Schafkopf
Bavaria's National Card Game
The complete English guide to Germany's most beloved trick-taking card game, played by over 2.5 million people in Southern Germany.
What is Schafkopf?
Schafkopf (literally "sheep's head") is a traditional German trick-taking card game that has been played in Bavaria for over 200 years. It's considered the national card game of Bavaria and is deeply embedded in the region's cultural identity.
The game is typically played in beer gardens, pubs, and family gatherings across Southern Germany. It's known for its strategic depth, partnership dynamics, and the unique "called ace" mechanic where players discover their partner during play.
Schafkopf is the ancestor of American Sheepshead, which German immigrants brought to Wisconsin in the 1800s. It also influenced the development of Skat and Doppelkopf.
The German Card Deck
Traditional Schafkopf uses a 32-card Bavarian deck with German suits instead of the familiar French suits (clubs, spades, hearts, diamonds):
The face cards also have different names:
Game Modes
Unlike Sheepshead's simpler "pick or pass" structure, Schafkopf features multiple game modes that players bid for. Here are the main ones:
Sauspiel (Rufspiel)
The most common game mode. The declarer calls an Ace to find a secret partner, then plays 2v2 against the defenders. Similar to Sheepshead's "called ace" variant.
Wenz
A solo game where only the four Unters (Jacks) are trump. The declarer plays alone against all three opponents. High risk, high reward.
Solo
The declarer chooses any suit as trump and plays alone against all three opponents. More trumps than Wenz but harder to win.
Other Variants
- Geier: Like Wenz, but only Obers (Queens) are trump
- Farbwenz: Wenz with an additional trump suit
- Tout: Commitment to win ALL tricks (double stakes)
- Ramsch: Played when everyone passes - avoid taking points
Trump Hierarchy (Sauspiel)
In the standard Sauspiel, there are 14 trump cards. The Obers and Unters are always the highest trumps, followed by the Hearts suit:
Obers (Highest)
Unters
Hearts (Trump Suit)
Key difference from Sheepshead: In Schafkopf, Hearts is the trump suit. In American Sheepshead, Diamonds is always trump.
Point Values
Point values are identical to Sheepshead - there are 120 points in the deck:
Schafkopf vs Sheepshead
Already know Sheepshead? Here's how Schafkopf compares:
| Feature | Schafkopf | Sheepshead |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 4 | 5 (standard) |
| Trump Suit | Hearts | Diamonds |
| Blind | None | 2 cards |
| Game Modes | Many (bidding) | Pick or pass |
| Cards per Player | 8 | 6 |
Where to Play Schafkopf
In Person
Schafkopf is traditionally played in Bavarian beer gardens, pubs (Wirtshäuser), and at family gatherings. Tournaments are common throughout Southern Germany.
Online (German)
- • Sauspiel.de - 910,000+ members, real money option
- • Schafkopf Palast - Free to play, all platforms
- • Board Game Arena - International players
Want to Try the American Version?
Play Sheepshead right here! If you know Schafkopf, you'll pick it up instantly. Same core mechanics, simplified rules, and you can play in English.
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Try Sheepshead - the American cousin of Schafkopf. Same strategic depth, plays great with 5 players, and you can start a game in seconds.