Editing Trick-taking game (section)

=== Rules in Austrian and German games ===
In games derived from Austria and Germany, trick-taking is governed by the rules called ''Zwänge''. The three main ones are ''Farbzwang'', ''Stichzwang'' and ''Trumpfzwang''. Although they broadly equate to rules in English-speaking countries, there are no single-word equivalents. For many games of this type, applying these rules correctly is crucial to the type of contract being played.

==== ''Farbzwang'' ====
''Farbzwang'' (or ''Bedienzwang'') literally means "suit compulsion" and is the rule that players must follow the suit of the first card to be led to the trick, provided that they have a card of that suit. If a player does not have a card of the led suit, rules vary depending on whether the other ''Zwänge'' apply.

==== ''Stichzwang'' ====
''Stichzwang'' means "trick compulsion" and is the rule that players must attempt to win the trick if they are able, either by playing a higher card of the led suit or by playing a trump card to a [[side suit]] lead.

==== ''Farbzwang'' with ''Stichzwang'' ====
Some games apply ''Farbzwang'' and ''Stichzwang'' together, which means that a player, when it is his  or her turn, must:
* take the trick with a higher card of the led suit. If unable to do so, the player must
* discard a lower card of the led suit. If that is not possible, the player must
* take the trick with a trump card, but if that is also not feasible, the player may
* discard any card.

''Farbzwang'', the requirement to follow suit, almost always takes precedence over ''Stichzwang''. A player is not allowed to take the trick with a trump if able to follow suit. There are rare instances where e.g. [[All Fours (card game)|All Fours]] rules apply i.e. a player with a card of the led suit may either follow suit or trump, but only if unable to follow may a player discard.

==== ''Trumpfzwang'' ====
''Trumpfzwang'' means "trump compulsion" and requires that a player ''must'' play a trump if unable to follow suit. In other words, the player may not simply discard, if unable to follow.

''Example'': Acorns are trumps. Peter is forehand and plays the 8 of Bells, middlehand trumps with a 10 of Acorns; Anna is rearhand and has no Bells, but does have a trump card, the 8 of Acorns. She must play this and cannot discard another non-trump card in order to keep the trump for a subsequent trick.

==== ''Tarockzwang'' ====
''Tarockzwang'' is used in [[tarock game]]s such as [[Königrufen]] and [[Tapp-Tarock]] and means "Tarock compulsion" or the requirement to play a Tarock card if one is led to the trick or if a player is unable to follow suit. It is a form of ''Trumpfzwang''.