Schwimmen (Thirty-One)

How to play Schwimmen (Thirty-One)

Schwimmen — also called Thirty-One, Schnauz, Knack or Hosn obi — is one of the most popular casual card games in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is quick, social and easy to learn but surprisingly tense, because one bad round can cost you a life. Here you play against three bots — or online with friends in real time.

Play Schwimmen online with friends

Rather play real people? Choose Play online to be matched into a game, or share a private invite link so your table plays together right in the browser — no account and no app. The server deals every round and keeps all hands in sync.

The cards and your goal

The game uses a 32-card pack (7 up to Ace in four suits). Card values are Ace 11; King, Queen, Jack and Ten 10 each; Nine 9, Eight 8, Seven 7. You hold three cards, and your score is the highest total you can make in a single suit — so an Ace plus two ten-value cards (Ten, King, Queen or Jack) of the same suit make the perfect 31. Three of a kind (for example three Jacks) counts as 30½, just below 31. Three cards lie face up in the middle of the table.

Your turn

On your turn you do exactly one of three things:

• Swap one — tap one of your cards, then a table card, to exchange them.
• Swap all three — trade your whole hand for the three table cards at once.
• Knock — close the round when you are happy with your hand. Everyone else gets one last turn, then hands are compared.

If you ever reach 31, you reveal immediately and every other player loses a life on the spot.

Lives

At the showdown the player with the lowest same-suit total loses a life (and if the player who knocked has the lowest hand, they lose two — so don't knock on a weak hand). Everyone starts with three lives; lose them all and you are “swimming” — one last chance — and the next loss puts you out. The last player still in wins the game.

Strategy

Commit to one suit early and feed it from the table. A hand worth 27–30 is usually strong enough to knock, especially late in a round. Watch what others pick up: if someone leaves a high card of your suit on the table, grab it. Don't knock with a weak hand just to end the round — the double penalty stings. And when you can complete 31, take it instantly. Tap a card then a table card to swap; the action buttons close or trade your whole hand. N starts a new game.