The Basics
From the deal to the settlement — eleven lessons in three chapters.
To the course ›Learn Schafkopf
From your first hand to the Solo
Sixteen lessons, two courses and guided practice. Start from scratch or pick something you want to understand.
The House Rules
Legen, Kontra, Ramsch, Bettel, Hochzeit — five lessons.
To the house rules ›All the rules on one page
Cards, trumps, following suit, the games and the scoring — short, complete and easy to look up.
Schafkopf rules- The Basics
How a round gets set up — shuffle, cut, deal.
- What’s a Trump?
Which cards are trump — the Ober, the Unter, and the whole Herz suit.
- Schafkopf Lingo
What the cards are called, and how people talk at the table.
- Following Suit
The Bedienpflicht (obligation to follow suit) — which cards are you allowed to play?
- Who’s My Partner?
The Rufsau (called ace) and your secret partner.
- The Rufsau Rules
Forced play, Davonlaufen (running away), and the special rules around the Sau (ace).
- Counting to 61
Winning the trick and counting your Augen (points).
- Sauspiel or Weiter?
Judging whether a Sauspiel is worth the bid.
- The Wenz
Only the Unter are trump — one against three.
- The Solo
You name the trump suit and play alone.
- Settling Up
The Spielwert (game value): Grundtarif (base stake), Schneider, Schwarz, and Laufende.
- Legen
Blind, on your first four cards — and it moves only the money.
- Kontra & Re
Who may call, when the window shuts, and what it does not change.
- Ramsch
When nobody wants it: most Augen pays.
- Bettel
No trumps, no tricks — and the Zehn drops below the Unter.
- The Hochzeit
One lone trump, offered face up — who takes it?