Brandeln is an historical
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 ...
for four players in which three play against a soloist. It is one of the earliest games to use the terms
Bettel – a contract to lose every trick – and
Mord - a contract to win every trick. One of several card games mastered by
Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his ra ...
, Brandeln is still current in
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
and
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 ...
today. It has been described as having a "civilized, refined and ingenious character" and "one of the most pleasant card games".
Parlett Anglicized the name to Brandle and agrees that it is "a delightful German
Nap
A nap is a short period of sleep, typically taken during daytime hours as an adjunct to the usual nocturnal sleep period. Naps are most often taken as a response to drowsiness during waking hours. A nap is a form of biphasic or polyphasic sl ...
equivalent".
[Parlett (2008), p. 113]
Name
Brandeln simply means "playing
he game ofBrandel". Historically the game was also referred to as Brandl, Brändeln, Stichbrändeln, Stichbrandl, Brandelspiel, Brannten or even Betteln.
[ According to Schmid, ''Brandeln'' was "a certain card game" and ''bräntelen'' or ''bräselen'' meant to smell of fire or to be suspicious. Schmeller confirms that ''brändeln'' means to smell of fire, but adds that it also means to make money or to "play a type of card game" and gives the alternative name of ''stichbrändeln''. ''Brand'' is, of course, German for "fire".
]
History
Rulemann tells us that Brandeln was played by troops during the Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history
The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (80 ...
(1618–48) and by soldiers under Frederick the Great
Frederick II (german: Friedrich II.; 24 January 171217 August 1786) was King in Prussia from 1740 until 1772, and King of Prussia from 1772 until his death in 1786. His most significant accomplishments include his military successes in the Sil ...
during the Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754 ...
(1756–63).[Rulemann (1909), p. 286] In 1722, Johann Nikolaus Weislinger makes an apparent reference to it in his work ''Friß Vogel oder stirb!'', published in Strasbourg
Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...
.[_ (1831)]
"Ueber das Alter eines deutschen Kartenspiels"
in ''Augsburger Magazin für Unterhaltung in Belehrung.'' 27 February 1831. p. 67.
It was certainly widespread enough to be banned as a gambling game in 1765[Löwenwolde (1781), pp. 258/259] and 1851[Koeppel (1851), p. 540] (as ''Brannten'') in the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
and to be listed in a 1795 Swabian dictionary. Its popularity is also suggested by an 1805 musical play, where it is the chief pastime of the princess, Antiope, who likens the game to love, but in another contemporary account it is scorned as a "game for tailors".[Richter (1798), p. 25] Other sources confirm that it was played by farmers, peasants and coachmen.
Schmeller's 1827 Bavarian Dictionary tells us that ''Brändeln'' or ''Stichbrändeln'' is a "type of card game in which you announce the number of tricks you want to take". In 1829, the earliest known ruleset is recorded in the ''Neuestes Allgemeines Spielbuch'' which states that its origin is uncertain, but that it is a thoroughly German game whose features were adopted by some of the "newer French and English games" and even by Ombre
Ombre (, pronounced "omber") or l'Hombre is a fast-moving seventeenth-century trick-taking card game for three players and "the most successful card game ever invented."
Its history began in Spain around the end of the 16th century as a four-pe ...
. Despite this claim of German origin, all the earliest references to it are Austrian. The game is the earliest record of the contracts known as ''Brand'', ''Mord'' and ''Bettel'', which found their way into the three-hand games of Bolachen
Bolachen (the stress is on the second syllable; the "e" is also sounded) is a traditional card game for 3 players that is played in Upper Bavaria. It is threatened by extinction.
History
The origin of Bolachen is not exactly clear; today, it is ...
and Wallachen
Wallachen is an Old Bavarian card game which used to be very popular in eastern Bavaria. 10 > 9 > 8 > 7.
Trumps
In the normal game, the card led to the first trick determines the trump suit for the hand. Within the trump suit cards rank as sho ...
, which may be derivatives. The terms ''Mord'' and/or ''Bettel'' also appear in other Bavarian card games, such as Grasobern
Grasobern, Grasoberl, Grasoberln, Graseberla, Grünobern, Lauboberl or Laubobern is a card game that was once commonly played in Old Bavaria, especially in the old counties of Bad Aibling and Landkreis Rosenheim, Rosenheim, and is still popular in ...
, Herzla
Herzla or Herzl'n is a Bavarian, reverse trick-taking, card game for 4 players in which the aim is to avoid taking any Hearts. There is a simpler variant for children and adults that may be played by 3-8 players.
History
Herzla is reported as b ...
and Schafkopf
Schafkopf (), also called Bavarian Schafkopf, is a popular German Trick-taking game, trick-taking card game of the Ace-Ten family for four players that evolved, towards the end of the 19th century, from German Schafkopf. It is still very popular i ...
. At least one source refers to Préférence
Préférence, frequently spelt Preference, is a Central and Eastern European 10-card plain-trick game with bidding, played by three players with a 32-card Piquet deck, and probably originating in early 19th century Austria, becoming the second mos ...
being played with Bettel and Mord.
