Skat Introduction Part 2: Bidding

Agenda

16:00 : Welcome (Karen)
16:05 : Introduction to Skat Bidding (Michael)
16:38 : Forming 2-3 groups (David,Michael,Karen)
16:40 : Playing (Evaluating Hands, Bidding, Card Play)
18:00 : Adjourn (Dinner?)

Skat Bidding Overview

Skat uses a numerical bidding system, which is a bit simpler than contract bridge's, because there are no bidding conventions to learn.
Assigns values depending on game type and 12 cards (10 in hand + 2 in Skat)
After the deal, players determine the bidding value of their hands
- by evaluating winning chances for different game types, and
- computing the respective game values
Players then bid up to the value they feel comfortable with
The player with the highest bidding value becomes the soloist
Important: becoming the soloist with a certain bidding value means that the player needs to play a game with at least that value! Otherwise, the player loses automatically. So, bidding high values with weak hands is a bad idea.
The game score written on the score sheet is the bidding value of the soloist's 12 card holding (subject to some modifiers) - not the card points he ended up with - in case he wins. Otherwise, it's the doubled negative game value.

Game Values

Skat game types:

Suit games (clubs,spades,hearts,diamonds) : jacks + suit cards are trump
The soloist wins when getting 61+ card points
Grand : only jacks are trump
The soloist wins when getting 61+ card points
Null (using the regular card ranking (T,J low), no trump)
The soloist loses when making any trick

For trump games (suit or grand), game values are computed as follows:

Multiplier * Base Value

The multiplier depends on the highest trump cards you have or you are missing:

If you hold the jack of clubs (highest trump) then you count how many highest trumps you have in succession and add 1 to that score.
If you are missing the jack of clubs then you count how many highest trumps you are missing in succession and add 1 to that score.

Here is a list of base values that depend on the game type:

Grand : 24
Clubs : 12
Spades : 11
Hearts : 10
Diamonds : 9

Note that the suit order is the same as the jack order.

Suit Games Holding the Jack of Clubs ("bidding with")

Clubs (12) with 11 play 12 : 12*12 = 144
x
Spades (11) with 5 play 6 : 6*11 = 66
x
Hearts (10) with 2 play 3 : 3*10 = 30
x
Diamonds (9) with 1 play 2 : 2*9 = 18

Suit Games Missing the Jack of Clubs ("bidding without")

x
Clubs (12) without 1 play 2 : 2*12 = 24
x x
Spades (11) without 2 play 3: 3*11 = 33
x x x
Hearts (10) without 3 play 4 : 4*10 = 40
x x x x x
Diamonds (9) without 5 play 6 : 5*9 = 54

Grand Game Examples

Grand (24) with 4 play 5 : 5*24 = 120
x x
Grand (24) with 2 play 3 : 3*24 = 72
x x
Grand (24) without 2 play 3 : 3*24 = 72

Game Value Modifiers

There are some multiplier modifiers which make games more valuable, such as

+1 for playing a "hand" game, i.e., not picking up the skat.
+1 for getting 90+ card points (making the opponents "schneider")
+1 for getting all tricks (making them "schwarz")

For instance, Grand #1 above is unlosable even without picking up the skat. In fact, the defenders most likely will only get up to 28 card points. So, the score sheet entry would likely read:

Grand with 4 play 5 hand 6 schneider 7 * 24 = 168

Null Games

Null game types have special bidding values:

Null : 23 (skat can be picked up)
Null Hand : 35 (no pickup required)
Null Ouvert (or Open) : 46 (skat picked up, tricks played openly)
Null Ouvert Hand : 59 (same as NO, except for not picking up skat)

Note: the card ranking in Null games is AKQJT987 and there is no trump.

Null Game Examples

Unlosable Null Ouvert Hand in any seat. Bidding value 59.
Good Null Hand game (bidding value 35) in middlehand and rearhand position. Diamonds 8 is vulnerable, but the opponents don't know that and you hope to throw it off on clubs or spades. In forehand you will most likely win a Null Ouvert Hand game (value 59) leading the 8 of diamonds.
Good Null game to bid on (value 23) or even Null Ouvert (46) because the chance of finding a card that allows you to secure clubs are high (14 out of 22 cards help, probability ~85%)

Bidding Table

Game Value Quiz

Clubs value? Spades value? Grand value?
How high would you bid in forehand position?
Hearts value? Diamonds value?
How high would you bid this hand in any position?

Bidding Process

In each phase the bidder either increases the bid and the asked player answers with "yes" or "no" (or "pass"), or the bidder passes.

The player who didn't pass in phase 2 becomes the soloist.