OTHER SCORING
A player who fulfills his declaration and the full value of his game equals or exceeds his bid scores that full value.
If player falls short of the necessary points for game, he loses the basic value of the game. The penalty is doubled at guckser or second turn (passt mir nicht tourn?e).
If player fulfills his declaration yet amasses fewer points than his bid, he loses whatever multiple of his declared game’s basic value
The allure of Skat lies in its complexities. Of these, the most interesting are devices whereby the player may multiply the basic value of whatever game he elects to play. exceeds his bid. For instance, if he declares and plays a heart solo tourn?e, takes 72 points in high cards (enough for game), and is “with one” matador, his game is worth 20. If he bid 22, he is in trouble. His penalty is computed by multiplying the basic value of his declared game (10 for heart solo tourn?e) by whatever number it takes to exceed his bid. This means multiplying 10 by 3—30 being the first multiple of 10 that exceeds the overbid of 22. The penalty, therefore, is 30. At guckser or second turn it would be doubled—60.
BIDDING STRATEGY
It is not good business to count on help from the skat.
To be considered biddable, with a declaration of tourn?e in mind, a hand should contain at least one jack—in which case the other nine cards should be divided evenly among three suits. With two jacks, two-card suits in all four denominations are acceptable, as is one three-card suit, two two-card suits and a singelton.
For soio, a five-card trump suit is considered essential. Side cards should include two aces, or the ace—king of one suit and the ten of another.With hands as strong as this, experienced players usually count the potential losing tricks. Having long since memorized the point value of each card, it is easy for them to calculate the maximum number of points they are likely to lose, assuming that luck abandons them completely. Having done this, they can tell the minimum number of points they are likely to win. This simplifies bidding and, of course, the subsequent declaration of game.
With two jacks and two aces, or any combination thereof totaling four, leader considers a declaration of grand. In other positions, it is best to have a total of five such cards.
PLAYING STRATEGY
With a solid trump holding, it is essential to exhaust the opponents’ trump by leading one’s own. With a less impressive trump suit, it usually pays to force out the opponents’ trump winners early by leading one’s own low ones. Games have been lost by allowing one opponent to ruff (trump) a late trick on which the other opponent discards (smears) a high-point card of another suit.
ERRORS AND PENALTIES
In a game as complex as this, the slightest deviation from the rules of procedure can cause havoc. Therefore, punishment is harsh.
At passt mir nicht tourn?e (second turn), failure to show the second skat card before putting it in the hand costs the player a lOO-point loss of game.
Anyone who accidentally looks at the skat before qualifying to do so is fined 10 points. And if the player of a solo hand looks at the skat, he loses immediately, unless opponents require him to continue play so that they can pile up points.
|
|
