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
The Deck & Dealing
32 cards, four suits
Skat is played with a 32-card deck: each suit has eight cards: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7. The 2 through 6 are not included.
Everyone gets ten cards
The deal goes around the table: first 3 cards to each player, then 2 cards face down into the middle (the “Skat”), then 4 to each, then 3 more. In the end everyone holds 10 cards, and 2 lie in the Skat.
The three seats
Seating order matters: “Vorhand” (forehand, left of the dealer) acts first, then “Mittelhand” (middlehand), then “Hinterhand” (rearhand, the dealer). This order determines who has priority in the bidding.
GAME PHASE 02
Reizen (Bidding)
Who gets to play the game?
Before play begins comes the “Reizen”: the bidding. Players call out numbers (18, 20, 22 …). Whoever bids highest becomes the declarer and plays alone against the other two.
How the bidding works
Mittelhand bids against Vorhand: they call out numbers, and Vorhand answers 'yes' (I hold) or 'pass'. Then Hinterhand bids against the winner. Whoever remains has won the game.
Pick up the Skat or play “Hand”
The declarer may pick up the 2 Skat cards and discard any 2 cards in return. This discarding is called “drücken”. Or they play “Hand”, without touching the Skat. That scores more points.
Which game will it be?
The declarer announces what they will play: a “suit game” (e.g. clubs are trump), “Grand” (only the Jacks are trump) or “Null” (they must not take a single trick).
GAME PHASE 03
Trumps & Card Values
The four Jacks are the bosses
In suit games and in Grand, the four Jacks are always the highest trumps, in fixed order: Jack of clubs, spades, hearts, diamonds. No other Jack beats the Jack of clubs.
Then comes the trump suit
In a suit game, all cards of the trump suit also count as trumps. Example, a clubs game: after the four Jacks come the Ace, 10, King, Queen, 9, 8 and 7 of clubs. That makes 11 trumps in total.
What the cards are worth
It is not the number of tricks that counts, but the points inside them: Ace = 11, 10 = 10, King = 4, Queen = 3, Jack = 2. The 9, 8 and 7 count 0. Together that makes exactly 120 points.
The winning line: 61
In suit games and Grand, the declarer needs at least 61 of the 120 points; the defenders need 60 together. The game value must also cover the bid. In Null, points do not count: the declarer must take no tricks.
GAME PHASE 04
The Play: Tricks
Vorhand leads
Vorhand plays the first card. Going around, everyone adds one card. That is a “trick”. Whoever played the highest card in the trick wins it and leads to the next trick.
Follow suit!
The most important rule: you must follow the suit that was led if you have it. Hearts must be answered with hearts. Only if you have no card of that suit may you trump or throw off another card.
Trump beats suit
If you cannot follow suit, you may “ruff” with a trump and snatch the trick, no matter how high the suit card was. Even a small trump beats any opposing Ace.
Trick by trick to the goal
Suit games and Grand last ten tricks. The declarer tries to take at least 61 points; the defenders feed each other points by playing Aces and Tens into tricks their partner wins.
GAME PHASE 05
Scoring
Counting points
In suit games and Grand, the declarer counts their tricks plus the 2 Skat cards. At least 61 points win, provided they have not overbid. In Null, they win only without taking a trick; its fixed game value must also cover the bid.
The game value
Game value = base value of the suit (diamonds 9, hearts 10, spades 11, clubs 12, Grand 24) times a 'multiplier'. If the declarer wins, the value is credited. If they lose, it is deducted twice over.
Special cases: Schneider & schwarz
If the declarer takes 90 points or more, the defenders are “Schneider” (extra points). If the defenders take no trick at all, they are “schwarz” (black). The same applies in reverse against the declarer.
FROM READING TO UNDERSTANDING
Try it again.
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.