Objective of the Game
Schocken (also known as "Jule" or "Maxchen") is a fun dice game where the goal is to have as few beer coasters (or chips) by the end of the game as possible. Often played as a drinking game, it is also enjoyable without involving alcohol.
Setup
- A table
- Three dice
- About 13 beer coasters per player (or comparable chips)
- At least 2 players are required, with no theoretical limit, but 4 to 6 players are optimal.
Gameplay
1. Starting a Round
- The first player is determined (e.g., by rolling the dice).
- Each player receives an equal number of beer coasters.
2. Rolling Phase
- The player rolls all three dice.
- Each player has a total of three rolls per round but can stop voluntarily after the first or second roll if satisfied with the current result.
- After each roll, the player can choose to reroll any of the three dice.
3. Scoring and Penalties
- Dice are combined into a point score: the highest dice acts as hundreds, the second-highest as tens. Example: 6-4-2 results in 642.
- Combinations: Special combinations have higher precedence than regular numbers:
- Jule or Schock Royal (1-1-1): Unbeatable, instantly wins the round.
- General (3 identical numbers, not 1-1-1): High value but below Schock Royal.
- Straße (straight, e.g., 2-3-4, 3-4-5, 4-5-6): Less valuable than generals but more than single numbers.
- The round's loser (lowest point value) receives beer coasters as a penalty. The amount is predetermined or set to 1 depending on agreement.
Strategic Tips
- Maximize combinations: If you have pairs (e.g., 5-5-x), aim for a three of a kind.
- Risk assessment: Decide between securing low numbers or risking high combinations based on your position in the game.
- Coaster management: Try to control when you receive penalties and plan your strategy accordingly.
End of the Game
- The game ends when a player has lost all their coasters. Typically, multiple rounds are played, and the player with the most coasters at the end of all rounds is declared the overall winner.
