This is a simple draw and discard game, suitable for players of all ages. Players have a three card hand and the aim is to collect cards in a single suit worth 31 points or as near as possible to that total. It is played in the USA, the UK and perhaps other places. SKAT card game from Special K Software. This program plays the popular card game of SKAT with the benefits of playing through WINDOWS. You can choose your style of play, as well as customising for local rules options. It has animation, and supports all sound cards. Speed and colours can be customised as never before.
Skat is a strategic, trick-taking card game played with three players. Bid wisely and play correctly to maximize your points. Find the video tutorial and written explanation for how to play the card game skat below.
Skat Tutorial
Needed
32 card deck (Aces - 7s); three players, pen and paper for scorekeeping
Deal
Ten cards are dealt to each player. First, three cards are dealt to each player. Next, two cards are dealt face down into the middle to form the Skat. Then, four more cards are dealt to each player, and finally, three more cards are dealt to each player.
Objective
The object of the game is to win the most points by winning the bid and making the contract announced.
Card Rank
Highest to lowest - Jack of clubs, Jack of spades, Jack of hearts, Jack of diamonds, Ace, 10, King, Queen, 9, 8, 7
Bidding
The player left of the dealer is called the forehand, the player right of the dealer is called the middle hand, and the dealer is called the rear hand.
The opportunity to determine trump, or call null, is given to the forehand. The middle hand gets the first chance to steal that opportunity by stating a bid amount.
If middle hand bids, forehand can accept the bid or pass. If forehand thinks he/she can make that many points, he/she will accept it. At this time, middle hand can increase the bid, and forehand has the option to accept it again. This goes back and forth between middle hand and forehand until one passes.
The winner between forehand and middle hand will then repeat the process with the rear hand.
If middle hand and rear hand both pass without making a bid, Ramsch (see below) may be called by forehand.
The winner of the bid will get to choose the game type for the round and can exchange cards from his hand with the cards in the Skat if he/she chooses. The two players that lost the bid become partners.
Game Types
Trumps: the bid winner will determine a trump suit for the round. All the jacks are always considered part of the trump suit.
Grand: jacks are the only trump cards for the round.
Null: the bid winner will try to avoid taking a trick during the round. Card rank changes to Aces, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7.
Ramsch: jacks are the only trumps, and the player that wins the most card points loses the game. There are no partnerships in this game style, and the Skat is not used.
Game Play
Forehand plays the first card into the middle. Every player must follow the lead suit by playing a card in the same suit that was led whenever possible. If a jack is led, a jack or trump suited card must be played to follow the lead.
The winner of the trick is the player who played the highest ranking trump card. If no trump card was played, the winner is the player with the highest ranking card in the lead suit. The player that wins the trick leads the next trick.
The winner of the game is the player with the most points after an agreed upon amount of deals. Each player should deal the same number of times.
Scoring
Players review the cards taken in from the tricks they won. The two players that lost the bid combine their cards won. The cards in the Skat are counted by the bid winner. The value of the cards are calculated.
Each Ace = 11 points
Ptx file viewer for mac. Each 10 = 10 points
Each King = 4 points
Each Queen = 3 points
Each Jack = 2 points
Skit Skat Card Game
The bid winner needs a card total of 61 or more points to get the win for the round.
If the bid winner gets the win, he/she is awarded the base value of the game chosen times the appropriate number of multipliers.
Base Values
Diamonds - 9
Hearts- 10
Spades - 11
Clubs - 12
Grand - 24
Multipliers
Win - getting 61 or more card points
Matadors - how many of the top cards a bid winner was with or without in his hand. Matadors Examples:
A player whose highest card is the Jack of Hearts is without two matadors. This equals a two matador multiplier.
A player with the Jack of Clubs, Jack of Spades, and Jack of Hearts, but without the Jack of diamonds is with three matadors. This equals a three matador multiplier.
A player without the Jack of clubs, but with the jack of spades is without one matador. This equals a one matador multiplier.
A player with the Jack of clubs (top ranked card), but not the Jack of spades (next top card), is with one matador. This equals a one matador multiplier.
Hand - playing a trump or grand game without using the Skat.
Schneider - winning 91 or more card points.
Announcing Schneider - announcing you will get 91 or more points before the game play begins. (Can't use Skat)
Schwarz - winning every trick
Announcing Schwarz - announcing you will win every trick before the game player begins. (Can't use Skat)
Open - Placing your cards face up on the table for everyone to see during game play and winning all the tricks. (Can't use Skat)
Announcing and making Schneider gives the player both the Schneider and Announcing Schneider multipliers. Announcing and making Schwarz gives the player the Schneider, Announcing Schneider, Schwarz, and Announcing Schwarz multipliers. Playing open gives a player every multiplier.
Going Set
Skat Card Game online, free
A player loses double the game value played if he/she does not get 61 game points, gets less points than bid, does not get Schneider when announced, or does not get Schwarz when announced.
