Rulesets

Compare both rulesets rule by rule. Casual is the gentler start; Competitive is what ranked games use.

Match

Games per matchThe number of deals before the match ends.
Casual: 8
Competitive: 8
Compulsory solosEach player must complete one compulsory solo during the match.
Casual: No
Competitive: No

Cards and trump

Play with ninesOff means a 40-card game.
Casual: Yes
Competitive: Yes
Heart 10 tie (Differs between rulesets)Which Heart 10 wins when both are played to the same trick.
Casual: Second Heart 10 wins
Competitive: First Heart 10 wins

Special points

FoxesCapturing an opponent's diamond ace scores a special point.
Casual: Yes
Competitive: Yes
KarlchenWinning the last trick with the club jack scores a point.
Casual: Yes
Competitive: Yes
Doppelkopf trickA trick worth 40 or more card points scores an extra point.
Casual: Yes
Competitive: Yes
Lost Karlchen (Differs between rulesets)Losing the last trick with the club jack costs a point.
Casual: Yes
Competitive: No
Fox in the last trickTaking the last trick with a diamond ace scores a point.
Casual: No
Competitive: No

Reservations

WeddingWith both Queens of Clubs, announce a wedding. The first other player to win a trick within the first three tricks becomes your partner.
Casual: Yes
Competitive: Yes
Silent wedding (Differs between rulesets)A player with both club queens may play an undeclared diamond solo.
Casual: No
Competitive: Yes
Poverty (Differs between rulesets)With fewer than 4 trumps, you may pass cards and seek a partner.
Casual: Yes
Competitive: No
Illness (Schmeißen) (Differs between rulesets)Exceptionally weak hands can be thrown in and redealt.
Casual: Yes
Competitive: No
5 nines (Differs between rulesets)Five or more nines in one hand.
Casual: Yes
Competitive: Not in play
4 nines and 4 kings (Differs between rulesets)Exactly four nines and four kings.
Casual: Yes
Competitive: Not in play
7 kings and nines combined (Differs between rulesets)Seven or more nines and kings combined.
Casual: Yes
Competitive: Not in play
Solos (Differs between rulesets)Play alone against all three opponents with a special contract.
Casual: No
Competitive: Yes
Suit solos (Differs between rulesets)Allow clubs, spades, hearts, and diamonds as the trump suit.
Casual: Not in play
Competitive: Yes
Queen solo (Differs between rulesets)Allow a solo where only queens are trumps.
Casual: Not in play
Competitive: Yes
Jack solo (Differs between rulesets)Allow a solo where only jacks are trumps.
Casual: Not in play
Competitive: Yes
Ace / no-trump solo (Differs between rulesets)Allow a solo with no trumps.
Casual: Not in play
Competitive: Yes

House variants

Piglets (Differs between rulesets)Both diamond aces rank higher as trumps when held together.
Casual: Yes
Competitive: No
Super pigletsBoth diamond nines rank as extra-high trumps.
Casual: No
Competitive: No
Forced first-trick announcementA first trick worth 30 or more card points requires Re or Kontra.
Casual: No
Competitive: No
Mid-game announcementsPlayers may call Re, Kontra, No 90/60/30, and Schwarz during play for extra points.
Casual: Yes
Competitive: Yes

Official DDV rules

Competitive follows the Deutscher Doppelkopf-Verband (DDV) tournament rules. The DDV documents are authoritative.

Tournament uses these same official rules over 24 games and adds compulsory solos. Competitive omits compulsory solos because its match is shorter.

New to Doppelkopf?

The written guide explains the official DDV rules and common variations with examples and quizzes.

Read the guide

Want different rules?

Start from either ruleset and change any rule when you set up a game.