower
All four Jacks are trump, below the Queens but above the chosen trump suit.
♦
Hearts/Trump Suit
Remaining Trumps
The chosen suit (usually Hearts) is additionally completely trump.
S
Sauspiel
Standard Game Type
Most common game type: an Ace is called, its owner automatically becomes a partner.
IV · Gameplay

Trick by
Trick

IV
1
Announce Game Type
Sauspiel (call an Ace), Wenz (only Jacks are trump) or Solo (play alone).
2
Follow Suit
Play the demanded suit if possible, otherwise trump or off-suit.
3
Win Trick
Highest trump card wins, otherwise highest card of the demanded suit.
4
Reveal Teams
Team affiliation only becomes clear when the called Ace is played.
5
Score
Player team (caller + partner) needs more than 60 out of 120 points. Schneider (more than 90) and Schwarz (all tricks) bring additional points.
V · Variations
Variations
V

Schafkopf has many local special rules in Bavaria and Franconia.

W
Wenz
Only the four Jacks are trumps – no additional suit.
G
Geier
Only the four Queens are trumps – a rare game type.
R
Ramsch
If everyone passes: fewest points wins, instead of highest.
T
Tout
Solo player declares to win all tricks – highest stake.
VI · Tips & Tricks

What really
Matters

VI
Strategy Tips
+

Count all four Queens and Jacks in your hand carefully – they determine if a Solo is realistically winnable.

+

In a Sauspiel as an undeclared teammate: play cautiously at first until team affiliation is clarified by the called Ace.

+

Don't save the highest trump (Queen of Clubs) for too long – sometimes an early play is more important to secure the lead.

+

In Wenz, only four trump cards count – plan accordingly which off-suits you can safely get through.

Common Mistakes
–

Revealing your own teammate in Sauspiel too early by playing trump carelessly.

–

Announcing a Solo without enough Queens and Jacks – your hand must be objectively strong enough for a solo game.

–

Forgetting that in Wenz, only Jacks are trump – Queens then count as normal off-suit cards.

–

Overlooking the Schneider or Schwarz bonus and thus underestimating your own game as a sure win too early.

Berlin Hold'em · Matching Decks
Get the Matching Deck

Schafkopf is Bavarian tradition – perfect for four players with a 32-card deck.

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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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