Outdated
Jass is the national card game of Switzerland and widely believed to have originated in the Netherlands. It is a “trick-and-meld” game.
The Deck: 36 cards (A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6). Suits are: ♦ bells, ♥ roses, ♠ shields, and ♣ acorns.
Object of the Game: Score more points than your opponents through tricks and the melding of specific card combinations.
Card Rank & Value: There are 152 points in a Jass deck. The value of a trick is the sum of all cards played. The Jack and Nine of trump are called the “Bauer” and “Nell”.
| Rank | Value |
|---|---|
| Bauer | 20 |
| Nell | 14 |
| Ace | 11 |
| King (König) | 4 |
| Queen (Ober) | 3 |
| Jack (Under) | 2 |
| Ten (Banner) | 10 |
| Nine | – |
| Eight | – |
| Seven | – |
| Six | – |
Melds: Players also score points by melding certain combinations of cards. Melds are declared at the beginning of the turn (before playing a card) and are valid if they are equal to or greater than the prior meld. If a player forgets to meld, those points are forfeit. At the end of the round, the player with the best meld may score it and all others they hold. However, that player must take at least one trick to do so. Players can meld three kinds of combinations: Blatt (three or more consecutive cards of the same suit; a run), Four of a Kind (set of four cards of equal rank; “cards”), and Stöck (the K & Q of trump; a royal marriage).
| Meld | Value |
|---|---|
| Four Jacks | 200 |
| Four Nines* | 150 |
| Five-blatt + | 100 |
| Four Aces | 100 |
| Four Kings | 100 |
| Four Queens | 100 |
| Four-blatt | 50 |
| Three-blatt | 20 |
| Stöck | 20 |
| *House-rule |
A Blatt and Four of a Kind cannot both be melded if a card is shared between them (known as a kreuzweis, meaning “cross-meld”). If the expanded Groß Weis scoring is used, however, it is permissible to score both kinds of melds if they share a card.
| Expanded Meld | Value |
|---|---|
| Nine Blatt | 300 |
| Eight Blatt | 250 |
| Seven Blatt | 200 |
| Six Blatt | 150 |
| Four Eights | 100 |
| Four Sevens | 100 |
| Four Sixes |
Players should announce the type or value of their meld and disclose only enough information to determine who has the best meld if contested. Melds are ranked (high–low): no points, no cards, high card, trump suit, and first meld. Some players require the cards to actually be shown before they can be scored.
Stöck: Holding the King & Queen of trump is called Stöck. This meld is announced when the second card of the combination is played – not at the beginning of the hand – and the order does not matter. Stöck is always scored.
The Deal: The rearhand (player to the left of the dealer) cuts. Cards are then distributed three-at-a-time, beginning counter-clockwise with the player on their right (the forehand). [Cutting the deck is often mandatory; minimum of three cards required to make a valid cut.]
Making Trump: Depending on the game type, the dealer turns up trump on the last card, the forehand calls trump, an auction is used to determine the trump suit, etc.
Two no-trump contacts common in the eastern Cantons of Switzerland are Obenabe – “top-down” (A, K, Q, J…) and Undenufe – “bottom-up” (6, 7, 8, 9…). To compensate for the loss of the Bauer and Nell, eights are worth 8 points. Modern Undenufe rules reverse the value of the Ace and six, making the six worth 11 points. John McLeod & Nick Wedd feel that this makes the game “less interesting.”
A multitude of other contracts exist as well, though their acceptance varies widely. For example, you can play Zick-Zack (alternating rounds of Obenabe & Undenufe), 3/3/3 (three rounds of trump, Obenabe, and Undenufe each), Misère (score the least amount of points – with or without a trump suit), or Tutti (trump is determined by the suit of the card led for each trick).
In a game like Coiffeur, which is a positive scoring game, Misère might entitle the declarer to swap points with those of the highest scoring player for that round.
The Play: After trump is made, the forehand declares their best meld and leads. The other players may meld (if they can) and follow suit or play trump. If they cannot follow suit, they may play any other card. (Note: The Bauer is never required to be played – even if trump was led.) The player with the highest trump, or the highest value card of the suit led, wins the trick. The winner leads into the next hand.
The player who wins the last trick of a round earns an extra 5 points. Add that to the total value of tricks won and melds scored.
Under-Trumping: When a non-trump card is led and another player has already trumped the hand, players are not allowed to play a lower trump unless they have nothing else.
