Editing Skat (card game) (section)

=== Bidding ===
After the cards have been dealt, and before the deal is played out, a bidding or auction ({{langx|de|Reizen}}) is held to decide:

* Who will be declarer for the round, and thus eligible for picking up the ''Skat'' and choosing whether to have trumps and what the trump suit is
* The minimum game value needed for declarer to win

The goal for each player during the bidding is to bid a game value as high as their card holding would allow, but never higher than necessary to win the bidding. How the actual game value is determined is explained in detail below and is necessary to understand in order to know how high one can safely bid.

It is possible for a player to overbid, which leads to an automatic loss of the game in question. Often this does not become obvious before the player picks up the ''Skat'', or even not before the end of the game in question (in case of a ''hand'' game, when the ''Skat'' is not picked up). Players have therefore to exercise careful scrutiny during bidding, as not to incur an unnecessary loss.

The bidding may also give away some information about what cards a player may or may not hold. Experienced players will be able to use this to their advantage.

==== Game value ====
The game value (also called ''hand value'', {{langx|de|Spielwert}})  is what the game will be worth after all tricks have been played. It is determined not only by the 10 cards held, but also by the two-card ''Skat''. The ''Skat'' always belongs to the declarer, and if it contains certain high cards this may change the game value. It is therefore not possible in general to determine the exact game value before knowing the ''Skat''.

The game value is determined by the type of the game and the game level as explained below for the suit, grand and null games.

===== Suit game =====
In a suit game ({{langx|de|Farbspiel}}), one of the four suits is the trump suit.

Each suit has a base value ({{langx|de|Grundwert}}), as follows:

:{| class="wikitable"
|- 
!style="text-align:center"| suit (French pack)
!style="text-align:center"| suit (German pack)
!style="text-align:center"| base value
|-
| Clubs (''German:'' Kreuz) (<span style="font-size:larger;">♣</span>)
| Acorns (''German:'' Eichel) ([[file:Bay eichel.png|10px|]])
|style="text-align:center"| 12
|-
| Spades (''German:'' Pik) (<span style="font-size:larger;color:green;">♠</span>)
| Leaves (''German:'' Blatt / Grün) ([[file:Bay gras.png|10px|]])
|style="text-align:center"| 11
|-
| Hearts (''German:'' Herz) (<span style="font-size:larger;color:red;">♥</span>)
| Hearts (''German:'' Herz / Rot) ([[file:Bay herz.png|10px|]])
|style="text-align:center"| 10
|-
| Diamonds (''German:'' Karo) (<span style="font-size:larger;color:orange;">♦</span>)
| Bells (''German:'' Schellen) ([[file:Bay schelle.png|10px|]])
|style="text-align:center"| 9
|}

This base value is then multiplied by the multiplier game level ({{langx|de|Spielstufe}} or {{lang|de|Gewinngrad}}) to determine the game value, so:

:game value = base value × game level.

A game level of 1 for becoming declarer is always assumed. It is then increased by one for each of the following:

# For every [[matador (cards)|matador]] i.e. trump (German: ''Spitzen'') in unbroken sequence counting from the {{cards|Jc}} downwards. Example: 
#* Having all the jacks and the ace but not the 10 of the suit counts as "with 5"
# For every missing matador, if the {{cards|Jc}} is not held, in unbroken sequence from the top. Example:
#* Having the {{cards|Jd}} but no higher jack counts as "without 3"
# Playing a ''Hand'' game, i.e. without picking up the ''skat''
# Winning ''[[Schneider (cards)|schneider]]'', i.e. taking 90 or more card points
# Winning [[Schwarz (cards)|''schwarz'']], i.e. taking all tricks.

