Sheepshead (game)
Sheepshead or American sheep head is the American form of the old German card game sheepshead. It differs from both in the rules or in a social context significantly from the extremely popular especially in Bavaria original version, although the contacts between the American and German strongholds have been expanded in recent years.
- 2.1 Game Material
- 2.2 puncture force
- 2.3 Number eyes
- 2.4 stockings
- 2.5 Aim of the game
- 2.6 card distribution
- 2.7 of play 2.7.1 Recording the Blind
- 2.7.2 Partner Determination 2.7.2.1 Jack of Diamonds
- 2.7.2.2 Called Ace
- 3.1 Alternative trump suit
- 3.2 Spitzer (pointed )
History and Social
Origin and development
The sheep's head game was brought to the mid-19th century by German immigrants in the United States. Presumably, the American Sheepshead derives not from the Bavarian sheep head in Germany today by far the most popular form, but older versions such as the German sheep's head. In countries with a strong German community, especially in Wisconsin, it quickly became very popular and was even in traditional " women's party" in upscale circles a popular pastime.
As the descendant of German immigrants Americans due to the ever went deteriorating German -American relations more and more distance to Germany and its culture during the Third Reich, Sheepshead was in the war and postwar years, more and more by " more American " card games such as Bridge Rummy or replaced. Only in recent time is here again an opposite trend to watch.
Dissemination
The American Sheepshead stronghold is the capital of the State of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. The sheep's head game is doing well understood in the cultural context of Central Europe, and sheepshead tournaments are often associated with German and Bavarian framework programs of musical and culinary nature - or what is understood in America including.
Players, Cards and stockings
The most common variant of the American sheep head is the one with 5 players, more or less common, however, are all possible forms of two to seven players. Regarding his rules of the American sheep's head is a strange mix of Bingo and double head and Bavarian Sheepshead.
Game material
To use an ordinary sheet or French poker hand comes in the Skatversion - so with 32 cards ( deck) - and the 4 colors clubs (clubs), Spades (Spades ), Hearts (heart) and Diamonds ( Diamonds).
Puncture force
The order of the card values is the homologous Skat or Sheepshead Bavarian. Ace > Ten> King> Nine > Eight > Seven: Within the wrong colors (ie the colors that trumps are not ), always following sequence of random force applies. When American Sheepshead the 4 colors are not treated as equals, but there are 3 false color and the trump suit.
Eye number
Regardless of the affiliation with the color of each card value is assigned a certain number of eyes.
A total of 120 eyes are thus in the game.
Stockings
Similar to the sheep's head are the Queens and Jacks (men and boys ) in the order named the highest trumps (ie Queen of Clubs corresponds to the acorn top ). Furthermore, all Diamonds ( Karokarten so ) are in the descending order Ace, Ten, King, Nine, Eight and Seven as trumps ( this scheme shows the origin of the German sheep's head, see also double head). In total, there are 14 trump cards.
The stockings should be noted that the individual trump cards are not assigned to their color ranges but are all to be treated as members of the trump suit. Thus, for example, the Queen of Spades does not belong to the color of Spades, but - like all other Queens, Jacks and Diamonds cards virtually one and the same color belong.
Aim of the game
The game idea of the American sheep head is to win alone or together with a partner, a minimum total of 61 eyes.
Card distribution
In game five of each of the players are assigned to six cards. The remaining two cards form the " blind ", which is also called " widow ". Depending on the agreement, the cards are distributed in two or three litters. The blind man is set aside face down while the card giving. In the rare practiced forms of play to three or four players, each player receives a total of ten or seven cards. The blind man has in these cases, two or four cards.
Play
Recording of the blind
Beginning with the player left of the dealer, each player declares clockwise, whether he intends to take the blind. In game five of the player who has taken the blind man plays (the so -called " Picker" ), together with a partner against the other three players. If only played against it a threesome, the picker plays alone against the other two players. In game four of us, however, it is different: Depending on the agreement, the picker plays alone against the rest of the players or together with a partner, a party against the two remaining players. This is handled differently by the gaming table to table. If a player is able to see, due to its sheet to win against the other Sheepshead players alone, so he can announce a single game. After the picker has taken the blind man, he puts that many cards, which seem to him useful as less face-down. The discarded cards can recruit but also completely or partially from the playing cards of the blind. The eyes included in the map obscured stored also are among the eyes of the picker or the gambling party. Neither the maps of the blind man that hides discarded cards are shown to another player.
Partner Determination
There are two versions of the game, how vonstattengeht partner determination.
Jack of Diamonds
After a game of the form ( Jack of Diamonds or clamps sub ) Jack of Diamonds decides that its owner becomes a partner of the picker. If it is found during the recording of the blind, the Jack of Diamonds in the cards of the blind or the picker holds the Jack of Diamonds in their own hands, then the picker often allows the next higher trump card or Jack of Hearts (Heart Jack to call. cardiac sub ). Also this is in the blind or in the hands of the pickers, he may call the Jack of Spades. Does he even all three lowest Jacks, he calls the Jack of Clubs.
Called Ace
In an alternative variant of the picker calls the Ace of non - stocking color, as is usual at the Bavarian Sheepshead. The owner of the called game card is in the following partners of the picker. The latter however has at least one card of the same color of the called Ace have on his hand. At the same time, it is the caller does not allow Ace to call, which he himself has in his cards. Only when the picker keeps all color cards, which he also owns the corresponding Ace in hands, it is allowed an ace one color to call, it does not own. Does he even all the aces, he may call a ten a color.
Playout and addition rules
The player left of the dealer plays a card to the first trick. All subsequent players are required color to use. For example, must be added to a key played spades card from each player as possible another spade. Only if a player is not in possession of a playing card is played suit, he must either play a trump card or admit any other card. Also be a trump card must be served. All trump cards are treated as belonging to one and the same color. The player who has given the highest card in a trick, receives the pass and always plays from the next trick.
Statement
If the party of the picker reaches less than 31 eyes or the opposing party receives less than 30 eyes, is the respective party "Schneider ".
Variants
Alternative trump suit
In a variant of Sheepshead are in addition to all Queens and Jacks not Ace to Seven Color Diamonds, but Ace to Seven color clubs trump cards.
Spitzer (pointed )
In a variant of the American sheep head, which is in some areas of Wisconsin and Minnesota, and especially in the northeastern part played by Michigan, the series Corol the trump cards is a little altered: The Trump Seven, the so-called " Spitzer " is constant second-highest trump card and hence, putting it above the Queen of Spades. Additional trump suit to the Queens and Jacks is the color Diamonds.
The Queen of Clubs is called " Big Queen", the referenced position of the third highest trump Queen of Spades is also known as " Little Queen ".
Spitzer is always played for four. In the distribution maps, each player receives eight cards that are distributed in three litters to three, two, and three more cards. A blind man does not exist in the game sharpener. Usually, the owner of the Big Queen and the Little Queen partners and form the gambling party. Are both black Queens on one hand, the affected player has two options:
- He plays alone against the other three players
- He calls for a partner: Depending on the agreement of the owners of the two black Queens either the winner of the first foreign stitch or the owner of an Ace calls a wrong color, by at least the player holds a card itself obvious.