Bauernschnapsen

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Bauernschnapsen (Viererschnapsen)

Bauernschnapsen is a four‑player Austrian card game played with a 20‑card Schnapsen deck. Two teams of two sit opposite each other. Partners don’t share information about their cards. The first team to reach 24 points wins. Some regional rules start at 24 and count down; the losing team may get a “Bummerl” (and sometimes a “Schneider” if they take no tricks).

Cards and setup
- Each suit has five cards: Ace, 10, King, Ober, Unter.
- Suits come in two patterns (French/German): Hearts, Diamonds, Spades, Clubs; or the German pattern with different suit names.
- The dealer shuffles; the player to the right cuts or knocks to show they are happy with the cut.
- Dealing goes clockwise: three cards to each player, starting with the left of the dealer. The caller (the player who bids first) must name a trump suit from his first three cards, then receives the remaining two cards. Then each player gets two more cards.
- If the caller can’t decide, one of the two remaining cards may be turned over to show the trump suit.
- The remaining two cards form the talon (hidden stack). When the caller has decided, the cards are dealt to completion. In some variants, all five cards are dealt at once if someone knocks.

Playing and trump
- The trump suit beats all others, and within a suit higher cards win.
- The first trick of each hand must be visible to all players.
- After playing, the caller becomes the dealer for the next hand.
- Players must follow suit if able. Only trump cards can beat non-trump cards.

Bidding and contracts (simplified)
- Normal game (Schnapser/Normales Spiel): aim to score 66 points from tricks and the last trick.
- Bettler (Beggar): try to take no tricks.
- Gang: try to win all tricks (slam).
- Zwanziger (Twenty-er) and Vierziger (Forty-er): declare if you hold King and Ober of a suit; win 20 or 40 points if you can take the right tricks.
- Farbenring (all five of one suit): hold all five cards of one suit and win all tricks (varies by region).
- Kontraschnapser and other named contracts: more specialized goals, with higher point rewards.
- Many regional variants exist, and players should agree on which contracts are allowed before playing.

Doubling and risk
- Opponents may double the stakes (spritzen). The declarer can redouble, and further doublings are possible in some groups.

Scoring and winning
- The aim is to reach 24 points first.
- If the losing team takes no tricks, the winners get extra points; if they score poorly, the winners get more game points.
- A Bummerl (or Schneider) is given to the team with the fewest points, and in some versions can occur even if you win with your partner.

Regional note
- Bauernschnapsen rules vary by region. Before starting, agree on which contracts are allowed and how scoring works.