About the Game

Skat is Germany’s national card game and one of the deepest three-player games ever devised. The Reizen auction decides who plays alone against the other two, with the famous bid ladder, the hidden two-card Skat, and contracts from humble Suit games to Grand and the daring Null, where the declarer promises to lose every single trick.

Basic Rules

1. 1Three players use a 32-card deck; the Reizen auction decides who plays alone against the other two.
2. 2Bids follow the fixed ladder (18, 20, 22, 23, 24, ...); the holder of the better position only matches, the caller must raise.
3. 3The declarer may pick up the two Skat cards and discard two, or declare a Hand game without looking at them.
4. 4Contracts: a Suit game (jacks plus a chosen trump suit), Grand (only the jacks are trump), or Null (win no trick at all).
5. 5The four jacks are always the highest trumps, ranked Clubs, Spades, Hearts, Diamonds.
6. 6You must follow the led suit — a jack counts as trump, never as its printed suit.
7. 7The declarer needs 61 of the 120 card points, and the game value (base times Matadors) must reach the winning bid, or the game is overbid and lost.
8. 8Schneider and Schwarz — and announcing them in Hand games — raise the game value further.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Skat?

Three players use a 32-card deck; the Reizen auction decides who plays alone against the other two. Bids follow the fixed ladder (18, 20, 22, 23, 24, ...); the holder of the better position only matches, the caller must raise. The declarer may pick up the two Skat cards and discard two, or declare a Hand game without looking at them. Contracts: a Suit game (jacks plus a chosen trump suit), Grand (only the jacks are trump), or Null (win no trick at all). The four jacks are always the highest trumps, ranked Clubs, Spades, Hearts, Diamonds. You must follow the led suit — a jack counts as trump, never as its printed suit. The declarer needs 61 of the 120 card points, and the game value (base times Matadors) must reach the winning bid, or the game is overbid and lost. Schneider and Schwarz — and announcing them in Hand games — raise the game value further.

How many players can play Skat?

3 players

Is Skat free to play on LUDOCCA?

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

More Games on LUDOCCA