I’m not a fan of two player games generally and you won’t find many here. However, this one is rather fun and well worth learning for when you’re short a player or for those occasions when three would be a crowd.
Cards
The 54 card Austrian pack consists of 22 trump cards numbered I-XXI and the Fool, which is the highest trump. There are then 8 cards in each of the four suits, using irrational ranking:
Swords & Batons / Spades & Clubs
K, Q, C, V, 10, 9, 8 , 7
Cups & Coins / Hearts & Diamonds
K, Q, C, V, 1, 2, 3, 4
The card values are:
Cards are counted in groups of three, subtracting 2 points for each group, two odd empty cards count for 1 and one odd empty card counts for nothing. There are 70 points in the pack and a player needs 36 card points or more to win a hand.
Deal
First Dealer is chosen at random, players take turns after. Each is dealt three packets of 5 cards and has a further three packets of 4 cards dealt in three separate piles in front of them. These piles are called the Straw Men.
Bidding
Players examine their hands and starting with Eldest may either bid “I’ll Play” or pass. Bidding stops when a bid is made. If both pass, play still continues but the hand is only worth 2 game points. If a player has bid to be Declarer, then the hand is worth 3 points to Declarer if won but 4 points to the defender if lost.
The Straw Men
Each player now turns the top card of each Straw Man face up. If an exposed card is a King or a trump, the player takes it into his/her hand and turns face up the next card on the pile. This is repeated until either the Straw Men are gone (which is rare but can happen) or the exposed cards are all suit cards below the value of King. Players may not take a card into their hand until their opponent has seen it.
The exposed cards are still counted as part of the player’s hand and are subject to the usual rules of play. When a Straw Man card is played to a trick, the next card on the pile is exposed. As per usual, if it is a King or trump, the player takes it into his/her hand and exposes the next card.
Play
If both players passed, then Dealer’s opponent leads to the first trick. Otherwise it is Declarer. Players must follow suit if they can or play a trump if they cannot. If they cannot do neither, then they may play any card - though it will not win.
All 27 tricks are played out and then the card points counted to determine the winner.
Bonuses
This is where there is most variation in the rules, sometimes suggested bonuses just don’t work in a two player game, however, this selection seems to work well in practice. However, none of them may be announced!
With 45: If Declarer takes at least 45 card points. Scores 4
With 26: If Declarer takes 26 card points or less: Scores 5 for the defender
Slam: All tricks are taken. Scores 12
The Birds: All score 1 point
Pagat Ultimo: Wins last trick with the Pagat.
An Owl: Wins the penultimate trick with the II
A Cockatoo: Wins the antepenultimate trick with the III
Rostopschin: This is a fun bonus for taking consecutive tricks with the XVII and the XVIII of trumps. To win it, you must call “Ros” when playing the XVII to a trick and then “Topschin” when playing the XVIII. Scores 1 point
