Klaberjass Card Game: Rules, Strategy, and Tips

Origins and Variations

Klaberjass, also known as Clabber, Klaverjas, Kalabrias, or Klaverjassen, is a two-player trick-taking card game that originated in the Low Countries. It is believed to have been played as early as the 17th century. The name “Klaberjass” is derived from the Dutch word “klaverjas,” which means “to play with the suit of clubs.”

The game has evolved over time, with variations developing in different regions. For example, in Hungary, Klaberjass is known as “klob,” and in Jewish communities throughout the world, it is a popular game. South African Jews have also embraced Klaberjass, and it has become an important part of their culture.

Klaberjass can be interpreted as a two-handed variant of Belote, and indeed, three-handed Belote can be played in exactly the same way. It is played with a 32-card pack, and the aim of the game is to score points by winning tricks. The game is won by the first player to reach a predetermined number of points.

One unique aspect of Klaberjass is that it includes guttural, Yiddishy terms for cards and plays. Players must count cards and pay close attention to their opponents’ moves to win. The game requires strategy, skill, and a bit of luck to succeed.

In summary, Klaberjass is a classic two-player card game that has its roots in the Low Countries. It has evolved over time, with variations developing in different regions. The game is popular in Jewish communities and has become an important part of South African Jewish culture. It requires strategy, skill, and a bit of luck to succeed.

Game Setup

Before you start playing Klaberjass, you need to set up the game. Here’s how to do it:

The Deck

To play Klaberjass, you need a 32-card deck. You can make one by removing the 2s through 6s from a standard deck of playing cards. The remaining cards are the 7s, 8s, 9s, 10s, Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Aces of each suit.

The Deal

In Klaberjass, the dealer shuffles the deck and deals out the cards in batches of three. The first batch goes to the non-dealer, the second to the dealer, the third to the non-dealer, and so on until all the cards have been dealt.

The Stack

After the deal, the remaining cards are placed in a stack in the middle of the table. This stack is used for drawing cards throughout the game.

Trump Suit

Before the game begins, the top card of the stack is turned over to determine the trump suit. The suit of this card becomes the trump suit for the duration of the game. If the turned-over card is a Jack, then the player who receives it can declare “I take the Jack” and swap it for any card in their hand.

That’s it! Now you’re ready to start playing Klaberjass.

Card Ranking and Point Values

In Klaberjass, the rank of cards is different from other card games. The cards are ranked as follows: 7, 8, 9, Jack, Queen, King, 10, Ace. However, in the trump suit, the ranking is different. The trump suit cards are ranked as follows: 7, 8, Queen, King, 10, Ace, 9, Jack.

Each card has a point value, and the point values are different for each card. The point values for each card are as follows:

Card	Point Value
7	0
8	0
9	0
Jack	2
Queen	3
King	4
10	10
Ace	11

As you can see, the 10 and Ace cards are the highest-scoring cards in the game. It is important to keep this in mind when deciding which cards to play.

During the auction phase of the game, players bid on which suit will be the trump suit for that round. The player who wins the auction gets to choose the trump suit. The trump suit cards have a higher point value than the non-trump suit cards.

It is important to note that the point values for the cards are only relevant if the player wins the trick. If a player loses the trick, they do not score any points for the cards they played.

Knowing the card ranking and point values is essential to playing Klaberjass effectively. Keep these in mind when deciding which cards to play and which suit to bid on during the auction phase.

Bidding Process

In Klaberjass, the bidding process determines the trump suit for the round. The player who bids the highest becomes the declarer and chooses the trump suit. The bidding process involves three stages: the mi, re, and pass.

Mi

The player to the left of the dealer starts the bidding process by announcing “mi” or “pass.” If they say “mi,” the next player to their left can either say “re” or “pass.” If they say “re,” the next player to their left can either say “mi” or “pass.” This continues until a player says “pass,” at which point the bidding ends.

Re

If a player says “re,” the previous player’s bid is raised by one. For example, if the first player says “mi,” and the second player says “re,” the bid becomes “2 mi.” The next player to the left can either say “re” again to raise the bid, or “pass” to end the bidding.

