German-suited playing cards
German-suited playing cards are a traditional type of deck used in Central Europe. They come in 32- or 36-card packs and have four suits: Acorns (Eichel), Leaves (Gras/Laub), Hearts (Herz), and Bells (Schelle). This suit system is one of the oldest and helped shape the later French-style clubs, spades, hearts, and diamonds.
Where they are used
German-suited cards are common in southern and eastern Germany, Austria, German-speaking parts of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and nearby regions. They have also been used for games in northern Italy (South Tyrol), Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, parts of Serbia, Romania, and Transylvania. In many of these areas, French-suited cards have become more popular, but German-suited decks are still played in several places.
How they evolved
Card playing reached German-speaking lands in the late 1300s, and the four suits settled around 1450. The French suit symbols later borrowed from the German ones (around 1480). Originally, German decks had more court cards and sometimes a different ranking; over time the numbers were trimmed to the 32 or 36 cards common today.
Patterns and variations
There are many regional patterns (ways the cards look and are arranged). Some well-known ones are Saxon, Old Bavarian, New Bavarian (also called Munich or Stralsund patterns), Württemberg, and Salzburg. A notable feature in some Bavarian games is the Weli (or Belle), a wild card that can act as a high trump. The Tell pattern from Hungary and Austria shows characters from the Wilhelm Tell story. Some patterns are quite old and still printed, while others have faded from use.
Modern usage
In modern Germany, French-suited decks in the Berlin pattern are the most common for everyday use. But German-suited cards are still produced and used in many regions, especially in Bavaria, Austria, and parts of southern Germany. There are also many traditional regional decks that niche players and collectors still enjoy.
Games played with German-suited cards
Popular games include Schafkopf, Skat, Doppelkopf, Watten, Binokel, Gaigel, Bavarian Tarock, and Bavarian games like Watten. Some patterns are designed for 32 cards (common for these games), while others use 36 cards.
Quick recap
- Four suits: Acorns, Leaves, Hearts, Bells
- Decks usually 32 or 36 cards
- Old suit system with many regional patterns
- Still used in parts of Germany, Austria, and neighboring areas
- Associated games include Schafkopf, Skat, Doppelkopf, and Watten
- The Berlin pattern (French suits) is the most common in everyday German use, but German-suited decks remain popular in many regions.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 07:58 (CET).