What is Ramsch?
In the standard game a deal always has a declarer: if middlehand and rearhand pass without a bid, forehand becomes the declarer and must play a game. With Ramsch, forehand has a choice. After the other two have passed, forehand may still bid 18 or more and play as usual, or pass too, and then the deal is played as a Ramsch.
In a Ramsch nobody declares and everyone plays for themselves. The four Jacks are the only trumps, in their usual order, and the other cards rank in each suit as in a Grand: Ace, 10, King, Queen, 9, 8, 7. Forehand leads, players must follow suit, and when a Jack is led everyone who holds a Jack must play one. The skat stays face down and goes to whoever takes the last trick.
At the end the player with the most card points loses that many points; players tied for the most all lose them. If someone took no trick at all (a Jungfrau), the loss is doubled. A player who takes every trick has made a Durchmarsch and wins 120 points instead, and nobody loses. In a single deal the Durchmarsch player wins, otherwise the player with the fewest card points.
Rule changes
| Rule | Standard Skat | Ramsch |
|---|---|---|
| When it is played | Standard SkatNever: every deal has a declarer. | RamschWhen all three players pass without a bid. |
| Forehand's last turn | Standard SkatIf middlehand and rearhand pass without a bid, forehand has to declare a game. | RamschForehand may bid 18 or more and declare as usual, or pass, which starts the Ramsch. |
| Trumps | Standard SkatSet by the declared game. | RamschThe four Jacks only, clubs highest. A Jack led must be followed with a Jack if you hold one. |
| The skat | Standard SkatThe declarer may take it, and its points count for the declarer. | RamschNobody looks at it; its points go to the player who takes the last trick. |
| Who loses | Standard SkatThe declarer wins or loses the game value. | RamschThe player with the most card points loses that many points. Players tied for the most all lose them. |
| Jungfrau | Standard SkatNot used. | RamschIf a player took no trick at all, the loss is doubled. |
| Durchmarsch | Standard SkatNot used; a declarer who takes every trick wins Schwarz. | RamschA player who takes every trick wins 120 points, and nobody loses anything. |
| Winner of a single deal | Standard SkatThe declarer if the game is won, otherwise a defender. | RamschThe Durchmarsch player, otherwise the player with the fewest card points. |
| Other options | Standard SkatKontra and Re, Bock rounds, tournament scoring, the number of rounds and a four-player table can be chosen. | RamschRamsch works with all of them. Kontra and Re are not used in a Ramsch deal. In a Bock round a Ramsch loss or a Durchmarsch counts double. With tournament scoring, a Ramsch deal is scored the same as without it: only the loser loses points. |
History
Ramsch is a game played when all three players pass in the bidding, not part of the sanctioned Skat rules but widely played in hobby rounds. Its aim is to take as few card points as possible, there is no declarer, the skat usually goes to the player who takes the last trick, a player who takes no tricks (Jungfrau, the virgin) doubles the loss, and a player who takes all the tricks wins the Ramsch.
There are several scoring methods. In simple Ramsch the loser pays a fixed amount, while in Augenramsch the loser pays the card points taken, and most players award 120 points to someone who takes every trick. The skat can go to one of three places: the last trick, the player with the most points, or nobody. This game uses Augenramsch with the skat going to the last trick.