In case of a ''Hand'' game, the following special cases are allowed. Each one increases the game level by another point:

# ''Schneider'' is announced by declarer after the bidding
# ''Schwarz'' is announced by declarer after the bidding 
# ''Ouvert'', where the declarer plays with open cards and takes all tricks; that is ''Schwarz'' has to be announced in order to declare ''Ouvert'' in a suit game

To summarize in tabular form:

:{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! !!Ordinary Skat game!!Hand game
|-
| Matador's jack straight (with or without)||1 each||1 each 
|-
| Game (for becoming declarer)||1||1 
|-
| Hand (the Skat is not picked up)||{{n/a}}||1 
|-
| Schneider (win with 90 or more points)||1||1
|-
| Schneider announced||{{n/a}}||1
|-
| Schwarz (win all tricks)||1||1
|-
| Schwarz announced||{{n/a}}||1 
|-
| Ouvert (declarer plays with open hand)||{{n/a}}||1 
|}

Cards in the trump suit are ordered as follows (this is important to know when counting the length of the matador's jack straight):

# Jack of clubs, {{cards|Jc}} or {{cards|Bc}} or {{color|black|'''U'''}}{{acorns}} (''German pack:'' Unter of acorns/Acorn Unter)
# Jack of spades, {{cards|Js}} or {{cards|Bs|spades_color=green}} or {{color|green|'''U'''}}{{leaves}} (''German pack:'' Unter of leaves/Green Unter)
# Jack of hearts, {{cards|Jh}} or {{cards|Bh}} or {{color|red|'''U'''}}{{german Hearts}} (''German pack:'' Unter of hearts/Red Unter)
# Jack of diamonds, {{cards|Jd}} or {{cards|Bd|diamonds_color=orange}} or {{color|orange|'''U'''}}{{bell}} (''German pack:'' Unter of bells/Bell Unter)
# Ace of trumps
# 10 of trumps
# King of trumps
# Queen of trumps (''German pack:'' Ober)
# 9 of trumps
# 8 of trumps
# 7 of trumps

{{cards|Jc}} is the highest-ranking card in a suit game and is called in German ''der Alte'' ("the old man").

The non-trump suit cards are ranked A-10-K-Q-9-8-7 (or A-10-K-O-9-8-7 for the German pack respectively).

As mentioned above, the cards in the ''Skat'' are to be included when determining the multiplier game level (also in case of the ''Hand'' game, where the ''Skat'' is unknown until after the deal has been played out). During bidding, each player therefore has incomplete information regarding the true game value. The final game value is calculated by multiplying the base value for the suit by the multiplier game level:

===== Grand game =====
Grand game is a special case of suit game, in which only the Jacks are trumps in the same order as in the suit game:

# Jack of clubs, {{cards|Jc}} or {{cards|Bc}} or {{color|black|'''U'''}}{{acorns}}
# Jack of spades, {{cards|Js}} or {{cards|Bs|spades_color=green}} or {{color|green|'''U'''}}{{leaves}}
# Jack of hearts, {{cards|Jh}} or {{cards|Bh}} or {{color|red|'''U'''}}{{german Hearts}}
# Jack of diamonds, {{cards|Jd}} or {{cards|Bd|diamonds_color=orange}} or {{color|orange|'''U'''}}{{bell}}

All other cards are ranked the same as in a suit game: A-10-K-Q-9-8-7.

The base value for the grand game is 24 in the official rules. It used to be 20 until 1932, and many hobbyists continued to use 20 well into the postwar era.

All other rules for determining game value are as in a suit game, that is, the base value of 24 is multiplied by the multiplier game level.

===== Null game =====
In the null game, declarer promises not to take any tricks at all. There is no trump suit, 10s are sorted directly above 9s, and jacks are treated as normal suit cards sorted between 10 and queen. Thus the cards are ordered: A-K-Q-J-10-9-8-7. The game values of null games are fixed, as follows:

* 23 for a simple null game
* 35 for a ''Null Hand'' game (the ''Skat'' is not picked up by declarer)
* 46 for a ''Null Ouvert'' game (declarer plays with open cards)
* 59 for a ''Null Ouvert Hand'' game (combination of the above two)

===== Examples =====
The following examples give a player's holding and the contents of the ''Skat'' (which will be unknown to all players during the bidding) and explain how to derive the game value.

'''Example 1'''

:'''Holding''': {{cards|Jc|Jd|Ah|10h|Kh|8h|7h|9d|8d|7d}}
:'''Skat''': {{cards|As|Qs}}

The length of matador's jack straight will be 1 ({{cards|Jc}} is present, {{cards|Js}} is missing). The multiplier game level will be 2 (1 for matador's jack straight plus 1 for becoming declarer).