In 1849, we hear that, at the ball, the ladies of Linz
Linz ( , ; cs, Linec) is the capital of Upper Austria and third-largest city in Austria. In the north of the country, it is on the Danube south of the Czech border. In 2018, the population was 204,846.
In 2009, it was a European Capital of ...
will "play Tarock
Tarot games are card games played with tarot decks, that is, decks with numbered permanent trumps parallel to the suit cards. The games and decks which English-speakers call by the French name Tarot are called Tarocchi in the original Italian, ...
or Brandel and drink punch," but by 1908 it was "very rarely played."[ Nevertheless it must have been still popular in Bohemia because from 1895 to around 1920 German-suited, Bohemian Brandl cards (''Böhmische Brandl Deutsche Karten Nr. 61'') were produced, the known manufacturers being ]Piatnik
Wiener Spielkartenfabrik Ferd. Piatnik & Söhne, commonly referred to as Piatnik, is an Austrian playing card and board game manufacturing company based in Vienna.
History
The company was founded in 1824 by the card manufacturer Anton Moser (178 ...
and Glanz. These double-headed cards came in 36-card packs, presumably to give them a more universal appeal.
Brandeln has been regularly published in German and Austrian games compendia from 1829 until the present. The game is still found in parts of Austria, for example, in Koglhof
Koglhof is a former municipality in the district of Weiz in the Austrian state of Styria. Since the 2015 Styria municipal structural reform
The Styria municipal structural reform (German: ''Steiermärkische Gemeindestrukturreform'') was a local ...
.
Rules
Cards
The game is played with 28 cards from a 32-card deck of French-suited playing cards
French-suited playing cards or French-suited cards are cards that use the French suits of (clovers or clubs ), (tiles or diamonds ), (hearts ), and (pikes or spades ). Each suit contains three or four face/court cards. I ...
with the 8s removed. The earliest rules mention that either French or German-suited cards
German-suited playing cards are a very common style of traditional playing card used in many parts of Central Europe characterised by 32- or 36-card packs with the suits of Acorns (''Eichel'' or ''Kreuz''), Leaves (''Grün'', ''Blatt'', ''Lau ...
may be used.
Ranking
In the trump suit
A trump is a playing card which is elevated above its usual rank in trick-taking games. Typically, an entire suit is nominated as a ''trump suit''; these cards then outrank all cards of plain (non-trump) suits. In other contexts, the terms ''trum ...
the Jack and the Seven are the highest trumps; the ranking runs thus: Jack > Seven > Ace > King > Queen > Ten > Nine
In the other suits the ranking of card values for taking tricks is in their natural order: Ace > King > Queen > Jack > Ten > Nine > Seven
Preparation
Cards may be drawn to determine seating and then again to determine first dealer; the player drawing the lowest card dealing first. Dealing, bidding and playing are all in clockwise order. Each player is dealt seven cards in packets of two, three and two again.
Bidding
The early rules are imprecise about whether the bidding is with immediate or delayed hold. They also seem to imply that only forehand
The forehand in tennis and other racket sports such as table tennis, squash and badminton is a shot made by swinging the racket across one's body with the hand moving palm-first. In tennis, except in the context of the phrase ''forehand volley ...
can hold, whereas later rules make clear that any earlier player may hold a higher bid by a later player. However, in general the following apply:
* The player to the left of the dealer is forehand
The forehand in tennis and other racket sports such as table tennis, squash and badminton is a shot made by swinging the racket across one's body with the hand moving palm-first. In tennis, except in the context of the phrase ''forehand volley ...
and the first to bid. The options are:
::If forehand reckons on winning three tricks in one of the four suits, which then become trumps, he or she says "Brand!" (''Brand''), "Brandle!" (''"Ein Brandel"'') or "I'll brandle!" (''"Ich brandle"'').
::If forehand passes, bidding passes to the second, third and fourth players.
* A Brand (also Brandl or Brandel) can be outbid by 4, 5, 6 tricks announced e.g. as "Four!" or "Four Tricks!"
* Bettel ("Beg") is a bid not to take any tricks. It beats a bid of Six Tricks.
* Mord ("Murder") is a bid to take all 7 tricks. If played at no trump, it is a Herrenmord ("Lord's murder").
* By implication jump bidding is allowed.
* The trump suit is only announced once the declarer has won the auction. There are no trumps in a Bettel or a Herrenmord.
Playing
The player who has announced the highest bid wins the auction and leads to the first trick.
The sources give three different rules of play:
* The earliest sources state that players must follow suit or, if unable, trump and overtrump i.e. they must always head the trick if possible.
* By the 1850s, the rules of play had eased. Players must follow suit and head the trick ''in the same suit'' if able; but if unable to follow suit, they may now play any card and there is no requirement to head the trick. This is the most prevalent rule.
* Some modern sources follow Whist rules i.e. that players must follow suit if able; otherwise may play any card.
Anton says the requirement to head the trick means that the game loses its refinement. In a Bettel contract, in which there are no trumps, players must play a higher card if they can.