Null Game
If successful in avoiding all the tricks in a null game, the bid winner is awarded 23 points if the Skat was used, or 35 points if the Skat was not used. The points are doubled if the player plays the hand open.
Ramsch
The player that got the most card points in the round would lose 20 points if each other player took at least one trick, or 30 points if one player took zero tricks.
Rules
If a grand game is called, only the jacks are trump. This means if a jack is led, a jack is required to be played to follow suit.
The minimum bid is 18. Every hand will have a minimum multiplier of two for the win, and being with or without a matador. The lowest base valued suit is the diamonds at nine. Nine times two is 18.
A player's matador multiplier could change based on the cards in the Skat, even when a player does not look at the skat. For example, a player that was without two matadors could get the jack of clubs in the skat at the end of the game. This changes his/her without two matadors to with one matador.
Spit Rules
Objective
Spit (also known as Speed or Slam) is a shedding game for two players. The objective is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards. The game is based on speed, it's not turn based, both players are getting rid of their cards at the same time, so the one that plays faster will most often win.
Setup
The game starts with each player getting 26 cards. Each player takes 15 of their cards and arranges them in 5 stacks.
- The first stack has only 1 card, facing up.
- The second stack 2 cards, 1 facing down and one facing up.
- The third stack 3 cards, 2 facing down and one facing up.
- The fourth stack 4 cards, 3 facing down and one facing up.
- The fifth stack 5 cards, 4 facing down and one facing up.
American Skat Card Game Rules
The remaining 11 cards are kept in a down facing stack to the right of the 5 stacks, we'll call that the deck.
Gameplay
Ten cards are dealt to each player. First, three cards are dealt to each player. Next, two cards are dealt face down into the middle to form the Skat. Then, four more cards are dealt to each player, and finally, three more cards are dealt to each player.
Objective
The object of the game is to win the most points by winning the bid and making the contract announced.
Card Rank
Highest to lowest - Jack of clubs, Jack of spades, Jack of hearts, Jack of diamonds, Ace, 10, King, Queen, 9, 8, 7
Bidding
The player left of the dealer is called the forehand, the player right of the dealer is called the middle hand, and the dealer is called the rear hand.
The opportunity to determine trump, or call null, is given to the forehand. The middle hand gets the first chance to steal that opportunity by stating a bid amount.
If middle hand bids, forehand can accept the bid or pass. If forehand thinks he/she can make that many points, he/she will accept it. At this time, middle hand can increase the bid, and forehand has the option to accept it again. This goes back and forth between middle hand and forehand until one passes.
The winner between forehand and middle hand will then repeat the process with the rear hand.
If middle hand and rear hand both pass without making a bid, Ramsch (see below) may be called by forehand.
The winner of the bid will get to choose the game type for the round and can exchange cards from his hand with the cards in the Skat if he/she chooses. The two players that lost the bid become partners.
Game Types
Trumps: the bid winner will determine a trump suit for the round. All the jacks are always considered part of the trump suit.
Grand: jacks are the only trump cards for the round.
Null: the bid winner will try to avoid taking a trick during the round. Card rank changes to Aces, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7.
Ramsch: jacks are the only trumps, and the player that wins the most card points loses the game. There are no partnerships in this game style, and the Skat is not used.
Game Play
Forehand plays the first card into the middle. Every player must follow the lead suit by playing a card in the same suit that was led whenever possible. If a jack is led, a jack or trump suited card must be played to follow the lead.
The winner of the trick is the player who played the highest ranking trump card. If no trump card was played, the winner is the player with the highest ranking card in the lead suit. The player that wins the trick leads the next trick.
The winner of the game is the player with the most points after an agreed upon amount of deals. Each player should deal the same number of times.
Scoring
Players review the cards taken in from the tricks they won. The two players that lost the bid combine their cards won. The cards in the Skat are counted by the bid winner. The value of the cards are calculated.
Each Ace = 11 points
Ptx file viewer for mac. Each 10 = 10 points
Each King = 4 points
Each Queen = 3 points
Each Jack = 2 points
Skit Skat Card Game
The bid winner needs a card total of 61 or more points to get the win for the round.
If the bid winner gets the win, he/she is awarded the base value of the game chosen times the appropriate number of multipliers.
Base Values
Diamonds - 9
Hearts- 10
Spades - 11
Clubs - 12
Grand - 24
Multipliers
Win - getting 61 or more card points
Matadors - how many of the top cards a bid winner was with or without in his hand. Matadors Examples:
A player whose highest card is the Jack of Hearts is without two matadors. This equals a two matador multiplier.
A player with the Jack of Clubs, Jack of Spades, and Jack of Hearts, but without the Jack of diamonds is with three matadors. This equals a three matador multiplier.
A player without the Jack of clubs, but with the jack of spades is without one matador. This equals a one matador multiplier.
A player with the Jack of clubs (top ranked card), but not the Jack of spades (next top card), is with one matador. This equals a one matador multiplier.
Hand - playing a trump or grand game without using the Skat.
Schneider - winning 91 or more card points.
