Sixty-six rules

A two-player classic from Germany, known in Austria as Schnapsen. Small deck, small hands, and a rule change halfway through that reverses how you play.

The deck

24 cards — nine up to ace. Six cards each.

The ranking

Ace, ten, king, queen, jack, nine.

Card values

Ace 11, ten 10, king 4, queen 3, jack 2, nine nothing. 66 points is the target, hence the name.

The trump

After dealing, one card is turned face up beside the remaining stock. Its suit is trump.

The first phase

The non-dealer leads. You may play any card — you are not obliged to follow suit. The trick goes to the highest trump, otherwise the highest card of the suit led. Both players then draw from the stock, winner first.

Holding the nine of trump, you may exchange it for the face-up trump card at any point when it is your turn to lead.

Marriages

King and queen of the same suit, declared as you lead one of them: 20, or 40 in trump. You must be about to lead, and you must have taken at least one trick.

The second phase

Once the stock is exhausted the rules tighten. Now you must follow suit, and you must win the trick if you can, trumping when you cannot follow. Everything that was loose becomes forced.

Closing

Before the stock runs out, the player about to lead may close it — turning the trump card face down and moving straight to the strict rules. Reach 66 after closing and you score well; fail and your opponent does.

Whoever reaches 66 first declares it and stops play. Get it wrong and the opponent scores instead.