Following Suit
The Bedienpflicht (obligation to follow suit) — which cards are you allowed to play?
You already know which cards win. Now the second half: which cards may you even play? The rule is called Bedienpflicht (the duty to follow suit) — and it’s learned in a minute.
Open the lesson in the app
The first card sets the suit
Whoever leads the Stich (plays the first card) sets the effective suit (wirksame Farbe). That’s exactly what you must follow, if you can. “Wirksam” (effective) means: a trump counts as trump, a suit card as its suit — just like in the Trumpf lesson.
Remember the ground rule: if you still hold the led suit, you must play one of it. Which one exactly is up to you — but the suit is compulsory.
You follow whatever was led
- If a Trumpf is led, you must follow with a trump — if you have one.
- If a suit is led (e.g. Gras), you must follow with exactly that suit — if you have one.
- You do not have to over-trump — just follow. A small card of the suit is enough.
Ober and Unter are trump — not a suit
Watch out: a Schellen-Unter is not a Schellen, it’s a trump! So if Schellen is led, the Schellen-Unter does not force you — you may keep it. The other way round: if a Trumpf is led, every Ober and Unter counts as trump — so you must give one of them if you still hold one.
Then you’re free
If you have none of the led suit, you may play whatever you like — a trump on top to win, or a low card to throw off. No obligation to win the trick. It’s your free choice.