Pass

If a player says “pass,” they can no longer bid in that round. The bidding continues until all players except one have passed. The remaining player becomes the declarer and chooses the trump suit.

Face-up

In some variations of Klaberjass, the mi, re, and pass bids are made face-up on the table, allowing all players to see the current bid. This can add an element of strategy to the game, as players can use this information to decide whether to bid or pass.

The Role of Trumps

In Klaberjass, trump cards play a crucial role in determining which player wins the trick. The trump suit is decided at the beginning of the game, and it beats all other suits. The trump suit can be any of the four suits in the deck, and the trump card is the highest-ranking card of that suit.

When a player plays a trump card, it beats all other cards in the trick, including cards of higher rank in other suits. For example, if the trump suit is hearts, and a player plays the 7 of hearts, it will beat the Ace of spades or any other card of higher rank in other suits.

The highest-ranking trump card is the Jack, also known as the Jass. It is worth 20 points, followed by the 9, also known as the Manille, which is worth 14 points. The Ace, 10, King, Queen, 8, and 7 of trumps follow in descending order of value.

If a player does not have a card of the suit led, they can play any card, including a trump card. Trump cards can also be used to overtrump an opponent’s card in the trick. Overtrumping means playing a higher-ranking trump card than the one already played in the trick.

It is essential to use trump cards wisely, as they can either win or lose you the trick. Playing trump cards too early in the game can leave you vulnerable to your opponent’s high-ranking cards in other suits. On the other hand, holding onto trump cards for too long can result in missed opportunities to win tricks.

In summary, trump cards play a crucial role in Klaberjass. They can beat all other suits and can be used to overtrump opponents’ cards. However, it is important to use them wisely and strategically to win the game.

Game Play

Klaberjass is a two-player card game that uses a 32-card deck. The objective of the game is to be the first player to score 500 points. Each card has a point value and the player with the highest score at the end of the game wins.

Starting the Game

At the beginning of each round, the dealer shuffles the deck and deals three cards to each player. The next two cards are then placed face-down in the center of the table, followed by two more cards face-up on top of them. The suit of the face-up cards determines the trump suit for that round.

Playing the Game

The player who did not deal the cards leads the first trick by playing any card from their hand. The second player must then follow suit by playing a card from the same suit if they have one. If they do not have a card from the same suit, they can play any card from their hand.

The player who wins the trick leads the next one. The game continues in this manner until all nine tricks have been played.

Scoring Points

After all nine tricks have been played, players count the points in the tricks they have won. Each card has a point value as follows:

• Ace: 11 points
• Ten: 10 points
• King: 4 points
• Queen: 3 points
• Jack: 2 points
• Nine: 0 points
• Eight: 0 points
• Seven: 0 points

The player who wins the last trick earns an additional 10 points.

Winning the Game

The player who scores the most points in a round is the “maker” for the next round. If there is a tie, the player who won the last trick is the maker. The maker then chooses the trump suit for the next round.

The game continues until one player reaches 500 points or more. The player with the highest score at the end of the game wins.

Special Card Combinations

In Klaberjass, there are certain card combinations that can earn you extra points. These combinations are called sequences and marriages. Here’s what you need to know about them:

Sequences

A sequence is a combination of three or more cards of the same suit in a row. The best sequence is the seven, eight, and nine of trumps, which is worth 20 points. Other sequences are worth 10 points each. To score a sequence, you must declare it after winning a trick. If your opponent has a higher sequence, they can declare it and steal the points from you.

Marriages

A marriage is a combination of the king and queen of trumps. A marriage is worth 20 points and can only be declared by the player who holds both cards. If your opponent has a higher marriage, they can declare it and steal the points from you.

Best Sequence and Bella

The best sequence in the game is the seven, eight, and nine of trumps, which is worth 20 points. The second-best sequence is the eight, nine, and ten of trumps, which is worth 10 points. The third-best sequence is the nine, ten, and ace of trumps, which is also worth 10 points.

Bella is the name for the combination of the king and queen of trumps in your hand. If you have a bella, you can declare it after winning a trick and earn 20 points. If your opponent has a higher bella, they can declare it and steal the points from you.

