Jass (Schieber) – Rules

Play Jass (Schieber) against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? The Schieber is Switzerland's most popular form of Jass. The player whose turn it is chooses trumps – or “pushes” (schieben) the choice to their partner. The trump jack (Puur) and the trump nine (Nell) are the strongest cards. On top of that, sequences and sets in your hand (Weis) score points.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 36 cards, Swiss-German pack (bells, roses, shields, acorns) or French pack (diamonds, hearts, spades, clubs).
• Ranks per suit: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (banner), Under (jack), Ober (queen), king, ace.
• Ranking and points:

• Total: All cards together are worth 152 points, plus 5 for the last trick = 157.
• Face up and face down: Hand cards concealed, tricks face down with the team.
• Extra material: Jass board or pen and paper.

3. Preparation and start

1. Teams: Partners sit opposite each other.
2. Shuffle and cut: The dealer shuffles, the neighbour cuts.
3. Deal: Everyone gets 9 cards, usually in three packets of three.
4. First deal: Whoever holds the 7 of roses (or hearts) is forehand. After that forehand passes round in turn.
5. Choosing trumps: Forehand chooses trumps, Obenabe or Undenufe – or says “I push”. Then their partner must choose.
6. Start: Forehand always leads to the first trick, even if the partner chose.

Start example: Player 4 holds the 7 of roses and is forehand. His cards are weak, so he pushes. Player 1 is his partner and chooses roses as trumps. Player 4 leads.

4. Goal and winning

• A deal: Each team counts the points of its tricks, Weis and Stöck.
• Game: The first team to reach 1000 points wins. Stöck and Weis are counted before the tricks – a team that reaches 1000 with them can claim the win before the tricks are counted.
• Tie: Practically impossible; otherwise play another deal.

5. Play in detail

Contracts.

• Trumps: One suit is trumps with the ranking above.
• Obenabe (top down): No trumps, the ace is highest; eights score 8 points.
• Undenufe (bottom up): No trumps, the six is highest (11 points), the ace scores 0; eights score 8.

A trick.

1. The leader plays any card.
2. The others must follow suit if they can.
3. Trumping is always allowed: You may play a trump even if you could follow suit.
4. No under-trumping: If a trump is already in the trick, you may not play a lower trump – unless you hold only trumps.
5. Puur exception: When trumps are led and your only trump is the Puur, you don't have to play it.
6. If you can't follow suit you may discard any card.
7. The highest trump wins, otherwise the highest card of the suit led. The winner leads next.

Weis (declarations). At the first trick everyone declares their highest Weis. Only the team with the highest Weis scores all its Weis.

Example with Players 1 to 4. Players 1 and 4 against Players 2 and 3; roses are trumps. Order: Player 4, 3, 1, 2.

1. Weis: Player 1 holds the 10, Under, Ober and king of shields – four in sequence (50). Player 3 declares three in sequence (20). Player 1's Weis is higher, so his team scores 50.
2. First trick: Player 4 leads the king of bells. Player 3 has no bells and trumps with the 8 of roses.
3. Player 1 still has the 10 of bells – but he may trump anyway. He plays the Under of roses (Puur) and over-trumps Player 3.
4. Player 2 follows with the 6 of bells. Trick to Player 1: king 4 + eight 0 + Puur 20 + six 0 = 24 points.
5. Player 1 leads to the second trick.

6. Scoring

• Recording: On the Jass board or on paper, one column per team.
• End: As soon as a team reaches 1000 points.

7. Special rules and situations

• Pushing: Only forehand may push, and only once; the partner must then choose.
• Equal Weis: With equal length the higher card wins, then the trump Weis, otherwise forehand.
• Showing Weis: The winning side shows its Weis at the second trick.
• Stöck: A player with king and Ober of trumps says “Stöck” when playing the second of them.
• Revoke: The opponents are credited with the points of the deal (usually 157).
• Misdeal: Deal again.
• Common mistakes: under-trumping; forgetting that trumping is allowed even when you can follow; declaring Weis too late.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: Schieber with four, trumps/Obenabe/Undenufe, game to 1000, no multipliers.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play the Schieber with the player opposite as your partner, using the German pack (acorns, leaves, hearts, bells). Target 1000, 1500 or 2500 points; multipliers (bells/leaves ×2, Obenabe/Undenufe ×3) can be switched on.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Count Puur and Nell: Remember whether these two have been played.
2. Pushing is smart: With weak cards let your partner choose.
3. Obenabe with aces: Many aces and kings call for Obenabe.
4. Feed points: When your partner is winning the trick, add tens or aces.
5. Last trick: It brings 5 extra points – keep a strong card.
6. Draw trumps: With many trumps, lead them early.
7. Don't forget Weis: 20 points for three in sequence are easily lost.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 36 cards, 4 players in two teams.
2. Everyone gets 9 cards.
3. Forehand chooses trumps, Obenabe, Undenufe or pushes.
4. Forehand leads.
5. Follow suit; trumping is always allowed.
6. Don't under-trump; you never have to play the Puur.
7. Puur 20, Nell 14, ace 11, ten 10, king 4, Ober 3.
8. Declare Weis at the first trick; only the highest Weis counts.
9. Last trick +5, all tricks = match 257.
10. First team to 1000 points wins.

11. Frequently asked questions

May I trump although I could follow suit?

Yes. In Jass trumping is always allowed. Only under-trumping is forbidden.

Must I play the Puur?

No. If the Puur is your only trump, you don't have to play it even when trumps are led.

Who may push?

Only forehand. The partner must then choose and may not push back.

Why don't my Weis count?

Only the team with the highest Weis scores its Weis. The other team gets nothing.

How many points are there per deal?

157 (152 card points plus 5 for the last trick), 257 for a match.

Can you play Jass with French cards?

Yes. That's common in western Switzerland: jack instead of Under, queen instead of Ober.

Origin & history

Jass probably came to Switzerland with mercenaries from the Netherlands in the 18th century. Typical is the promotion of the trump Jack (Puur) and trump Nine (Nell). The Schieber is the most common form today; Jass playing is considered part of Switzerland’s intangible cultural heritage.