KARNÖFFEL

OBJECTIVE OF KARNÖFFEL: Win 3 of the 5 tricks in each round.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2, 4, 6, or 8 players (4+ play in partnerships)

NUMBER OF CARDS:  standard 52-card

RANK OF CARDS:  A (high), K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2

TYPE OF GAME: Trick-Taking

AUDIENCE: Adult

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INTRODUCTION TO KARNÖFFEL

Karnöffel is the oldest known European card game still in existence. It is believed to have been born in 1426 in Nördlingen, Bavaria and was played at an annual festival. The game became most popular in Southern Germany. There the game was referred to as Kaiserpiel or Ludus Imperatoris, which means that Kaiser or Emperor’s game.

Karnöffel is theorized to be derived from the Persian word Kanjifeh. This was a card game played with the Mamluk pack of cards (the cards European cards descended from).

THE PARTNERS

In games of 4+ players, players play in partnerships. Partners should sit across from each other. Players draw cards to determine partnerships. The two players with the lowest cards become partners as do the highest. The player who draws the lowest card is the first dealer.

Cards rank: K (high), Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2

Suits rank: Spades (high), Clubs, Hearts, Diamonds

THE TARGET SCORE

Prior to starting the deal, players must mutually agree upon a target score. The score should be a multiple of 10 plus 1. Generally, the target score is 101. Rounds are worth 4 points. However, during the deal, players have three opportunities to increase the value by 3 points by a proposition. The proposal may be refused, the refusing side loses the current value and there’s a new deal by the next dealer.

During a deal, trumps is determined. A trump ranks differently than suits.

THE DEAL

The deal begins with each card receiving one card face-up. The suit of the lowest ranking card dealt, or the first card of equally lowest rank, is the trump. In games with more than 2 players, the dealer hands the next card to the forehand. The forehand is the player directly to the left of the dealer. Then the dealer passes another card to the next player. Next, they wait. The forehand may propose to increase the value of the round. This increase is fixed at three points, for a total of a 7 point round. They may discuss this decision with their partner prior. If the forehand does propose, the other player may:

• Accept the increase
• Surrender. If so, the proposer’s side scores the 4 points and the proposer acts as the dealer in the next hand. OR,
• Propose another 3 point increase, for a total 10 point value round. The forehand can refuse this. If so, the proposer wins the 7 points and a new hand is dealt. If it is accepted, the round is worth 10 points.

The forehand is not required to propose, the other player may do so.

Second & Third Rounds

Players get 2 cards face-down in the second and third rounds. After the cards are dealt, there is another pause for proposals. Round value increase are still fixed at 3 points. Partners may privately share their hands before proposing or accepting/surrendering. If there are 6+ player, one player is appointed the director. The director examines their partner’s cards and decides what move to make. 메이저사이트

If the value of the round is enough that one team may win, a player must announce this fact, and no one else may propose an increase. Unless, at the start, players are within four points of winning. They are not obliged to announce so.