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Official Doppelkopf Rules
Doppelkopf is a German trick-taking card game known for its complex bidding system and unique gameplay mechanics.
Objective
The goal of Doppelkopf is to score points by winning tricks. The game is typically played with four players in two teams, which are determined by the possession of the Queens of Clubs.
Setup
1. Deck: Doppelkopf is played with a 48-card deck consisting of two 24-card decks combined. Each deck contains the cards A, K, Q, J, 10, 9 in all four suits.
2. Players: Four players.
3. Teams: The teams are determined by the possession of the Queens of Clubs. The players who hold these cards are partners against the other two players.
Gameplay
Dealing: Each player is dealt 12 cards.
Bidding: Players bid to determine who will play with the "Re" team and who will play with the "Kontra" team. The player who bids the highest becomes the declarer.
Tricks: Players play tricks, following suit if possible. The player who wins the trick leads the next one.
Trump Suits: The trump suits are all Queens, all Jacks, and the 10 of Hearts, followed by Diamonds.
Winning the Game
Counting Points: Each card has a specific point value:
Ace: 11 points
Ten: 10 points
King: 4 points
Queen: 3 points
Jack: 2 points
Nine: 0 points
Winning the Game: The team that scores more points in a round wins that round. The game can be played to a pre-determined number of points or rounds.
The game ends when the agreed number of points or rounds have been played. The player or team with the highest score is the winner.
Special Rules
Marriage (Hochzeit): If a player holds both Queens of Clubs, they can declare a "marriage," which changes the team dynamics for that round.
Piglets (Schweinchen): If a player holds both Queens of Clubs and chooses not to declare a marriage, they can announce "piglets," making both Queens of Clubs the highest trumps.
Doubles: If a player holds all four Queens or all four Jacks, they can announce "doubles," which increases the game value.
This summary of the rules provides an overview of the main points to help you get started with Doppelkopf.