An introduction to the version named above. Special cases and local rules may differ. Agree on your rules before the first hand.
GAME PHASE 01
Deck & Dealing
Every card exists twice
Doppelkopf uses 48 cards: two complete sets of Ace, 10, King, Queen, Jack and 9 in four suits. Every card therefore exists twice, hence the name (“double head”).
Twelve cards per player
All 48 cards are dealt out: each of the four players receives 12 cards. Nothing is left over. Unlike in Skat, there is no Skat pile.
GAME PHASE 02
Re & Kontra
The two Queens of clubs decide
In a normal game, each player with a Queen of clubs belongs to “Re”. The other two form “Kontra”. A player holding both Queens of clubs may announce a “Hochzeit”: the first other player to win a trick within the first three tricks becomes their partner. If none does, they play alone.
Hidden teams
Since nobody sees the others' cards, the first task is figuring out who plays with whom. An early high trick or following with a trump often gives a player's party away.
GAME PHASE 03
Trump Ranking
A great many trumps
In a normal game, all Queens, all Jacks, all diamonds and both Tens of hearts are trumps: 26 of the 48 cards. Plain suits are clubs and spades without Queens and Jacks, and hearts without Queens, Jacks and Tens.
The “Dulle” is queen of the hill
The highest trump is the 10 of hearts, the “Dulle”. Below it come the Queens (clubs, spades, hearts, diamonds), then the Jacks (same order), then the diamonds from the Ace downwards.
Diamonds round off the trumps
After the Jacks come the remaining diamonds as the lowest trumps: Ace, 10, King and 9 of diamonds. A King of diamonds is only a low trump, but whenever it ruffs, it still beats any plain-suit card, even an ace.
Card values like in Skat
The point values are identical: Ace = 11, 10 = 10, King = 4, Queen = 3, Jack = 2, and the 9 = 0. Because every card exists twice, the total comes to 240 points.
GAME PHASE 04
Tricks & Following Suit
Trump or plain suit?
If a trump is led, everyone must follow with a trump (if they can). If a plain suit is led (e.g. the Ace of clubs), that suit must be followed. Whoever has none may trump or throw off.
Highest trump takes the trick
Once a trump appears, the highest trump wins. A Queen beats any Jack, and the Dulle beats any Queen. Identical highest cards favour the first, except for the Dullen: under DDV rules, the second Ten of hearts beats the first, even in the last trick. House rules may differ.
Fuchs & Karlchen
Two special cards give extra points at the end: capturing an opposing Ace of diamonds (the “Fuchs”, or fox) earns a bonus point. If the Jack of clubs (“Karlchen”) takes the last trick, that scores one too.
GAME PHASE 05
Announcements & Scoring
Announcing “Re” and “Kontra”
You may announce “Re” or “Kontra” with at least eleven cards in hand. Under DDV rules, each announcement adds two game points, rather than doubling the score. A direct reply is still allowed with ten cards. Weddings and further announcements have additional deadlines.
121 points to win
Without announcements, or with Re alone, Re needs at least 121 points and Kontra 120. If only Kontra is announced, Kontra needs 121 and Re 120. With both announced, Re needs 121 again. Further announcements such as “no 90” change the winning conditions.
Recording the score
The winning party receives game points, depending on the margin, announcements and bonus points (Fuchs, Karlchen, “Doppelkopf” = a trick worth 40+ points). Over many rounds this builds the overall score.
FROM READING TO UNDERSTANDING
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With cards on the table.
The iPhone app walks you through sample rounds at your own pace. All eleven games and every lesson are free. You can also play Mau-Mau against computer opponents.
Explore Kartenschule ↗Coming soon to the App Store. In English and German.Publisher: Sebastian Kurock. Updated October 2, 2026. Based on Kartenschule’s own lessons.