Objective
Watten is a traditional card game primarily played in Bavaria and Austria. The goal of the game is to win tricks to reach a predefined score, typically 15 points, before the other players or teams do.
Components
The game uses a Bavarian deck of 32 cards. This deck consists of the following cards: Ace, King, Ober, Unter, 10, 9, 8, 7 in the suits of Acorns, Leaves, Hearts, and Bells.
Number of Players
Watten is usually played with four players, forming two teams. However, it can also be played with two or six players.
Setup
- Teams are established and each team sits opposite each other.
- A dealer is decided, and the cards are shuffled thoroughly.
- Cards are dealt clockwise, with each player receiving five cards.
Rules
- Trump Selection: The first player to play selects a trump suit and a "Schlagkarte" (best card in the current game), which only they know.
- The hierarchy of cards within the trump suit is: Schlag ("Schneids"), Trump Ober, Trump Unter, Ace, King, Ober, Unter, Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven.
- The tricks are then played. Players must follow the suit of the first card played if possible, or trump it.
Scoring
- The team that wins the last trick receives an additional point, unless the game is "Schneider" (opposing team wins no tricks).
- A team wins the round if it wins the majority of the tricks.
- Each won round grants the team one point.
Strategic Tips
- Choosing the Schlagkarte wisely is crucial to dominate the tricks or mislead the opponents.
- Psychological tactics are important, as the opposing team will try to guess which card is the "Schlag" to play optimally.
- As the rules and nuances can vary regionally, it is helpful to establish specific rules before starting the game.
