StarGames

How to Play

All details on how to play multiplayer games can be found here.

Rules

Bauernschnapsen is a game for four players. The players who sit opposite each other at the table form partnerships. A 20-card deck is used, with each suit consisting of a Jack, Queen, King, 10 and an Ace (in ascending order of value). In the game, players must follow suit and trump rules and take tricks when possible. The aim of Bauernschnapsen is to reach a total of 24 points.

Order of Play

Initially, only three cards are dealt to each of the players. The forehand then chooses a trump suit. This must be a suit of which the forehand holds at least one card. Alternatively ‘Aufschlagen’ can be called, whereby the forehand's next card is dealt facing up. This card determines the trump suit. The remaining cards are dealt leaving each player with five hand cards. Once the cards have been dealt the contract auction begins. Every player has the opportunity to bid. If a player does not wish to bid, he/she can simply pass. The game with the highest point value will be played. If all of the players pass, the forehand must play a ‘normal game’.

The following contracts can be made:

Normal Game

• Is worth 1, 2 or 3 points
• Is played by the forehand if all players pass in the contract auction
• Is played with trumps
• The forehand leads first
• The objective is to reach 66 points in partnership. If the opposing team has fewer than 33 points, the winning team wins 2 points. If the opposing team does not take any tricks, the winning team wins 3 points.

Bettler

• Is worth 5 points
• Can be bid by anyone
• Is played without trumps
• The declarer leads first
• The declarer's objective is to lose every trick. The declarer’s partner does not take part in this game.

Schnapser

• Is worth 6 points
• Can only be bid by the forehand or his/her partner
• Is played with trumps
• The forehand leads first
• The declarer must reach 66 points with the first three tricks.

Gang

• Is worth 9 points
• Can be bid by any player
• Is played without trumps
• The declarer leads first
• The declarer's objective is to win every trick.

Zehnerloch

• Is worth 10 points
• Can be bid by any player
• Is played without trumps
• The declarer leads first
• The declarer's objective is to win all of the tricks. Hereby the cards have different trick strength. In this game, the Ace has the highest value, ahead of the Jack (Ace, Jack, Queen, King, 10 in descending order)  

Bauernschnapser

• Is worth 12 points
• Can only be bid by the forehand or his/her partner
• Is played with trumps
• The forehand leads first
• The declarer's objective is to win every trick.

Kontra-Schnapser

• Is worth 12 points
• Can only be bid by an opponent of the forehand
• Is played with trumps
• The forehand leads first
• The declarer must reach 66 points with the first 3 tricks.

Herrengang

• Is worth 18 points
• Cannot be bid by the forehand
• The declarer must have all 5 cards of one suit in their hand.

Kontra-Bauernschnapser

• Is worth 24 points
• Can only be bid by on of the forehand's opponents
• Is played with trumps
• The forehand leads first
• The declarer's objective is to win every trick.

Herren-Schnapser

• Is worth 24 points
• The forehand has all 5 trump cards in their hand.

Once the contract to be played has been determined, the declarer’s opponents can decide whether they would like to say ‘Kontra’, which doubles the value of the game. If the opponents say ‘Kontra’, the declarer and his/her partner may reply with ‘Rekontra’, whereby the game value is again doubled (fourfold value of a normal game). The opponents may finally reply with ‘Subkontra’, which again doubles the game value(eightfold value).

Once the game has been set, play can get underway. The forehand plays the first hand in all games involving with trumps. The declarer plays the first hand in all games which do not involve trumps. Players must follow suit and trump rules and take tricks when possible. That means that a player is holding a card of the same suit as the first card played to the trick, he/she must play it. Furthermore, the player must play a card high enough to take the trick if he/she has one. If however, the player does not have a card of the correct suit, they must play a trump card if they are holding one.The player who wins the trick leads the next trick.

For games with points (Normal Game, Schnapser, Kontra-Schnapser) the player who plays the first card to the trick may announce a ‘20’ or a ‘40’. A player requires the King and Queen of the trump suit to announce a ‘40’. If a player has the King and Queen of another suit, he/she may only announce a ‘20’.

End of Game

The declarer's team is awarded points if they meet their objective. If the declarer’s team does not reach their objective, their opponents receive the points.

Points

Card values are listed below:

Card	Value
Ace	11
10	10
King	4
Queen	3
Jack	2