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Bauernschnapsen online: The Austrian classic for four, free in your browser

Play Bauernschnapsen with a partner against two, with the real William Tell cards and the rules of the Austrian Wirtshaus: call trump on three cards, announce a Bettler or a Bauer, and reach 66 together.

Play Bauernschnapsen now Bauernschnapsen rules

Free, no download and no ads. On any phone, tablet or computer, in English or German.

Your hand

You call trump

Herz Ass
Herz König
Herz Ober
Eichel Ass
Schelle Zehn
Three cards, then trump. You are the forehand and see the Herz Ass, König and Ober first, so you call Herz. Lead the König or the Ober and announce 40: it counts once your side has a trick.

Ways to play

Bauernschnapsen against the computer, with friends, or with anyone

  • Against the computer

    Georg is your partner, Franz and Mitzi play against you, and all three call in Austrian voices. Choose Easy, Medium or Hard: on Easy and Medium only your opponents make mistakes, never your partner. Free, as often as you like, and your match is saved.

  • With friends

    Start a table, send the five-letter code, and up to three friends join from their phone or computer, in the browser or the app. Play as partners or against each other: the computer takes any empty seat, and your friends play free.

  • With anyone

    Play with anyone puts you at a table with players from anywhere, and the computer takes any seat still empty after a short wait. The server deals and checks every card, so nobody can cheat or see your hand.

  • The Daily Deal

    Every day the same five hands of Bauernschnapsen for everyone, against the computer on Hard. Play them, see where you stand on the day’s board and share your result.

Bauernschnapsen rules

How Bauernschnapsen is played

Twenty cards, four players, two against two, and one goal: 66 card points for your side.

Two against two
You and your partner sit opposite each other, with your opponents on either side. Your card points count together, so every trick your partner takes is yours too.
The cards
Ass, Zehner, König, Ober and Unter in four suits: Herz, Schelle, Eichel and Blatt. All 20 are dealt, three and then two each, so there is no talon. In a trick they count 11, 10, 4, 3 and 2 card points.
Trump on three cards
The forehand looks at their first three cards and calls trump. Or they say Auf: their fourth card is turned up for everyone, and its suit is trump.
Bigger games
Once all five cards are dealt, each player may announce a bigger game: Bettler (5 game points), Schnapser (6, the forehand only), Gangl (9), Zehnerloch (10) or Bauer (12). Before the first card a defender may call Spritzer to double it, and the other side may answer Retour.
Follow suit, head the trick
From the first card you must follow suit and beat the best card so far if you can. With none of the suit led, you must trump, and overtrump if you can.
66, then 24
In the Rufer the first side to 66 card points wins the hand: 1 game point, 2 if the others stay under 33, 3 if they take no trick. First to 24 game points wins the Bummerl; win two and the match is yours.

The full Bauernschnapsen rules, step by step

Play Bauernschnapsen

Questions

Bauernschnapsen online: questions and answers

  • Can I play Bauernschnapsen online for free?

    Yes. Bauernschnapsen against the computer is free in your browser, as often as you like, with no download and no ads. Joining a friend’s table is free too; starting an online table takes Premium.

  • Can I play Bauernschnapsen against the computer?

    Yes: the computer plays your partner and both opponents, on Easy, Medium or Hard. Each computer player sees only its own cards and plays by the same rules as you.

  • How do I play Bauernschnapsen online with friends?

    Open the game, tap Play online and start a table: you get a five-letter code. Up to three friends open the game on their phone or computer and join with the code, and the computer plays any empty seat. Playing online needs a free account; the iPhone, iPad and Mac apps play at the same tables.

  • Which rules does it use?

    Bauernschnapsen as it is played at Austrian tables: 20 cards, three and then two each, the forehand calls trump on three cards or says Auf, you must follow suit and head the trick, bigger games from Bettler to Bauer, Spritzer and Retour, the Farbringerl, and the first side to 24 wins the Bummerl. The full rules are on Learn to play.

  • Does it work on my phone?

    Yes, on any phone, tablet or computer with a modern browser. On an iPhone you can add it to your Home Screen and play it full screen. The apps for Mac and Apple TV are free in the App Store, and the apps for iPhone and iPad are coming soon.

  • What is the difference between Bauernschnapsen and Schnapsen?

    Bauernschnapsen is for four, two against two: all cards are dealt, the forehand calls trump and bigger games can be announced. Schnapsen is for two, with a talon to draw from and the first to 7 game points winning. Both are here, with the same cards.

  • Is Bauernschnapsen the same as Viererschnapsen?

    Yes, Viererschnapsen is another name for it: Schnapsen for four, partners opposite, all cards in play. Every region has its own names and special games, and the bigger games from Bettler to Bauer are the ones most tables know.

Your seat is free

Bauernschnapsen for four, free in your browser. Georg, Franz and Mitzi are already at the table.

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