German Origin
Ramsch
German: "Ramsch" — junk/rubbish; a "trash" hand no one wanted
Definition
The Schafkopf equivalent of a Leaster: when no one declares a game, all players play for themselves and the player who takes the fewest points wins. Some variants reverse the trump order or use special rules to make the hand even more chaotic.
Related Terms
Leaster
A special hand played when all 5 players pass. Everyone plays for themselves, and the player who takes the FEWEST points wins.
Schafkopf
The German ancestor of Sheepshead, originating in Bavaria in the 1700s. The name likely refers to playing on a barrel head ("Schaff" = barrel, "Kopf" = head), though it's often translated as "sheep's head."
Pass
To decline picking up the blind. If all players pass, a Leaster is played (or forced pick, depending on rules).