What is Tournament scoring?
In the standard game only the declarer's score changes: a won game adds its value, a lost game takes away twice its value, and the defenders score nothing. Tournament scoring, known as the Seeger-Fabian system, adds fixed points so that every game is worth playing and a lost game also rewards the other players.
A won game scores its value plus 50 points. A lost game costs twice its value plus 50 more. When the declarer loses, each of the other players gains 40 points at a table of three, or 30 points at a table of four, where the dealer, who sits the deal out, gains them too. These points are kept on a tournament sheet beside the ordinary scores, and the player with the highest tournament total wins.
The Play button sets up 12 rounds, an official list of 36 deals at a table of three or 48 at a table of four; fewer rounds can be chosen in the setup for a shorter game. With a fourth seat at the table, the dealer of each deal gets no cards and the deal passes to the left, so everyone sits out in turn.
Rule changes
| Rule | Standard Skat | Tournament scoring |
|---|---|---|
| A won game | Standard SkatScores its game value. | Tournament scoringScores its game value plus 50. |
| A lost game | Standard SkatCosts twice the game value. | Tournament scoringCosts twice the game value plus 50. |
| The other players | Standard SkatScore nothing. | Tournament scoringWhen the declarer loses, each gains 40 at a table of three, or 30 at a table of four, the dealer included. |
| Kontra, Re and Bock | Standard SkatNot used unless switched on. | Tournament scoringWhen switched on they double only the game value, never the 50, 40 or 30 points. |
| Ramsch deals | Standard SkatNo Ramsch is played. | Tournament scoringWith Ramsch on, a Ramsch deal scores as without tournament scoring: only the loser loses points, and a Durchmarsch wins 120. |
| Winner | Standard SkatThe declarer if the game is won, otherwise a defender. | Tournament scoringOver several deals, the highest tournament total; a tie for first is a draw. |
| Four players | Standard SkatThree players, all of whom play every deal. | Tournament scoringAlso playable at four: the dealer gets no cards, sits the deal out, and the deal passes to the left. |
| Length | Standard SkatA single deal. | Tournament scoringAny number of rounds; 12 rounds is an official list of 36 deals at three players or 48 at four. |
History
A scoring system proposed by Otto Seeger was introduced in 1936. It gave the declarer 50 points for every game won, so that lost games could be made up more quickly. At the 18th Skat congress in 1962 it was supplemented by a proposal by Johannes Fabian, which added points for the opponents and the dealer when a game is lost. The extended system remains the basis of official tournament Skat: a lost game costs 50 points plus twice its value, and the opponents gain 40 points each at a three-player table, or 30 each, the dealer included, at a four-player table.
Tournaments seat four players at a table wherever possible, playing 48 deals in a session, while tables of three play 36. With four at the table, the dealer deals to the other three only and takes no part in the hand.