Following Suit in Sheepshead
The rules for what you must play - and the #1 thing beginners get wrong
The Core Rule
You must follow the suit that was led if you can.
- • If trump is led → you must play trump (if you have any)
- • If a fail suit is led → you must play that suit (if you have any)
- • If you can't follow → play anything you want
⚠️ The Part Everyone Gets Wrong
Queens and Jacks are ALWAYS trump - never part of their original suit!
Example: Clubs is led. You have Q♣ and 7♣.
✓ You must play 7♣
The Q♣ is trump, not a club. Your only club is the 7♣.
Detailed Scenarios
Trump is Led (Queen, Jack, or Diamond)
You must play any trump card. All Queens, Jacks, and Diamonds are trump.
Example: J♠ is led. You can play Q♥, J♣, 7♦, or any other trump.
Clubs is Led (A♣, 10♣, K♣, 9♣, 8♣, or 7♣)
You must play a club card - but Q♣ and J♣ are NOT clubs, they're trump!
Your club cards are only: A♣, 10♣, K♣, 9♣, 8♣, 7♣
You Can't Follow Suit
If you have no cards in the led suit, you can play anything - including trump to "trump in"!
This is called "trumping in" or "ruffing".
Quick Reference: What's in Each Suit?
Trump (14 cards)
Q♣ Q♠ Q♥ Q♦ J♣ J♠ J♥ J♦ A♦ 10♦ K♦ 9♦ 8♦ 7♦
Clubs (6 cards)
A♣ 10♣ K♣ 9♣ 8♣ 7♣
Spades (6 cards)
A♠ 10♠ K♠ 9♠ 8♠ 7♠
Hearts (6 cards)
A♥ 10♥ K♥ 9♥ 8♥ 7♥
Who Wins the Trick?
- • If any trump was played: Highest trump wins
- • If no trump was played: Highest card of the led suit wins
- • Off-suit non-trump cards: Can never win (they don't count)