Doppelkopf (, lit. double-head), sometimes abbreviated to Doko, is a trick-taking card game for four players.
In Germany, Doppelkopf is nearly as popular as Skat, especially in Northern Germany and the Rhein-Main Region. Schafkopf, however, is still the preferred point-trick game in Bavaria. As with Skat and Bavarian Schafkopf there is a set of official rules, but numerous unofficial variants.
Although the German Doppelkopf Association (Deutscher Doppelkopf-Verband) has developed standard rules for tournaments, informal sessions are often played in many different variants, and players adopt their own house rules. Before playing with a new group of players, it is advisable to agree on a specific set of rules before the first game.
History Classic Schafkopf Games of the Schafkopf group date to the 18th century or earlier, the oldest member of the family being known as Schafkopf or, nowadays, German Schafkopf to avoid confusion with its modern Bavarian descendant.McLeod (1978), pp. 38-47. A 1783 novel describes the scene after a wedding dinner as the dining tables were cleared away and replaced by games tables: "here stood an Ombre table, there a noble Schafkopf was played, over there a game of forfeits, soon everybody was busy playing when suddenly the sound of the strings announced the arrival of the dance band..."Cramer, Karl Gottlob (1783). Meppen Bocksbart oder wundersame Ebentheuer eines perigrinirenden Kandidaten, eine wahre Geschichte. Leipzig: Karl Friederich Schneidern. p. 275. In 1796, we learn that students at Leipzig University liked to repair to disreputable bars to play Solo or Schafkopf for a couple of Dreiers.Rabiosus the Younger, Anselmus (1796). Wanderrungen und Kreuzzüge durch einen Theil Deutschlands. 2nd, fully improved, revised and expanded edition. Part 2. Alton: Verlagsgesellschaft. p. 74. In 1803, it is described as "a cute little game [played] with chalk and collection bag pennies". and its rules are recorded for the first time by Paul Hammer. In 1853, they were reprinted by Von Alvensleben who describes 'Schaafkopf' as being very common, especially with the lower classes perhaps due to its ordinary name ("sheep's head"), but that it also went under the "more noble" names of Society (Societätsspiel), Conversation (Conversationsspiel) or Denunciation (Denunciationsspiel). He hypothesises that the name comes from the practice of drawing the lines denoting points scored in the form of a stylised sheep's head. He goes on to describe in detail no fewer than nine variants of 'Schaafkopf', but states clearly that the original was a four-hand, point-trick, team game with 4 Unters as top trumps, known as Wenzels (pronounced "Ventsels") and a trump suit nominated by the bid winner. The game was normally played for beer.
Early Doppelkopf Among Hammer's nine variants were three played with a double pack that appear to be an early form of Doppelkopf. These were all ace–ten games with the tens ranking low and were played by teams of two, in fixed partnerships, with bells as the trump suit. They differed as follows:
Four players, twelve Wenzels, 2 x 24 cards (Type G) Six players, twelve Wenzels, 2 x 24 cards (Type H) Eight players, sixteen Wenzels, 2 x 32 cards (Type I)
Wendish Schafkopf Several post-war sources claim that Doppelkopf has its origins in a game called Wendish Schafkopf which, however, is first mentioned in the 1850s. This may stem from a misreading of von Alvensleben by Georgens & Gagette-Georgens (1882) who stated that the original form of Schafkopf was Wendish, but then describes another different game: Hammer's type A.Georgens & Gagette-Georgens (1882), p. 574. The error is repeated by Alban von Hahn (1905 and 1909)von Hahn (1905 and 1909), p. 420. and may have led to others deriving Doppelkopf from Wendish Schafkopf instead of German Schafkopf.
Merino In 1861, a short description was published of a game, probably referring to Types G and H above, that appeared under the alternative name of Marino (sic) as well as Schafkopf. "Despite its common name" (Schafkopf) it was said to be very popular in many areas, especially in northern Germany." This game for four "or even six" players was often played with two German packs. Bells were permanent trumps along with the twelve matadors, known as Wenzels, namely two each of the and . The usual ace–ten scoring scheme was used. No rules of play are given.Hirzel (1861), pp. 808–810. The name Merino appears occasionally other contemporary sources, for example, an 1870 newspaper remarks: "It is strikingly clear how the common man recently viewed the world from the acquiescence of several playing card manufacturers who have designed the highest trump in German Solo, Obsern and Merino – the Ober of Acorns – with a face resembling that of Napoleon III."Illustrirte Zeitung (1870), No. 54 (Jan/Jun), Leipzig. p. 334.
Doppelschafkopf In 1873 the name Doppelschaf(s)kopf appears for the first time in an Aichach newspaper which mentions a Doppelschafskopf Society (Doppelschafskopf-Gesellschaft)._ (1873). Amtsblatt für das Bezirksamt und Amtsgerich Aichach, 12 October 1873.
In 1879 Anton records that the "usual Doppelschafkopf" is a four-hand partnership game "although more commonly played by three players, one of whom plays with a blind". Two packs of cards were used, the 7s and 8s being removed to leave 2 x 24, and there were 22 permanent trumps in the game: the Obers of Acorns and Leaves, the four Unters and the suit of Bells. This is the same format as Hammer's Type G (see above). If played by three, the dealer was designated the 'king' and played with a 'straw man' (Strohmann), an extra hand of cards laid on the table opposite the dealer and which was played open after the first trick.
