Card Counting in Sheepshead
Track cards to make better decisions and gain a winning edge
Why Count Cards?
Card counting in Sheepshead isn't about memorizing every card - it's about tracking key information that changes your decisions.
Knowing how many trump are left, whether the picker is out of trump, or if an Ace is still out there can be the difference between winning and losing a hand.
What to Track (Priority Order)
Trump Count
There are exactly 14 trump in Sheepshead. Track how many have been played.
When 10+ trump are gone, remaining fail Aces become very powerful.
Queens and High Jacks
Track Q♣, Q♠, Q♥, Q♦, J♣, J♠. These 6 cards control the game.
If all Queens are gone, your Jack becomes the highest trump. Game-changing info!
Fail Aces
Know which Aces (♣ A♠ A♥) have been played. Aces are 11 points each!
If A♠ hasn't been played and you lead spades, expect it to appear.
The Called Ace
Has the called ace been played? If not, who might have it?
Once the called ace appears, you know exactly who the partner is.
Trump Counting Made Simple
Don't try to memorize every trump - just keep a running count:
The Simple Method:
- 1. Start at 14 (total trump)
- 2. Subtract your trump (you have ~4-6)
- 3. After each trick, subtract trump played
- 4. The number = trump still in opponents' hands
Example:
You have 5 trump. 14 - 5 = 9 trump with opponents.
Trick 1: 4 trump played. 9 - 4 = 5 remaining.
Trick 2: 3 trump played. 5 - 3 = 2 remaining.
Now you know only 2 trump are left against you!
Tracking Who Has What
Showing Out = Out of Suit
When a player can't follow suit, they're "showing out" - they have no more of that suit.
Example: Player 3 plays 7♦ when clubs is led. Player 3 is void in clubs - they'll trump any future club leads!
Following Low = Limited Options
When someone plays a 7 or 8, they probably don't have higher cards in that suit.
Example: Player 2 follows with 7♥ to a heart lead. They likely don't have A♥ or 10♥ - those are probably elsewhere.
Tracking Picker's Trump
The picker typically has 5-7 trump. Count what they play:
Key moment: If the picker follows with low trump or shows out when trump is led, they're running low. Time to attack with your remaining trump!
Point Counting During Play
Keep rough track of points taken by each team:
Point Values
- Ace = 11 points
- Ten = 10 points
- King = 4 points
- Queen = 3 points
- Jack = 2 points
- 9, 8, 7 = 0 points
Quick Estimates
- Ace + Ten in trick = ~20 pts
- Average trick = ~15-20 pts
- Need 61 to win
- Total in deck = 120 pts
Pro tip: If picker's team has ~50 points after 4 tricks, they only need one more moderate trick to win. Play aggressively if you're defending!
Mental Shortcuts
After 2 trump leads: ~8-10 trump gone, ~4-6 remain
All Queens out: Your Jack is now the boss
3 tricks with Aces: That's 33 points in Aces alone
Picker picked blind: Count 2 extra unknown cards they have
Player shows out early: They're void in that suit for rest of hand
How to Practice Card Counting
Start with Just Trump
For your first 10 games, ONLY count trump. Say the count in your head after each trick. "11 trump left... 8 trump left... 5 trump left..."
Add Queens Next
Once trump counting is automatic, add Queen tracking. "Q♣ and Q♠ are out, Q♥ Q♦ still in play."
Use the Game Log
Our game shows a log of played cards. Use it to verify your count until you can track mentally.
Review After Each Hand
After a hand ends, think about what you counted and what you missed. Did you know the picker was out of trump? Did you track the called ace?