How skat scoring works
Skat is the national card game of Germany: three players, one declarer against two, and a scoring system where every game has a value worked out from its suit, the jacks and how it was played.
The deck, the deal and the bidding
Skat uses 32 cards. Each player gets ten and two go face down as the skat. Players bid game values (18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 27, 30 and up), and the highest bidder becomes the declarer, playing against the other two. The declarer needs 61 of the 120 card points: aces 11, tens 10, kings 4, queens 3, jacks 2.
Base values and matadors
A suit game's base value is 9 for diamonds, 10 for hearts, 11 for spades and 12 for clubs, and grand, where only the jacks are trump, is 24. The matadors are the jacks in an unbroken run from the jack of clubs, then the top trumps. A declarer holding the club jack plays "with" as many as the run goes; without it, "without" as many as are missing above the declarer's highest trump. With or without counts the same.
The multiplier
The game value is the base value times the matadors plus 1 for game, plus 1 each for hand (playing without picking up the skat), schneider (the losing side has 30 or fewer card points), schneider announced, schwarz (one side takes no trick), schwarz announced and ouvert. Announcements are only allowed in hand games, an ouvert game includes schwarz announced, and an announced level counts whether or not it was made. Grand ouvert with 4 is the highest game: 11 × 24 = 264.
Null games
In a null game the declarer must lose every trick. Its value is fixed: 23, null hand 35, null ouvert 46 and null ouvert hand 59. A null game can only be played if its value reaches the bid.
Won, lost and overbid
A won game adds its value to the declarer's score and a lost game takes off twice the value. Under the rules in force until 1998, a lost hand game was not doubled, and some tables still play it that way. If a game turns out to be worth less than the bid, for example because a jack in the skat cut the matadors, it is overbid: lost at the lowest multiple of its base value that reaches the bid, then doubled.
The Seeger-Fabian list and other scoring
Tournaments add 50 points for every game won and take 50 off for every game lost, and the other players receive 40 each for a lost game at a table of three, or 30 each at a table of four, where the dealer sits out but still collects. A list runs 36 deals at three or 48 at four. Casual tables play Bierlachs (minus points only, first to a limit such as 501 loses), Ramsch when everyone passes, Kontra and Re, and Bock rounds.
What Score All does with these rules
The game value, worked out
Pick the game (clubs 12, spades 11, hearts 10, diamonds 9, grand 24) and the matadors: "with" or "without" how many, counting the jacks in a row from the club jack and then the top trumps. The multiplier is the matadors plus 1 for game, then 1 each for hand, schneider, schneider announced, schwarz, schwarz announced and ouvert. Grand hand with 2 is 4 × 24 = 96.
Card points and announcements
Tap how many card points the declarer took: 61 wins, 90 or more is schneider, every trick is schwarz, and 30 or less means the declarer was schneidered. Schneider and schwarz can only be announced in a hand game, an open (ouvert) game always includes schwarz announced, and an announced level counts in the value whether or not it was made. Null games have fixed values: 23, hand 35, ouvert 46, ouvert hand 59.
Overbids and lost games
Choose the winning bid from the list of legal values. If the game turns out to be worth less than the bid, it is overbid: lost at the lowest multiple of its base value that reaches the bid. Every lost game counts double, as the official rules have said since 1999; tables that still play the older rule can count a lost hand game single.
The Seeger-Fabian list
The tournament list adds 50 for every game won and takes 50 off for every game lost, and the other players get 40 each for a lost game at a table of three, or 30 each at a table of four, where the dealer sits out but still collects. A list is 36 deals at three or 48 at four, and the standings show each player's games won and lost.
Bierlachs, Ramsch, Kontra and Bock
Play Bierlachs instead (minus points only: a won game counts against the others, a lost one doubles against the declarer, and the first to 301, 401 or 501 loses), a Ramsch when everyone passes, Kontra and Re, and Bock rounds your table triggers. Each is a switch when you start the game.
Skat scoring FAQ
How do you calculate the game value in Skat?
Multiply the base value (9, 10, 11, 12, or 24 for grand) by the matadors plus 1 for game and 1 for each of hand, schneider, schneider announced, schwarz, schwarz announced and ouvert that applies.
What happens if you overbid in Skat?
The game is lost at the lowest multiple of its base value that reaches the bid, and the loss is doubled. Bid 30 and play diamonds worth 18, and the game is lost at 36, so the declarer loses 72.
How does the Seeger-Fabian system work?
The declarer scores the game value plus 50 for a win, or minus twice the value minus 50 for a loss, and on a loss the others get 40 each at a table of three or 30 each at a table of four.
What is Ramsch?
A game played when everyone passes: everyone for themselves, and the player who takes the most card points loses that many points. A player who takes no trick usually doubles the loss.
Is there a free Skat score sheet app?
Yes. Score All keeps the Skat list for free on any phone: it works out every game value, catches overbids and keeps the running totals for three or four players.
Does it calculate the game value for me?
Yes. Pick the game, the matadors, hand or ouvert, any announcement and how many card points the declarer took, and the app shows the value, for example "Grand hand with 2: 4 × 24 = 96".
What happens when a game is overbid?
It is lost at the lowest multiple of the game's base value that reaches the bid, and doubled like any lost game. Bid 30 and play diamonds worth 18, and the game is lost at 36: minus 72.