Cut-throat Jass
Cut-throat Jass (“Handjass”) is suitable for 2–5 players, but no partnerships. The object of the game is to play to 5 (or 7) rubs. The loser is the last player remaining in the game.
5 Players: For five players, remove the Six of ♠ shields. Each player receives seven cards and the dealer turns up trump. Players may choose to fold before play; this avoids the risk of taking a wheel. Once a player scores 5 rubs, they count out of the game. [Turned up trump cannot be stolen.]
4 Players: Each player receives nine cards.
2–3 Players: Each player receives nine cards, but one hand becomes the blind. Turn up the top card of the blind to make trump. The player with Six of trump may “rob” (exchange) the turned up trump. A player may exchange their hand with the blind, but they cannot fold if they do. With two players, one hand becomes the blind and the other is a dead hand. In two player games, melds may be scored without taking a trick (house-rule).
2–3 Player Variant: Each player receives 12 cards, and the dealer turns up trump. Players must score ≥ 31 to stay out of the hole. With two players, one hand becomes the blind. Turn up the top card of the blind to make trump.
Scoring: There are 2 rubs available each round: 1 for each of the two highest scoring players. If the second highest score is tied, neither win a rub. If only one player scores ≥ to 21 (or if all but one player folds), that player wins 2 rubs. If a player scores fewer than 21 points, they are “in the hole” and get a wheel. [There is 1 rub available in a 2 player game.]
A rub is +1 and a wheel is −1. Draw one over the other to cancel them out, e.g., a player with 4 rubs gets a wheel “ɸ I I I” and now needs 2 rubs to count out of the game.
Why “rub” ? Old timers kept their scores on chalk slates. They started with five lines and rubbed them off as they won, e.g., a player with 1 rub remaining gets a wheel “I O” and now needs 2 rubs to count out.
[Fast Scoring Variant: First player to 7 rubs wins.]
[Berner Variant: Game is played to 27 rubs. Trump roses are x4, acorns are x3, bells are x2, and shields are x1. Wheels are also multiplied.]
Schieberjass
The “default” game in Switzerland, Schieber is a 4 player partnership game. The first team to 1,000 points wins (2,500 with multipliers).
Bidding: The player holding the Seven of ♥ roses makes trump and leads. They may shove (schieben) the choice to their partner. The contracts are: ♠ shields (×1), ♣ acorns (×1), ♦ bells (×2), ♥ roses (×2), Obenabe (×3) and Undenufe (×3). The two no-trump contracts are “top-down” (A, K, Q, J…) and “bottom-up” (6, 7, 8, 9…), respectively; they are uncommon in French-speaking regions.
Scoring: To compensate for the loss of the Bauer and Nell in the no-trump contracts, Eights are worth 8 points. If a team wins all tricks in a round, they earn 100 extra points. [Modern games tend permit the Six to be valued at 11 and the Ace 0 in Undenufe.]
A common house-rule is that Four Nines cannot be melded. If multipliers are used, they apply to all tricks and melds, e.g., a three-blatt is worth 60 points (20×3) in Obenabe.
The first team to reach 1,000 points wins the game (2,500 with multipliers). If the losing partnership hasn’t reached ½ the goal, the winner scores 2 wins. To resolve disputes, points are scored in the following order by default: Stöck, Melds, and Tricks. [If you wish to resolve in a different order, decide prior to the game.]
If a team believes they have scored 1,000 points, they may stop the game at any time. Outstanding tricks and melds are scored, and the total score is tallied. If the team does not have 1,000 points, they automatically lose.
Undenufe Variant: Undenufe contracts score ×4. The new score to win is 3,000.
Kreuzjass
Schieber’s progenitor. There is no passing, Obenabe, Unenufe, or multipliers. Play to 750 or 1,000 points. [Last card turned up determines trump suit.]
Differenzlerjass
A popular game that can be played with 2–4 players (or more with two decks). The object of the game is to make your bid and have the lowest score at the end of the game.
Bidding: Each player predicts the number of points they will take each round. Points are scored for tricks only: no melds or Stöck. The min. bid is 0 and max. is 157. Games can be played with public or private bids. Players may not look at their bid after the first hand.
Play: Games are played to a number of rounds equal to the number of players ×3. In Differenzler, players are allowed to undertrump if they have no cards of the suit led.
Scoring: The player with the lowest score is the winner. Players score the absolute difference between their bid and points won, e.g., a player who bids 25 and makes 30 would score 5 points.
