Queen of Clubs (Q♣)
German: Bavarian "Eichel-Ober" — the Acorn Queen, the top trump in Schafkopf
Definition
The highest-ranking card in Sheepshead and the boss of the entire deck. Q♣ wins any trick it is played on and is the cornerstone of the trump hierarchy, followed by Q♠, Q♥, and Q♦. Holding Q♣ alongside Q♠ unlocks a Blitz declaration.
Queen of Clubs (Q♣) in play
The Queen of Clubs (the Eichel-Ober) is the highest card in the deck - it wins any trick it touches and can never be beaten. Holding it alongside the Queen of Spades (the two black Queens, the Ma's) lets you declare a Blitz to double the stakes. Because it is unbeatable, leading the Queen of Clubs is the classic way to begin pulling the defenders' trump.
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Related Terms
The Ma's
Slang for the two black Queens (Q♣ and Q♠), the two highest cards in the game. Having "The Ma's" lets you declare a Blitz.
Blitz
A variant where the picker can declare "Blitz" if they hold both black Queens (Q♣ and Q♠). This doubles the stakes like a crack.
Trump
The powerful suit that beats all fail cards. In Sheepshead: all Queens, all Jacks, and all Diamonds are trump (14 cards total).
Boss (Boss Card)
The highest remaining trump in play — a card guaranteed to win the trick if led. After Q♣ is played, Q♠ becomes the boss; once both are gone, Q♥ takes over, and so on down the trump order.