About the Game

Schafkopf is the beloved Bavarian trick-taking game for exactly four players. Its heart is the Rufspiel: the declarer calls an ace, and whoever holds it secretly becomes his partner — nobody else knows who plays with whom until the cards reveal it. With Wenz and Farbsolo for the brave, every hand is a small drama of hidden alliances.

Basic Rules

1. 1Four players use a 32-card German deck; every Ober and Unter is a permanent trump.
2. 2In a Rufspiel the declarer calls the Sau (ace) of a suit, and its holder secretly becomes his partner.
3. 3To call a suit you need a plain card of it, you may not hold its Sau yourself, and Hearts can never be called.
4. 4A solo outranks the Rufspiel: in Wenz only the four Unter are trump; a Farbsolo adds a chosen suit to the Ober and Unter.
5. 5You must follow the effective suit — Ober and Unter count as trump, never as their printed suit.
6. 6Card points: Sau 11, Ten 10, King 4, Ober 3, Unter 2 — 120 Augen in total.
7. 7The declarer’s side needs 61 Augen; keeping the losers under 31 is Schneider, taking every trick is Schwarz.
8. 8Laufende — top trumps in unbroken sequence, from three up — raise the value of the game.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Schafkopf?

Four players use a 32-card German deck; every Ober and Unter is a permanent trump. In a Rufspiel the declarer calls the Sau (ace) of a suit, and its holder secretly becomes his partner. To call a suit you need a plain card of it, you may not hold its Sau yourself, and Hearts can never be called. A solo outranks the Rufspiel: in Wenz only the four Unter are trump; a Farbsolo adds a chosen suit to the Ober and Unter. You must follow the effective suit — Ober and Unter count as trump, never as their printed suit. Card points: Sau 11, Ten 10, King 4, Ober 3, Unter 2 — 120 Augen in total. The declarer’s side needs 61 Augen; keeping the losers under 31 is Schneider, taking every trick is Schwarz. Laufende — top trumps in unbroken sequence, from three up — raise the value of the game.

How many players can play Schafkopf?

4 players

Is Schafkopf free to play on LUDOCCA?

Yes. Schafkopf is free to play on LUDOCCA. Create an account, join a public room, or invite friends to a private match — no download required.

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