Schnapsen

How to play Schnapsen

Schnapsen is the national card game of Austria — a sharp, two-player duel that is the classic 20-card form of Sixty-Six (66). It looks small but it is one of the most strategic point-trick games there is, full of bluff and timing. You play against a bot — or online against a friend in real time.

Play Schnapsen online with a friend

Want a real duel? Choose Play online to be matched with another player, or share a private invite link and play a two-player game right in your browser — no account and no app. The server deals, keeps both hands in sync and enforces every rule.

The cards

A 20-card pack: Ace, Ten, King, Queen and Jack in each suit. Card values are Ace 11, Ten 10, King 4, Queen 3, Jack 2 (120 in the pack). For winning tricks the order is A > 10 > K > Q > J, and a trump beats any plain suit. Each player is dealt five cards; the next card is turned up to set the trump and is slipped under the stock to be drawn last.

The first phase

While the stock lasts you do not have to follow suit — play any card. The trick winner draws the top card of the stock, the loser the next, so both keep five cards. On your lead you may also:

• Declare a marriage — King + Queen of a suit, worth 20 points (40 in trump). It counts once you have won a trick.
• Swap the Jack of trump for the upturned trump card.
• Close the stock — turn the trump down to start the endgame at once, betting that you will reach 66 first.

The endgame

Once the stock is empty (or someone has closed) you must follow suit and win the trick if you can, and trump if you are void. The first player to 66 points goes out and wins the deal.

Scoring

Reaching 66 scores game points: 1 normally, 2 if your opponent is under 33, and 3 if they took no trick at all. Close the stock and fail to reach 66 and your opponent takes 2 (3 if they had no trick). The first player to 7 game points wins the match.

Strategy

Count points constantly — knowing exactly when you cross 66 is the whole game. Hold a marriage until you can play it safely, and remember the trump 40-marriage is huge. Close only when you are confident, ideally with the lead and the high trumps; a failed close is expensive. Keep an Ace or Ten back for the endgame, when winning the trick becomes compulsory. Tap a card to play it; legal cards are highlighted, and your lead options appear as buttons. N starts a new game.