Announcing Schneider - announcing you will get 91 or more points before the game play begins. (Can't use Skat)
Schwarz - winning every trick
Announcing Schwarz - announcing you will win every trick before the game player begins. (Can't use Skat)
Open - Placing your cards face up on the table for everyone to see during game play and winning all the tricks. (Can't use Skat)
Announcing and making Schneider gives the player both the Schneider and Announcing Schneider multipliers. Announcing and making Schwarz gives the player the Schneider, Announcing Schneider, Schwarz, and Announcing Schwarz multipliers. Playing open gives a player every multiplier.
Going Set
Skat Card Game online, free
A player loses double the game value played if he/she does not get 61 game points, gets less points than bid, does not get Schneider when announced, or does not get Schwarz when announced.
Null Game
If successful in avoiding all the tricks in a null game, the bid winner is awarded 23 points if the Skat was used, or 35 points if the Skat was not used. The points are doubled if the player plays the hand open.
Ramsch
The player that got the most card points in the round would lose 20 points if each other player took at least one trick, or 30 points if one player took zero tricks.
Rules
If a grand game is called, only the jacks are trump. This means if a jack is led, a jack is required to be played to follow suit.
The minimum bid is 18. Every hand will have a minimum multiplier of two for the win, and being with or without a matador. The lowest base valued suit is the diamonds at nine. Nine times two is 18.
A player's matador multiplier could change based on the cards in the Skat, even when a player does not look at the skat. For example, a player that was without two matadors could get the jack of clubs in the skat at the end of the game. This changes his/her without two matadors to with one matador.
Spit Rules
Objective
Spit (also known as Speed or Slam) is a shedding game for two players. The objective is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards. The game is based on speed, it's not turn based, both players are getting rid of their cards at the same time, so the one that plays faster will most often win.
Setup
The game starts with each player getting 26 cards. Each player takes 15 of their cards and arranges them in 5 stacks.
- The first stack has only 1 card, facing up.
- The second stack 2 cards, 1 facing down and one facing up.
- The third stack 3 cards, 2 facing down and one facing up.
- The fourth stack 4 cards, 3 facing down and one facing up.
- The fifth stack 5 cards, 4 facing down and one facing up.
American Skat Card Game Rules
The remaining 11 cards are kept in a down facing stack to the right of the 5 stacks, we'll call that the deck.
Gameplay
When both players are ready they take the top cards from their deck and place them face up in the middle of the table, next to each other. This forms two discard piles. The players are then supposed to put as many cards as they can, as fast as they can on top of the discard piles. Both players can put cards onto both piles, the piles don't belong to a particular player. When you put a card on a discard pile it must be either one higher or one lower than the top card on the pile. E.g. you can put a 5 or a 7 on a 6. Aces are high and low, so you could put Q K A 2 3 2 A K etc. There are a few moves you can make:
- Take a faceup card from one of your stacks and put it on a discard pile if it's one higher or one lower than the card at the top of the pile.
- If you've taken the top card of one of your stacks and played it, you can flip the card below so it's turned face up.
- Combine faceup cards in your stacks if they have the same rank. E.g. if stacks 1 and 2 both have a 5 as the top card you can take the 5 from stack 2 and put it on top of the 5 on stack 1 and then flip the next card on stack 2. This allows you to open more of your cards which you can then try to play onto the discard piles.
- If one of your stacks is completely empty you can move one of the top cards on one of your other stacks onto it and then flip the top card of that stack up. Again, this opens up more of your cards, helping you to get rid of them faster.
During this part of the game the important thing is to play as fast as you can, move cards around to open up as many of your cards as you can and get rid of them. At some point both players will be stuck and can't make any more moves. When that happens the game will tell you to click on your deck, and then both you and the computer players will move one card from the top of your decks onto the discard piles. As soon as the new cards are there you can go back to getting rid of your cards as fast as you can until you're both stuck again or one of you has finished all his stacks.
When one player has finished all the cards in his stacks the round is finished. Then the player who finished first picks one of the discard piles and the other player gets the other pile. You should always pick the smaller pile, but it can sometimes be hard to see which one is smaller if they have roughly the same number of cards, and you can't count the cards. Now the players add the cards in their pile to their decks and create 5 new stacks, the same way as in the beginning. The important part is that the discard piles are not shuffled. Now, the cards in the discard piles are already ordered, so the new stacks will have pretty well ordered cards which makes the game even more intense and lets you get rid of your cards even faster!
This continues until at some point a player gets a discard pile that is so small that he can't make 5 full stacks, and won't have any deck. He then creates as much of the stacks as he can, but since he has no deck there will now only be one discard pile on the table. The game continues as usual, except with only one discard pile, and if the player who didn't have any deck gets rid of all his cards first then he has won the whole game. I.e. if you end up with no cards in your stacks, no deck, and there's only one discard pile on the table then you've won!
Strategy
There's really only two rules you should keep in mind to be good at this game. They are:
- Be fast!
- Don't be slow!
That's it! Hope you enjoy the game :)