The other two players were the 'folk'. Whist rules of play were followed. There were 240 points in cards and 121 were required to win. A team needed at least 61 points to avoid losing Schneider i.e. double. Each game or 'head' (Kopf) consisted of 4 lines (game points) and was worth typically 10, 20, 25 or more pfennigs. If teams tied on 120, the point was carried forward to the next hand.
If the two Acorn Obers came together in the same trick, there was often a bonus for the first one played since it won. The first team to 4 chalk up lines won. If four or five wanted to play in the same way as the three-hand game, the additional players sat out each time leaving three active players; however they won or lost along with the folk. As well as the three-hand game, variants for six and eight players were described; in the latter case, all the Obers and Unters were matadors as in the modern game.Anton (1879), pp. 475 ff.
In 1884 Doppelschafkopf was mentioned in a chess primer. During a chess trip to Ratzebüttel, the president of a ladies chess club declares that "our husbands play chess too badly; they are too prosaic and much prefer to sit at a beer table playing Doppelschafkopf."Minckwitz (1884), p. 180.
In a set of 1890 rules, three players played with a 'blind' as before, but four played without the requirement for anyone to sit out.Ulmann (1890), p. 190. Other descriptions of Doppelschafkopf appear in the early 20th century, for example, in the 1911 Brockhaus.Brockhaus (1911), p. 620.
Emergence of modern Doppelkopf Name In the 19th century the name Doppelkopf was sometimes used to refer to a French-suited double-ended playing card and sometimes to refer to winning a double game (a Doppel-Kopf or double head) in Doppelschafkopf.Pierer (1835), p. 599 and (1845), p. 814. By the late 19th century it had become firmly attached to variants of Schafkopf played with two packs e.g. Brockhaus says in 1896 that "[German] Schafkopf may be played with one or two packs of 32 cards; in the latter case it is called Doppelkopf."Brockhaus (1896), p. 376.
Early modern Doppelkopf In 1927 an early version of modern Doppelkopf is described by Robert Hülsemann, who calls it an elaboration of the old German 3-4 player game of Schafkopf, which has almost died out. He says that Doppelkopf got its name because it is played with double the number of cards, the 7s and 8s being removed from two Skat packs to leave 2 x 24 cards. The game was also referred to here and there in north Germany as Juristenspiel ("Lawyer") probably because it was played in legal circles. French-suited packs are described and there were now eight matadors: along with the default trump suit of diamonds. It was played much as in Doppelschafkopf above, but there was now an extra penalty for losing the "Fox" – the trump Ace. Instead of lines (Striche) being used to keep score, winnings were paid in small stakes such as 5 or 10 pfennigs instead of one line. For the first time there were secret partnerships, the two players dealt the "Old Ones" (2 x ) joining forces against the other two, but they were not allowed to announce their possession of these cards. A player with both either played a silent Solo, played a Suit Solo against the other three or called for a partner by going with the taker of the 1st or 5th tricks as desired.Hülsemann (1927), pp. 164–168.
In a 1931 account by Karl Thoenen further elaborations appear. "In many areas" two more trumps were added: the two red 10s, each known as the Tolle ("mad one"). These are now the commanding cards, but partnerships were still decided based on the two s. Players may opt to play with "strict" (Zwang) or "wild" (wild) rules. In the former a player with the had to lead trumps; in the latter there was no such compulsion. Suit Solos were not common. Players anted e.g. a Mark to a common pot and the winners drew 5 pfennigs; 10 in the event of Schneider and 15 in the event of a Schwarz. If the team with the two Old Ones lost, their opponents won double. A trump Solo cost 20 pfennigs and was usually paid direct from player to player.Thoenen (1931), pp. 156–158.
The bonus for taking the last trick with the , Charlie Miller (Karlchen Müller), appears in Meister (1933) alongside another new feature, the sheep race (Hammelrennen), a contract in which everyone played for himself.Meister (1933), p. 22.
In 1951 it was referred to as a "central German card game"Müller (1951), p. 387. and in 1958 as "one of the most popular card games in Germany."Trumpf (1958), p. 83.
Although early 19th century Schafkopf played with double packs appears to have originated in Saxony and was played with German-suited cards, today Doppelkopf has become very much a north German and west German game played with French-suited cards. It bears traces of its origins, however, including the retention of Diamonds (the equivalent of Bells) as the trump suit. The major development has been the addition of contracts and bidding.
Rules Note: In the following section, the most common rules are described.
General principles Doppelkopf is predominantly a team game with two players per team. As with Schafkopf, the pairing is not known from the start.
The card pack consists of either 48 or 40 cards: Eight Aces or deuces worth 11 points each Eight tens worth 10 points each Eight kings worth four points each Eight queens or Obers worth three points each Eight jacks or Unters worth two points each Eight nines worth zero points each (these may be dropped)
Each set of eight cards consists of two cards from each suit. Thus, each card exists twice in the pack (hence the name Doppelkopf), resulting in a total number of 240 points. In the ensuing description, the more common 48-card version is assumed. The rules for the 40-card variant are the same except that the nines are removed.
If French-suited cards are used, the suits are diamonds , hearts , spades and clubs . If German-suited cards are used, the suits are bells , hearts , leaves and acorns . The ace is replaced by the deuce or Daus (A), the queen by the Ober (O), and the jack by the Unter (U).