Games - Sheepshead

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	Games - Sheepshead

Sheepshead is a card game related to the Skat family of games, originating in Central Europe in the late 1700's under the German name Schafkopf. Although Schafkopf literally means "sheepshead", the term is actually derived from Middle High German and referred to playing cards on an overturned barrel (from kopfen, meaning playing cards, and Schaffen, meaning a barrel).

Sheepshead is played by two to five players, where the variant with five players is the most common, by far. The German cards, which are generally used for playing in southern Germany, are listed below in the order of value for the trumps. Poker or French cards (Clubs, Spades, etc.) have direct equivalents with German cards.

How to play

Preparation

Remove the jokers and all sixes, fives, fours, threes, and twos from the pack. Sheepshead is played with all the cards 7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A, i.e. a total of 32 cards.

Play Variations

There are a number of different play variations for Sheepshead. These include the number of players (from two to five), differences in scoring, differences when no partners are named (leasters/doublers), and differences in the way partners are chosen (Pick Partner/Jack of Diamonds partner).

The article will describe how to play "Five Handed, Leasters, Pick Partner", but will try to touch on the other variations.

Card Order

Card order in Sheepshead is unique and one of the most difficult things for some beginners to grasp.

There are 14 trump cards, including all the Queens, Jacks, and Diamonds, listed here in order of strength to take tricks:

Q♣ - Q♠ - Q♥ - Q♦
J♣ - J♠ - J♥- J♦
A♦ - 10♦ - K♦ - 9♦, 8♦, 7♦

Also, there are 6 of each "fail" suit. (18 total)

A, 10, K, 9, 8, 7 of ♣ (clubs)
A, 10, K, 9, 8, 7 of ♠ (spades)
A, 10, K, 9, 8, 7 of ♥ (hearts)

Clubs, Spades, and Hearts take no precedence over other fail suits. Trump always take fail. The lead suit must be followed if possible.

Card Point Values

Point scoring will also take some getting used to. You should make a chart for yourself the first time you play.

Queens - 3 points
Jacks - 2 points
Aces - 11 points
Tens - 10 points
Kings - 4 points
9,8,7 - 0 points

Note that the strongest cards (Queens and Jacks) are not worth the most points. This gives Sheepshead some of its unique character.

There is a total of 120 points in the deck.

Keeping Score

Be careful not to confuse the points that the cards are worth, and the total point score. Points are given/taken on a zero-sum basis.

If you are the picker, your goal is to take 61 points. If picker gets 60, that's a tie and picker loses.

Here is a chart to make it easier. Look up the picker's point total in the chart below.

Point Total	Picker (Alone)	Picker (w/ Partner)	Partner	Opponents
All Tricks	+12	+6	+3	-3
91 to 120	+8	+4	+2	-2
61 to 90	+4	+2	+1	-1
31 to 60	-4	-2	-1	+1
0 to 30	-8	-4	-2	+2
No Tricks	-12	-6	-3	+3

Once you reach 31 points, that means you have schneider.
There are 120 points in the deck. It's possible to take a trick that is worth zero points, which why the distinction of "All Tricks" and "No Tricks" is necessary.
Every opponent gains or loses the amount listed.

The Deal

Cut the deck. The dealer deals 3 cards at a time to each person, starting with the player to dealer's left. After dealing everyone 3 cards, 2 cards are put face down in a separate pile (the "blind"). Then deal the rest of the cards, 3 at a time around the table again.

When done, each person should have 6 cards with 2 cards in the blind.

The Blind

The player to the left of the dealer gets first choice to take the blind. If he passes, the option is given to the next player (in clockwise order).

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Sheepshead ]

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