The Pub rules are almost identical to the regular Skat game rules. However, the Pub rules of Skat differ in certain ways.

Contra and Re

After the soloist’s announcement, each of the defenders can decide whether to say “Contra“. A defender may only ever say this if they have had to continue bidding as a rearhand with more than 18. Saying “Contra“ ensures that the points for this game are doubled.

If one of the defenders has said “Contra“, the soloist has the option of saying “Re“. By doing this, the points are doubled again at the end of the game. Furthermore, ‘Ramsch’ is played in the next game.

When is a game of Ramsch played?

Below you can see in which cases a game of Ramsch is played.

Ramsch: the basic rules

At the beginning of a game of Ramsch, starting with the forehand, each player is asked if they would like to play a grand hand. Contra and Re are also possible. If all players decline a grand hand, the actual Ramsch begins:

• The aim is to make as few tricks as possible (similar to the Null game), Exception: Durchmarsch.
• Each player plays alone, there are no defenders.
• Jack are trumps, 10 is “high“ i.e. between the ace and the king, contrary to the regular Null game.

Ramsch: Gameplay

This is a sliding Ramsch. The Skat is picked up and two cards are ‘shoved’, which are passed on to the next player or ‘shoved’ by the rearhand into the final Skat.
The forehand picks up the Skat and then passes two cards against the middlehand. The middlehand then again passes two cards to the rearhand. The following rules apply:

• Jacks may not be actively ‘shoved’ (i.e. passed on).
• Shoving is allowed, i.e. a player does not pick up the Skat and passes it on directly. The consequence of shoving is a doubling at the end of the Ramsch rounds.

Now the game runs as in regular Skat as well. However, there is a special feature at the end of a Ramsch game: the player who takes the last trick receives the Skat (i.e. the cards that were ‘shoved’ by the rearhand).

Scoring

There are generally no extra points for games won or lost. In addition, there are other scoring factors that apply in a Ramsch game. Below you can see which factors lead to which scoring changes.

Action

• Effect

Generally in Pub Skat

• No extra points for loss/win

Announcement of “Contra“

• Points are doubled

Re-annoucement

• Total points multiplied by four

Ramsch game

• Loser receives his points as minus points

For each push*

• Points are doubled

Player receives no trick at all (virgin)*

• Minus points of the loser are doubled

Player gets all tricks (Durchmarsch)*

• Player receives 120 extra points only for Ramsch

*only for Ramsch