Not Zwanziger-Rufen? Well, it is true that in all but one reference that I have found to the game, it is called Zwanziger-Rufen. However, years ago, when I mentioned the game to my housemate Dagmar, her eyes widened with disapproval and she said “but there is NO such word!” So, for purely personal reasons, this is Zwanzig-Rufen.
This four player game is not complicated and makes another fine introduction to the family. It is unusual in that it is uses just 40 cards, though this is perhaps its weakness also - with more trumps than regular suit cards, a lot more is left to chance.
Michael Dummett states that the order of play is clockwise, however, I have seen an Austrian internet source that states it to be counter-clockwise. I’ll leave it to you to decide but if only for continuity, I stick to counter-clockwise. There are heaps of variations on this game, so once more, I’ve chosen those that seemed to play best to me.
Cards
This is usually played with a French suited pack with The II and III of trumps and all but one of the pips removed in each suit and using irrational ranking.
There are 20 trumps numbered I, IV-XXI with the highest trump, the Fool, un-numbered.
Swords & Batons / Spades & Clubs
K, Q, C, V, 10
Cups & Coins / Hearts & Diamonds
K, Q, C, V, 1
Card values are:
The cards are counted individually, totaling 88 points. Declarer’s side must make 45 points or more to win the hand.
Deal
First Dealer is chosen at random, deal then moves to the right after each hand. There is no stock, so each player is dealt two packets of 5 cards.
Announcements
There are only two announcements and these are made along with a player’s bid. If outbid by another player, then the announcement is void. The Pagat may be announced without a bid under a special condition explained under the bid Rufer.
Pagat Ultimo: Player contracts to win the last trick with the Pagat. Scores 4
Slam: Player contracts to win every trick. Scores 12
Both of these can be won by any player unannounced but will only score half.
Bidding
Beginning with Eldest, each player has the chance to bid to be Declarer or to pass. Eldest however, is obliged to make a bid.
Rufer: Effectively, this is only open to Eldest to make. It is bid by calling the highest trump below XXI that the bidder doesn’t have. The holder of that card will be partner for the game though they cannot announce themselves except by announcing a Pagat Ultimo. Scores 1 point.
Farbensolo: Declarer must play alone but trumps lose their ability to ‘trump’, and become an ordinary suit. However, the rules of play do not change and they must be played if a player cannot follow suit. Obviously, the Pagat Ultimo cannot be announced with Farbensolo. Scores 2 points.
Solo: Declarer plays alone. Scores 4 points.
During and after bidding, any player may call “contra” to any bid or announcement to double its score. Any other player may then call “re-contra” to double again, and then reply “sub-contra” to double once more.
Bonuses
There are two bonuses for having certain cards in your hand, these are not declared but are claimed after the hand has been played.
If a Farbensolo is being played, then a player may score 1 bonus point for having had all four Kings.
If any other bid is played, then a player may score 1 bonus point for having had all three Honours.
Scoring
Bonuses are paid by each of the other players. If a game is won then the defenders each pay Declarer’s side, if lost, then Declarer’s side pays each of the defenders. Announcements, if won are paid by each of the defenders, if lost, then to each of the defenders.
