Schwarz
German: "Schwarz" — black; a complete shutout, as in "blackened"
Definition
When the losing team wins zero tricks. Triples all scores for the hand. Rare but devastating!
Schwarz in play
Schwarz means 'black,' the color of a total shutout, and it lands only when the losing team fails to win even a single trick across the whole hand, not merely when they are held to zero points. It is the rarest and harshest outcome, tripling the stakes, and it usually requires a granny hand stacked with Queens plus relentless trump leads so the opposition never gets the lead. Defenders facing a schwarz threat will fight to steal one trick purely to dodge the triple penalty.
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Related Terms
Schneider
When the losing team scores fewer than 31 points. Doubles all scores for the hand.
Points
The scoring value of cards: Aces=11, Tens=10, Kings=4, Queens=3, Jacks=2, 9/8/7=0. Total in deck: 120.
Trick
One round of play where each player contributes one card. There are 6 tricks in a hand. The highest card wins the trick.