Game Rules
SchnapsenAustria's game for two

Take tricks, declare marriages, be the first to reach 66 points. Schnapsen is Austria's national game for two.

Players2
Duration10 – 15 Min
Deck20 cards · 1 deck
LevelMedium
I · Game Idea

66 points,
two phases

I

Schnapsen is played by two people with only 20 cards (Ace to Jack of each suit). The goal is to be the first to reach 66 points – through tricks and special announcements.

The game has two phases: As long as the talon (draw pile) has cards, players have more freedom of choice. Once it's empty, players must follow suit and even play a higher card.

II · Preparation

Before the
game begins

II
1
Reduce the deck
Keep only Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10 of each suit – 20 cards total.
2
Deal cards
5 cards per player. Talon (remaining pile) face down, top card reveals trump.
3
Point values
Ace = 11, Ten = 10, King = 4, Queen = 3, Jack = 2.
Before starting

A marriage (King + Queen of the same suit) scores points immediately when played – keep an eye on such pairs.

III · Card Values
How to
collect points
III
M
Marriage
20 / 40 points
King + Queen of the same suit: 20 points, 40 points if it's trump.
T
Exchange trump
Trump Jack
Exchange the Trump Jack for the face-up trump card – usually a higher value.
66
Goal
First wins
Whoever reaches 66 points (tricks + declarations) first, wins the round immediately.
Z
Close the talon
Close talon
A player can close the talon prematurely – after that, strict following suit is mandatory.
IV · Gameplay

Trick by
trick

IV
1
Play a card
First player lays a card. As long as talon is open: no obligation to follow suit.
2
Declare marriage
Before playing: Announce King + Queen of the same suit for immediate points.
3
Win trick
Highest trump card wins, otherwise highest card of the same suit.
4
Draw cards
After each trick: draw from the talon, as long as it has cards.
5
66 reached
Whoever reaches 66 points first through tricks and declarations wins immediately and calls out "66!". Incorrect announcement without actually having 66 points: opponent automatically wins.
V · Variations
Variations
V

Schnapsen is closely related to the German game Sechsundsechzig.

S66
Sechsundsechzig
German variation with almost identical rules.
B
Bummerl
Several rounds until one player completely loses ("Bummerl").
3
Talon Variations
Different rules depending on whether the talon is open or closed.
4
Four-player Schnapsen
With four players in two teams – a rarer variation.
VI · Tips & Tricks

What really
matters

VI
Strategy Tips
+

Declare marriages as early as possible – the points count immediately, regardless of the further course of the game.

+

Consider closing the talon if you already have many points – this forces your opponent to follow suit strictly.

+

Exchange the Trump Jack for the face-up trump card if it is more valuable – a simple, often overlooked advantage.

+

Continuously count your total points – an incorrect "66" announcement without actually having enough points automatically loses the round.

Common Mistakes
–

Misjudging one's own score and calling "66" too early without actually having reached it.

–

Declaring a marriage too late – some players forget to announce it before actually playing the cards.

–

Ignoring the new obligation to follow suit after closing the talon and playing freely as before.

–

Forgetting to exchange the trump, even though the face-up trump card is significantly more valuable than one's own Trump Jack.

Berlin Hold'em · Matching Decks
Get the right deck

Schnapsen is compact and fast – perfect for two with a reduced deck.

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