In conclusion, knowing how to recognize and declare these special card combinations can give you an edge in Klaberjass. Keep an eye out for sequences and marriages, and don’t forget about the best sequence and bella. Good luck!

Scoring System

Scoring in Klaberjass is based on the number of points a player earns throughout the game. The goal is to accumulate as many points as possible, with the winner being the player with the most points at the end of the game.

Each card has a point value, with the Ace of trumps being the highest at 11 points, followed by the 10 of trumps at 10 points. The other trump cards are worth 3 points each, while non-trump cards are worth 0 points.

In addition to the point values of individual cards, there are also bonuses for certain combinations of cards. For example, if a player wins all the tricks in a hand, they earn a bonus of 250 points. If a player wins the last trick with the Ace of trumps, they earn a bonus of 10 points.

The game is typically played to a total of 500 points, with the first player to reach this threshold being declared the winner. However, if both players reach 500 points in the same hand, the game continues until the end of that hand, and the player with the most points at that time is declared the winner.

It is important to note that if both players have an equal number of points at the end of the game, the game is considered a draw.

Strategies and Tactics

When playing Klaberjass, there are a variety of strategies and tactics that you can employ to increase your chances of winning. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Know Your Opponent

One of the most important things you can do in Klaberjass is to pay attention to your opponent’s playing style. Are they aggressive or conservative? Do they tend to take or schmeiss more often? By observing their tendencies, you can adjust your own strategy accordingly.

Exchange Wisely

The exchange phase at the beginning of each round can be critical to your success in Klaberjass. Consider which cards you want to keep and which ones you want to pass to your opponent. Keep in mind that aces, tens, and nines are valuable cards that you may want to hold onto.

Take or Schmeiss?

When it comes to bidding, you have three options: take, pass, or schmeiss. If you have a strong hand, taking may be the best option, as you’ll have control over the trump suit. However, if your hand is weak, it might be better to pass or even schmeiss, depending on the situation.

Melding

During the melding phase, you’ll have the opportunity to score additional points by melding certain combinations of cards. Keep an eye out for opportunities to meld, but don’t get too caught up in it. Remember that your primary goal is to win tricks.

How High?

When leading a trick, you’ll need to decide how high to play. Generally speaking, it’s best to play your highest card if you think you can win the trick. However, there may be situations where playing a lower card strategically makes more sense.

Senserln and Zensa

Finally, keep in mind the importance of senserln and zensa. These are the bonuses awarded for winning the last trick and for winning all the tricks, respectively. If you’re in a position to win these bonuses, it can be worth taking some risks to do so. However, don’t sacrifice your overall strategy just to win senserln or zensa.

Variations of Klaberjass

Klaberjass is a popular two-player card game that has several variations. In some variations, the game is played with teams, while in others, it is played with non-trump suits. Here are some of the most popular variations of Klaberjass:

Jass

Jass is a Swiss variation of Klaberjass that is played with four players in teams of two. The game is played with a 36-card deck and has a unique scoring system. In Jass, the trump suit changes after every round, and players must keep track of the trump suit to score points.

Klob

Klob is a Hungarian variation of Klaberjass that is played with four players in teams of two. The game is played with a 32-card deck and has a unique scoring system. In Klob, players must win the last trick to score points.

Clob

Clob is a Dutch variation of Klaberjass that is played with four players in teams of two. The game is played with a 32-card deck and has a unique scoring system. In Clob, players must win the first trick to score points.

Belote

Belote is a French variation of Klaberjass that is played with four players in teams of two. The game is played with a 32-card deck and has a unique scoring system. In Belote, players must win the last trick to score points.

Skat

Skat is a German variation of Klaberjass that is played with three players. The game is played with a 32-card deck and has a unique scoring system. In Skat, players must bid on the trump suit and the number of tricks they think they can win.

Schmeiss

Schmeiss is a German variation of Klaberjass that is played with four players in teams of two. The game is played with a 32-card deck and has a unique scoring system. In Schmeiss, players must win the last trick to score points.

Dix

Dix is an American variation of Klaberjass that is played with two players. The game is played with a 24-card deck and has a unique scoring system. In Dix, players must win the last trick to score points.