The Penguin Book of Card Games: Everything You Need to Know to Play Over 250 Games (77 page)

permanent trumps

Q Q J J J J A K -

T

card-points

3

3 2 2 2 2 11 4

(3) 10

in non-trump suits

A K (Q) T

If three play, deal six cards each in batches of 3-(2)-3. The (2) are

dealt face down as a skat. Each in turn may pass or make a higher

bid than any that has gone before. A player holding four or more

trumps is obliged to bid (sic; but presumably only if no one has

already done so). The basic bid, ‘Play’, is to take at least 61 card-

points in tricks after discarding any two cards and taking the skat in

their place. This can be overcal ed by ‘Strike’ (Jeg stryger) –

indicated by thumping the skat with one’s fist – which is to win

without exchanging cards. In either case, the two cards out of play

eventual y count to the soloist as if he had won them in tricks.

‘Strike’ can be overcal ed by ‘Slam’ (Tout), an undertaking to win

al six tricks without exchanging. Eldest leads to a simple game, the

soloist to a Strike or Slam. Players must fol ow suit if possible,

otherwise may play any card. The trick is taken by the highest card

of the suit led, or by the highest trump if any are played, and the

winner of each trick leads to the next. Each player starts with 65

game points. If the soloist wins, the opponents each deduct 5 from

their game-points, or 10 if they failed to reach 31, or 15 if they lost

every trick. If unsuccessful, the soloist deducts 5 for losing a simple

game, 10 for a strike or 15 for a slam. (My interpretation of

ambiguous Danish rules.) The first to reach zero loses the game. In

some circles, a player down to his last game-points cannot be

brought to zero except by becoming the soloist and losing his bid.

Variant Omit the red Queens, and deal five each with three to the

skat. The soloist must take at least 59, and wins double if the

opponents fail to reach 29.

Four players Omit the red Queens and deal 2-(2)-2. Alternatively,

retain the red Queens and deal five each with no skat.

Farvesjavs

(farve = ‘suit’) is the same, except that the suit of which A-K-T are

trumps below the permanent Jacks and Queens is not necessarily