Skat

How to play Skat

Skat is Germany's national card game — a deep, three-handed trick game of bidding and bluff that has been played in clubs and kitchens since the 1810s. It rewards judgement at every step: how high to bid, which game to declare, what to bury in the Skat, and how to squeeze out the points. You play here against two bots, one deal at a time, for the best score over six deals. You can play against two bots, or online with friends in real time.

Play Skat online with friends

Prefer real opponents? Choose Play online to be matched into a three-player game, or share a private invite link so all three of you play together right in the browser — no account and no app. The server handles the deal and the bidding and keeps every hand in sync.

The cards

A 32-card pack — Ace, 10, King, Queen, 9, 8, 7 and the four Jacks in each suit. Only five ranks carry points: the Ace is 11, the 10 is 10, the King 4, the Queen 3 and the Jack 2 — 120 points in the pack, the two-card Skat included. Note the 10 ranks just below the Ace, above the King.

The bidding (Reizen)

Each player gets ten cards and two go face-down to the middle as the Skat. Players then bid game values — 18, 20, 22, 23, 24 and up. Middlehand bids to Forehand, then the survivor is challenged by Rearhand; the last player still in becomes the declarer and plays alone against the other two.

Declaring your game

• Pick up the Skat (then discard two cards) or play Hand for a bonus.
• Suit game: trump is the four Jacks plus a suit you name — base value ♦9, ♥10, ♠11, ♣12.
• Grand: only the four Jacks are trump — base value 24.
• Null: no trumps at all, and you must lose every trick — worth 23 (or 35 Hand, 46 Ouvert, 59 Ouvert Hand).

Trumps & order

In a Suit or Grand game the Jacks are the top trumps, ranking ♣ > ♠ > ♥ > ♦, above the trump suit's Ace, 10, King, Queen, 9, 8, 7. You must follow the led suit if you can. In a Null game there are no trumps and the cards run naturally A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7.

Scoring

In a Suit or Grand game the declarer needs at least 61 of the 120 points (the Skat counts for the declarer). The value is the base multiplied by the matadors — the run of top trumps you hold "with" or lack "without" — plus one for the game, plus one each for Hand, Schneider (90+) and Schwarz (every trick). Win and you add the value to your score; lose, or bid past what your game is worth, and you subtract twice the value. The highest score after six deals wins.

Strategy

Count your Jacks before you bid — they are the engine of every Suit and Grand game, and they set your matadors. When you take the Skat, bury points and short suits to create voids you can trump. As declarer, lead trumps to strip them from the defenders, then cash your Aces and Tens. As a defender, work with your unseen partner: take the declarer's fat tricks, and feed your high cards to a trick your partner already holds. Tap a card to play it; legal cards are highlighted. N starts a new game.