Scoring
There have been two common scoring schemes. In the original one, points or stakes for winning started at 3 for a Brandle and there was no Herrenmord option. In 1830, Tendler added a Herrenmord which scored 18–24 points, with a Mord scoring 12, by pre-agreement. Otherwise he retained the original scoring. From at least 1882,[Georgens & Gayette-Georgens (1882), pp. 584/585] a revised scoring scheme appeared alongside the old one; the new scheme starting with just 1 point for a Brandle. The old scheme is not recorded after 1909.
If the game is won, the declarer is paid its game value by each defender; if it is lost, the declarer pays each defender the same amount. Over- and under-tricking does not count. Examples:
* Michael wins the auction with a bid of "Four tricks" and the earlier scoring scheme is being used with hard score
The following is a glossary of terms used in card games. Besides the terms listed here, there are thousands of common and uncommon slang terms. Terms in this glossary should not be game-specific (e.g. specific to Bridge (card game), Bridge, Hearts ...
(money). If he loses, he pays 4 pfennigs to each defender, paying out a total of 12 pfennigs.
* Sophie wins the auction with a bid of "Mord" and the later scoring scheme is used with soft score
The following is a glossary of terms used in card games. Besides the terms listed here, there are thousands of common and uncommon slang terms. Terms in this glossary should not be game-specific (e.g. specific to Bridge (card game), Bridge, Hearts ...
(points). If she wins, she scores +18 and each defender scores -6.
Footnotes
References
Literature
* _ (1793). ''Die aufgedeckten und verrathenen Geheimnisse der falschen Spieler.'' Achen und Spaa.
* _ (1829)
''Neustes Allgemeines Spielbuch''
AS Vienna: C. Haas.
* _ (1983). "Brandeln" in ''Erweitertes Spielregelbüchlein aus Altenburg'', Verlag Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik, Leipzig, pp. 54ff
* Georgens, Dr. Jan Daniel and Jeanne Marie Gayette-Georgens (1882)
''Spiel und Sport''
or ''Illustrirtes Allgemeines Familien-Spielbuch'', Leipzig and Berlin: Otto Spamer.
* Grupp, Claus D. (1996/97) ''Kartenspiele im Familien und Freundeskreis.'' Revised and redesigned edition. Original edition. Niedernhausen/ Ts.: Falken. , pp. 57ff.
* Kastner, Hugo and Gerald Kador Folkvord (2005). ''Die große Humboldtenzyklopädie der Kartenspiele.'' Baden-Baden: Humboldt. , pp. 124ff
* Löwenwolde, Christian Graf von (1781)
''Versuch eines Handbuches der Gesetze''
1740-1781. Graz: Franz Xav. Mueller.
* Mayer, Joseph (1863). ''Glaube, Hoffnung, Liebe; Volksdichtungen für den 18. August 1863''. Vienna: Leopold Sommer.
* Müller J. F. (1830)
''Neuestes Spiel-Taschenbuch''.
ST2nd revised edn. Ulm: J. Ebuerschen.
*Parlett, David
David Parlett (born 18 May 1939 in London) is a games scholar, historian, and translator from South London, who has studied both card games and board games. He is the president of the British Skat Association.
His published works include many pop ...
(1992/96) ''Oxford Dictionary of Card Games.'' Oxford/New York: OUP.
* Parlett, David
David Parlett (born 18 May 1939 in London) is a games scholar, historian, and translator from South London, who has studied both card games and board games. He is the president of the British Skat Association.
His published works include many pop ...
(2008). ''The Penguin Book of Card Games'', Penguin, London.
* Perinet, Joachim (1805). ''Die travestirte Telemach; eine Karrikatur mit Gesang in zwey Aufzügen''. Vienna: Wallishausser.
* Pieper, Sven and Bärbel Schmidt (1994) ''Kartenspiele.'' Reclams Universalbibliothek, Vol. 4216, Stuttgart.
Pierer, Heinrich August and Julius Löbe (eds.) (1857). "Brandeln"
in ''Universal-Lexikon der Gegenwart und Vergangenheit''. 4th edition, Vol. 3. Altenburg, p. 179 (zeno.org).
* Richter, Joseph (1798). ''“Die” Wahrheit in Maske'', Volumes 1-12.
* Rossi, J. A. (1849). ''Linzer Wochen-Bulletin für Theater Kunst und Belletristik''. Linz: J. Schmid.
* Rulemann, Theodor (1909). ''Das große illustrierte Spielbuch''. Berlin: Merkur.
*
*
* Sedivy, Vladislav (2016). "Double Bohemian Cards - a nearly unknown standard" in ''The Playing-Card'', Vol. 45, No. 2, Oct-Dec 2016.
* Tendler, F. (1830). ''Verstand und Glück im Bunde.'' GBVienna: F. J. P. Sollinger.
* Von Alvensleben, L. (1853). ''Encyclopädie der Spiele''
pp.143f
{{Trick-taking card games
German card games
French deck card games
Exact bidding group
17th-century card games
German deck card games