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 & core idea
32 cards, Bavarian at heart
Schafkopf uses 32 cards. Traditionally it is played with the Bavarian deck and its suits Eichel (acorns), Gras (leaves), Herz (hearts) and Schellen (bells). This app shows French suits: think acorns ≈ clubs, leaves ≈ spades, bells ≈ diamonds.
Eight cards each
All 32 cards are dealt out: each of the four players receives 8 cards. Nothing stays on the table: no hidden extra cards like the skat in Skat.
Two against two
In Sauspiel, two players face two opponents. The called ace determines the partners. Solo and Wenz are one against three.
GAME PHASE 02
The Sauspiel
Calling an ace
The declarer calls an ace in acorns, leaves or bells that they do not hold. They must hold at least one non-trump card of that suit. Hearts cannot be called in Sauspiel.
The secret partner
Whoever holds the called ace is automatically the declarer's partner, but keeps quiet about it. The other two players form the opposing team.
Teams reveal themselves through play
Nobody says who has the ace. The teams only become clear during the game, when the called ace hits the table or a player's moves give them away. Reading these signals is the heart of Schafkopf.
GAME PHASE 03
Trumps
The four Obers rule
The four Obers (≈ queens) are always the highest trumps, in fixed order: acorns > leaves > hearts > bells. No other card beats the Ober of acorns.
Then the four Unters
Right below the Obers come the four Unters (≈ jacks), ranked the same way: acorns > leaves > hearts > bells. Every Unter beats every plain heart card.
All hearts join in
In the Sauspiel every heart card is trump as well: ace, 10, king, 9, 8, 7 of hearts follow after the Unters. That makes 14 trumps in total, almost half the deck.
GAME PHASE 04
Tricks & counting
Follow suit
You must follow the suit that was led if you can. If trump is led, you must play trump. Only if you cannot follow may you trump in or throw off any card.
Card points as in Skat
Ace = 11, ten = 10, king = 4, Ober = 3, Unter = 2; the 9, 8 and 7 count nothing. All cards together hold 120 points.
61 points win
The declarer's team needs at least 61 of the 120 points to win; the defenders win with 60. Count the points in your tricks, not the number of tricks.
GAME PHASE 05
Solo & Wenz
Solo: one against three
A player with a very strong hand can announce a Solo instead of a Sauspiel. He picks the trump suit himself and plays alone against the other three. A Solo always outranks a Sauspiel.
Wenz: only the Unters
In a Wenz only the four Unters are trump: no Obers, no trump suit. The Obers turn into plain suit cards between king and 9. A daring, popular solo variant.
Laufende & stakes
Consecutive top trumps in one team's hands are called Laufende (matadors) and raise the game's value. Schafkopf is traditionally played for small stakes. A few cents per point keep everyone honest.
The called ace has special duties
When the called suit is led, its ace must be played. Its holder normally cannot lead a lower card of that suit. The ‘running away’ exception requires at least four cards of the called suit. Agree on the rules before playing.
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.