Rules for Skat

Skat is Germany's national card game and one of the best card games for three players in the world. The game was developed around 1810-1820 in the town of Altenburg in Thuringia, Germany, and has since spread worldwide. It uniquely combines bidding, strategy, and trick-taking.

Skat is played by 3 people with 32 cards (7 through Ace in all four suits). With 4 players, the dealer sits out each hand. The goal is to win points by taking tricks containing valuable cards. One player (the declarer) plays alone against the other two.

Skat uses 32 cards: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, and 7 in all four suits (♠️♦️♣️♥️). The cards have the following point values:

• Ace: 11 points
• 10: 10 points
• King: 4 points
• Queen: 3 points
• Jack: 2 points
• 9, 8, 7: 0 points

There are 120 total card points in the game. The declarer must take at least 61 points to win.

The four Jacks are always the highest trumps, regardless of which suit is trump:

Jack ranking: ♣️J > ♠️J > ♥️J > ♦️J

In the trump suit: ♣️J, ♠️J, ♥️J, ♦️J, Ace, 10, King, Queen, 9, 8, 7 (11 trumps total)

In plain suits: Ace, 10, King, Queen, 9, 8, 7

Note that the 10 ranks higher than the King and Queen!

The dealer shuffles and the player to the right cuts. Cards are dealt as follows:

1. 3 cards to each player
2. 2 cards placed face down in the center (this is the skat)
3. 4 cards to each player
4. 3 cards to each player

Each player now has 10 cards. With 4 players, the dealer sits out for this hand.

Before play begins, bidding determines who becomes the declarer. The players are called forehand (left of dealer), middlehand (next clockwise), and rearhand (dealer with 3 players).

Bidding process:

1. Middlehand bids against forehand. Middlehand states a number, forehand responds "yes" or "pass."
2. On "yes," middlehand must bid higher or pass.
3. The winner then bids against rearhand in the same way.

The highest bidder becomes the declarer. The lowest bid is 18. Valid bids are based on game values (e.g., 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 27, 30...).

The declarer chooses a game type after winning the bid:

• Suit game: Choose a suit as trump (♦️, ♥️, ♠️, or ♣️). Jacks remain the highest trumps.
• Grand: Only Jacks are trumps (no suit is trump). Base value: 24.
• Null: No trumps, and the goal is to lose all tricks. Card points don't apply, ranking is normal (Ace highest, 7 lowest).

Base values for suit games: ♦️ = 9, ♥️ = 10, ♠️ = 11, ♣️ = 12

After winning the bid, the declarer may:

• Pick up the skat: Look at the 2 cards, add them to your hand, and discard 2 cards face down. Discarded cards count toward your points.
• Play from the hand: Leave the skat untouched. This increases the game value. The skat still counts as the declarer's points at the end.

In hand games, the declarer may also announce Schneider (must take 90+ points) or Schwarz (must take all tricks) for extra multipliers.

Forehand always leads to the first trick, regardless of who is the declarer.

Rules for following:

• You must follow suit if you can
• If you cannot follow suit, you may play any card (including trump)
• Remember that Jacks belong to the trump suit, not the suit marked on them!

The highest card of the suit led wins the trick, unless trump is played. Then the highest trump wins. The trick winner leads next.

Card points: The declarer must take at least 61 of 120 points to win. The opponents win with 60+ points combined.

Game value: Calculated as base value × multiplier.

Multipliers are added together:

• Matadors (with or against) + 1 each
• Game: always +1
• Hand (didn't look at skat): +1
• Schneider (90+ points): +1
• Schwarz (all tricks): +1

Matadors: Unbroken sequence of top trumps from ♣️J. If you have ♣️J, you are "with" matadors; without it, you are "against."

In Null games, the goal is to lose all tricks. There are no trumps and no card points.

Card ranking in Null: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7

Fixed values:

• Null (with skat): 23
• Null Hand: 35
• Null Ouvert (cards shown): 46
• Null Ouvert Hand: 59

If the declarer loses, they pay double the value.

The declarer wins if:

• Suit/Grand: Takes at least 61 card points (including skat)
• Null: Takes no tricks
• Game value is at least as high as the bid

The declarer loses if:

• Takes fewer than 61 points (suit/grand)
• Takes a trick (null)
• Game value is lower than the bid (overbid)

On winning: +game value. On losing: -2 × game value.

Ramsch: If everyone passes, Ramsch is played. The goal is to take the fewest card points. Whoever takes the most points loses.

Kontra/Rekontra: Opponents may say "Kontra" before the first lead to double the score. The declarer may respond "Rekontra" to double again.

Spitze: The declarer announces that the last trick will be won with the lowest trump (7 in suit, ♦️J in Grand). Gives +1 multiplier.

Schneider/Schwarz: If opponents take 30 or fewer points, they are Schneider. If they take no tricks, they are Schwarz.

For beginners:

• Learn the card ranking well, especially that 10 beats King and Queen
• Remember that all Jacks belong to the trump suit
• Start with low bids until you learn to evaluate your hand
• Be careful not to overbid

Advanced tips:

• Count cards, especially trumps and high cards
• Use the skat wisely: discard cards that could give opponents points
• Play from the hand if you have a strong hand for better rewards
• As an opponent: cooperate with your partner through card play