The possible game value now depends on which game is declared, for example:

* With hearts as trumps (base value is 10), the game value is 20 (10 × 2).
** If the ''Skat'' is not picked up, the game value is 30 (the multiplier game level increases from 2 to 3 for declaring ''Hand'').
** If declarer manages to win with at least 90 trick points, the game value will be 30 as well (the multiplier game level increases from 2 to 3 for achieving ''Schneider'').
* In the grand game (base value is 24), the game value will be 48 (24 × 2).

Of course, many other possibilities exist.

Note that game value is dependent not only on the cards held (including the ''Skat'') but also on which game is being declared and the outcome of the play. Each holding can thus be evaluated differently by different players. A risk-taking player might be willing to declare ''Hand'' on a holding on which another player might not—these two players will therefore give different valuations to the same holding. However, after all tricks have been played, it is always possible to determine the exact game value by combining the actual holding with the type of game and outcome of the play. Only then does it becomes apparent if declarer has won or lost (if the declarer overbid).

'''Example 2'''

:'''Holding''': {{cards|Jc|Js|Jh|Ah|10h|Kh|8h|7h|10c|7c}}
:'''Skat''': {{cards|Jd|Qs}}

Assuming a trump suit of hearts in a suit game, this holding will have a different valuation before and after the ''Skat'' has been examined.

Without knowledge of the ''Skat'' (assuming ''Hand'' is not declared)

* the multiplier game level is 4 (3 for the {{cards|Jc|Js|Jh}} straight, plus 1 for becoming declarer)
* the base value is 10 (for Hearts being the trump suit)

This holding can be safely valuated at 40 (10 × 4), regardless of the ''Skat''.  With Hearts as trump, the game value will always be at least that much.

Now, assuming declarer wins by taking 95 points in tricks, after having declared ''Hand'' and ''Schneider'', the actual game value will be as follows:

* The base value is 10 (for Hearts being the trump suit)
* The multiplier game level is 11
** 1 for becoming declarer
** 7 for the straight of {{cards|Jc|Js|Jh|Jd|Ah|10h|Kh}}
** 1 for declaring ''Hand''
** 1 for declaring ''Schneider''
** 1 for achieving ''Schneider'' (at least 90 points in tricks taken)
* The actual game value will be 110 (10 × 11)

The player could have bid up to that value (110) during the bidding.  In practice this would have been too risky because only {{cards|Jd}} in the ''Skat'' increased the length of matador's jack straight to 7.

'''Note:''' Most players will declare a grand game with the above hand, as it will be much more lucrative than a suit game in Hearts (declarer will concede at most two club tricks, probably achieving ''Schneider'' for a game value of at least 144 (24 × 6).

===== More examples =====
* {{cards|Jc|Js}}: with 2, plus 1 is 3.
* {{cards|Jc|Jh}}: with 1 (counting interrupted by the missing {{cards|Js}}), plus 1 is 2.
* {{cards|Jc|Js|Jh|Jd}} with 4, plus 1 is 5.
* {{cards|Jh|Jd}}: Without 2, plus 1 is 3.
* {{cards|Jh}} alone: This is also without 2 (counting is interrupted by the present {{cards|Jh}}), plus 1 is 3.

Now for the special cases: if you think you can do more than just win, you can add points for the special cases.

* {{cards|Jc|Js}}: With 2, plus 1 (game) plus 1 (for ''Hand'') is 4.
* {{cards|Jc|Js}}: With 2, plus 1 (game) plus 1 (for ''Schneider'') is 4.
* {{cards|Jc|Js}}: With 2, plus 1 (game) plus 1 (for ''Hand'') plus 1 (for ''Schneider'') plus 1 (for ''Schwarz'') is 6.
* {{cards|Jc|Js}}: With 2, game 3, ''Hand'' 4, ''Schneider'' 5, pre-declared ''Schneider'' 6, ''Schwarz'' 7, pre-declared ''Schwarz'' 8, ''Ouvert'' 9.

