How to Play Klaberjass, the Card Game

Klaberjass means "jack of clubs" which was once the highest trump card in Central European card games. It is also known as Clobber or Clabber in America. It may seem complicated at first but once you get the hang of it, it's a really fun card game. We've been playing it in my family for years.

How to Play Klaberjass the Card Game - Specifications

Number of players in Klaberjass: Two

Number of cards in Klaberjass: Thirty-two, consisting of A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7 in each suit. From a fifty-two card deck, discard all twos, threes, fours, fives and sixes from each suit.

Trumps in Klaberjass: The trump is the card or suit which wins over cards of other suits. The rank of trumps in Klaberjass is: Jack (high), 9, A, 10, K, Q, 8, 7. In non-trump suits, the rank is Ace (high), 10, K, Q, J, 9, 8, 7.

How to Play Klaberjass the Card Game - Dealing

Six cards are dealt to each player, three at a time in Klaberjass. The next card in the deck is turned face-up and placed partially under the deck. This is considered the trump card that proposes trumps for that deal.

How to Play Klaberjass the Card Game - Bidding

The non-dealer bids first, saying pass, take, or schmeiss. If the non-dealer passes, the dealer may chose to pass, take, or schmeiss.

If either the dealer or non-dealer chooses to take, he accepts the trump card. This makes the taker the trump maker and the play may begin.

If schmeiss is chosen by either player, and the other player accepts, the deal is abandoned. If the other player refuses the schmeiss, the schmeisser then becomes the trump maker at the suit of the original turned-up card.

If both players choose to pass, the non-dealer can choose any suit as trump or he can pass again. If he passes again, the dealer has the option to name the trump suit or pass again. If both the dealer and the non-dealer pass the second time, the deal is then abandoned.

How to Play Klaberjass the Card Game - Serving

Now that the trump suit is decided, the dealer gives three cards to each hand. He then turns up the bottom card of the deck face-up, making two cards known to the players. This can affect strategy in actual game play.

How to Play Klaberjass the Card Game - The Dix

The Dix is the nine of trumps when it is the lowest of the suit. If the originally turned card was accepted as the trump, either player who is holding the Dix can exchange it for the trump card, making a higher trump. This exchange must be made before the playing of the first trick.

How to Play Klaberjass the Card Game - Sequences

Three or more cards in sequence and of the same suit have point value in Klaberjass. A sequence of three cards is twenty points and a sequence of four or more cards is fifty points.

For the purpose of sequence, all suits rank in regular order as follows: Ace (high), K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7.

Only one player may score a sequence per trick in Klaberjass. The non-dealer must say "No sequence" or "May I lead?" or "Twenty" or "Fifty" depending on the hand and prior to leading. The dealer must then reply "Lead" or "Good" or "No Good" depending on his hand.

The players then decide who has the highest sequence and this player exposes and scores the sequence. Other sequences held by this player may also be scored but the opponent can score none.

If both players have a sequence of fifty points, the sequence with the highest top card wins. If they are completely equal, a trump sequence beats a non-trump sequence. If both are equal non-trump sequences, the non-dealer wins.

How to Play Klaberjass the Card Game - Playing

Now that the sequences are settled, the non-dealer leads. Hands are played in tricks. The second player to a trick must play a card of the same suit if he is able. If he doesn't have the same suit, he must play a trump card if he has one. If a trump card is played first, the second player must win if he can.

A trick is won by the higher trump or by the higher card of the leading suit. The winner of a trick leads on the next trick.

How to Play Klaberjass the Card Game - Bella

If either player has the King and Queen of the trump suit, he can score twenty points by saying "Bella" when he plays the second of the two cards. A player may choose not to call "Bella" if he thinks he may go bete.

How to Play Klaberjass the Card Game - Scoring

The object of Klaberjass is to win specific cards rather than tricks. Winning the last trick gives ten extra points. High cards won in tricks are scored as follows in Klaberjass:

Trump Jack - 20 points

Trump Nine - 14 points

Any Ace - 11 points

Any Ten - 10 points

Any King - 4 points

Any Queen - 3 points

Any Jack - 2 points

At the end of each play, the players score what they have taken in tricks, together with any scores for sequences and Bella.

If the trump maker has the higher score, each player scores their total. If the scores are equal, only the opponent of the trump maker scores their total. If the trump maker has the lower score, he is bete and the opponent scores the sum of both totals.

The first player to reach 500 points wins the game of Klaberjass.

How to Play Klaberjass the Card Game - Exposed Cards

If a non-dealer's card is exposed during the deal, he can accept the card or demand a new card. If the dealer exposes a card he's dealing to himself, he has to accept it.

How to Play Klaberjass the Card Game - Wrong Number of Cards

If either hand has the wrong number of cards, the non-dealer may demand a new deal or rectification. If he doesn't want a new deal, the short hand draws cards from the deck to make his hand equal to the other hand. When they are both equal, each draws the excess number of cards from the opponent's hand.

How to Play Klaberjass the Card Game - False Declaration

If a player asks for information about an opponent's sequence when he doesn't have one himself (such as asking, "How high is your top card?") he loses the hand. The opponent then scores all the points in the deal, including Bella even if it hasn't been called.

How to Play Klaberjass the Card Game - Revoke

When a player fails to follow suit, trump, or go over a trump when it's the first card played, this is considered a revoke. A revoke can be corrected before the next play. If not, the revoked player's opponent scores all points in the deal, including Bella.