Zweier-Sidi
Zweier-Sidi is a game for 2 players. The object of the game is to make your bid and be the first to reach 50 points.
The Deal: Both players are dealt 18 cards: six are dealt face down in a row across from the player, six face up on top of those cards, and then six for the hand.
Bidding: The forehand opens the bidding (min. 60 points). The dealer may pass, fold, or raise (5 point increments). Bidding continues until a player passes or folds (max. 157).
The Play: High bidder makes trump and leads. Points are scored for tricks only: no melds or Stöck. Players may play either a card from their hand or a face up card. Any exposed face down card is then flipped over.
Scoring: Winner of the last trick earns 10 points. If the bidder makes their bid or goes over, they score the absolute difference. If the bidder fails to make their bid, their opponent scores the difference. First player to 50 points wins.
Simple Scoring: If the bidder makes their bid, they win 1 point; if they fail, their opponent scores 1 point. Best of seven wins the match.
The Double Variant: After trump is made, but before the first card is led, the dealer may knock on the table to double all points that round. The new score to win is 100.
Schmausjass
A 2 player game, played to 1,000 points.
The Deal: All players receive nine cards; the rest go into a blind. Turned up card is trump, and is placed partially underneath the blind.
The Play: Until the blind is depleted, players do not need to follow suit. The winner of the hand draws from the blind first, and the opponent second. If possible, each player should always have nine cards in their hand. So long as there are at least two cards in the blind, the player with the Six of trump may rob the turned up card.
Scoring: So long as there are cards in the blind, the player with the best meld may score it. Players can build upon combinations as they draw cards, but may meld only upwards, e.g., 9, 10, J can be scored as a three-blatt, then become a four-blatt with the addition of a Queen the next hand. Four Nines and blatts greater than five cannot be melded (house-rule).
Schellenjass
Schellen is played with 2–4 players. The object of the game is to either collect all nine ♦ bells (Schellen) or as few as possible.
The Play: There is no trump.
Scoring: Each ♦ bell is worth +1. If a player wins all nine ♦ bells, they make “Turi” and all other players receive 9 points. Usually played to 12 rounds. The player with the fewest points at the end of the game is the winner.
Schafuusejass
Or “Schaffhauserjass”. This game is suitable for 3–4 players. Teams are 1v2 (or 1v3).
The Play: Dealer rotates. Each player receives 12 cards and the dealer turns up trump. Players may fold, but doing so gives the other team 157 points automatically.
Scoring: Solo players may score melds without taking any tricks, and need 350 (or 250) points to win. The other team needs 1,000.
Bieterjass
Players bid to become the solo player – highest bidder wins. The min. bid is 350 points (raised in 10 point increments). The solo player must make their bid to win, while the other team needs 1,000.
In a 5 player game (2v3), the winning bidder calls out a card of their choice. The player with that card becomes their partner.
Bessern Variant: Each player receives 10 cards. Place three cards face down and three cards face up on the table. These are the better (bessern) cards. Players bid to become the solo player; min. bid is 550 points.
The solo player may discard up to six cards and exchange them for these better cards. After the first round, the solo player deals nine cards to each player and turns up trump.
Glossary
- Ace
- The “As” disappeared from Swiss and German cards in the 15th century. When the Ace was promoted above the King in French decks, the Deuce took its place.
- Banner
- The number 10 card has no indices in Swiss or German decks. It is known as “banner” due its flag artwork.
- Bauer
- Or “Puur”. The Jack of trump – German for farmer or peasant. Possibly derived from the old French “bouvier” (cowherd).
- Blatt
- Three or more sequential cards of the same suit; a run.
- Cards
- A set of four cards of the same rank. Not used above; listed here for reference. See also: Four-of-a-Kind.
- Jass
- Derived from the Dutch “Jas” – meaning coat or jacket – and used as a generic term for farmers or peasants. Similar to the English “Jack”, the German “Bauer”, and Dutch “Boer”.
- Meld
- From the German “melden” meaning “to report; declare”. In French, the term “Annonces” – to announce – is used. See also: “Weis”, “Wys”, and “Wyys”.
- Nell
- Or “Näll”. The second highest trump card – the Nine of trump. From the Dutch “Nel”, possibly an aphetism of the French “menille”.
- Stöck
- The King and Queen of trump. The “ö” in this instance is a short vowel; round your lips and say “e” as in “met”.