The highest possible multiplier game level is 18: that is with (or without) four jacks and all seven cards of trump suit (including those in the ''Skat'', if any) 11, plus the maximum of 7 for becoming declarer, ''Hand'', ''Schneider'', declaring ''Schneider'', ''Schwarz'', declaring ''Schwarz'' and ''Ouvert''. The lowest possible multiplier game level is 2: either with {{cards|Jc}}, or without {{cards|Jc}} and with {{cards|Js}} 1, plus 1 for becoming declarer.

==== Bidding mechanics ====
===== Order of bidding =====
The order of bidding is determined by the seating order. Starting from the left of the dealer players are numbered clockwise: the first seat ({{langx|de|Vorhand}}), the second seat ({{langx|de|Mittelhand}}) and the third seat ({{langx|de|Hinterhand}}). In a three-player game, the dealer will be the third seat.  In a four-player game the third seat will be to the right of the dealer.

Bidding starts by the player in second seat making a call to the player in first seat on which the latter can ''hold'' or ''pass''. If the first seat player holds, the second seat player can make a higher call or pass himself. This continues until either of the two players passes. The player in third seat is then allowed to continue making calls to the player who has not yet passed. Bidding ends as soon as at least two players have passed. It is also possible for all three players to pass.

The starting order can be memorized as “deal–respond–call–continue” ({{langx|de|"geben–hören–sagen–weitersagen"}}). The player who continues in this mnemonic is either the dealer (in a three-player game) or the player in third seat. The mnemonic is commonly used among casual players.

'''Example:''' Anna, Bernard and Clara are playing, and seated in that order around the table. Anna deals the cards. Clara makes the first call to Bernard, who passes right away. Anna then makes two more calls to Clara, who accepts both bids. Anna then passes as well. The bidding ends, with Clara being the declarer for this round.

===== Possible calls =====
The calling player (i.e. the player currently calling the bids) may either

* “pass”, leaving the bidding and forfeiting the chance to become declarer in this round, or
* bid any possible game value that is higher than the highest bid made so far in this round.

The responding player (i.e. the player currently responding to the bidder) may either

* “pass”, leaving the bidding and forfeiting the chance to become declarer in this round, or
* “accept” or "yes", staying in the bidding and waiting for further calls.
Responder must wait for caller to bid or pass before passing herself.

Except for "pass", only the possible game values are legal calls. Therefore, the lowest possible call is 18, which is the lowest possible game value in Skat. Players are free to skip intermediate values, although it is common to always pick the lowest available call while bidding.

The sequence of possible double digit game values, beginning with 18 is 18—20—22—23—24—27—30—33—35—36—40—44—45—46—48—50—54—55—59—60—63—66—70—72—77—80—81—84—88—90—96—99 (triple digit bids are possible albeit rare in a competitive bidding). Among German players the values representing null games, especially 23, the most common one, are often replaced by the call “null”. Also, numbers are frequently abbreviated by only calling the lower digit of a value not divisible by 10 (e.g. “two” instead of “22” or “five” instead of “45”); this is unambiguous if values are always called out in order and intermediate values never skipped, as is the custom. (As the German words for "null" and "zero" are identical, this yields the rather unintuitive sequence 18—20—2—0—4—7—30 and so on.)

===== Passing out =====
If all players pass, the hand is not played and the next dealer shuffles and deals. A dealer never deals twice in a row.

It is common in informal play to play a variant of Skat called ''Ramsch'' (junk, rummage) instead of skipping the hand and dealing for the next one. The objective in that variant is to make no ''trick'' as their points would score negatively. This is not part of the sanctioned rules, however.

In a pass-out game, the player in first seat will be the last one to pass. If that player intends to become declarer, however, he or she has to make a call of at least 18 (picking up the ''Skat'' in that situation implies the call).

===== Example bidding =====
Players Anna, Bernard and Clara are seated in that order, clockwise; Anna is the dealer. The bidding proceeds as follows:

# Clara: "18"
# Bernard: "Yes"
# Clara: "20"
# Bernard: "Yes"
# Clara: "22"
# Bernard: "Pass"
# Anna: "23"
# Clara: "Yes"
# Anna: "24"
# Clara: "Yes"
# Anna: "Pass"
 
On this deal, Clara will be declarer with a final bid of 24 (the highest accepted bid).