Oma Skat or Grandmother's Skat (in German, also ''Blinden-Skat'' or ''Skat mit totem Mann'')
[ is a variation of the ]card game
A card game is any game using playing cards as the primary device with which the game is played, be they traditional or game-specific.
Countless card games exist, including families of related games (such as poker). A small number of card ...
, '' Skat'', for two players. It is especially popular in the Lüneburg Heath
Lüneburg Heath (german: Lüneburger Heide) is a large area of heath, geest, and woodland in the northeastern part of the state of Lower Saxony in northern Germany. It forms part of the hinterland for the cities of Hamburg, Hanover and Bremen a ...
area of north Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
,[''Skatabwandlungen für zwei Spieler'']
at www.paradisi.de. Retrieved 4 Jun 2018. but is also played in other parts of Germany, albeit sometimes under other, regional names.
The game is usually played when a third player is unavailable, but also to introduce beginners to the Germany's most popular card game, as it is easier to play than conventional Skat.
Rules
Oma Skat is played like normal Skat, except that the third player is a hidden stack of cards (the "Oma" or "grandmother")[ from which, for each trick, the top card is turned and played to the trick; clearly, therefore, Oma does not have to follow suit. Oma always chooses to "pass" during the bidding phase, i.e. she does not bid against the two players. The players must therefore outbid each other and work out who goes first.][ So Oma always plays with one of the players against his or her opponent. Otherwise the usual Skat rules apply.][ This creates situations that would not occur in normal Skat. For example it is very difficult in Oma Skat to win a "null" game (to win no tricks) because Oma does not have to follow suit.
]
Variation
A variation is that, in each trick, the Oma card is just given to the player who wins the (two-card) trick.
at catsatcards.com. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
See also
* Skat terminology
References
External links
''Oma Skat''
rules in English at catsatcards.com.
Skat (card game)
Two-player card games
German deck card games
Point-trick games
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