Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding the setup, dealing, and partner selection rules for **5-Player Sheepshead** (Schafkopf), the most traditional and popular way to play the game.
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### 1. Deck Setup & Dealing
#### Q: How many cards are used in 5-Player Sheepshead?
Sheepshead is played with a **32-card deck** (Piquet deck), consisting of $7, 8, 9, 10, \text{J}, \text{Q}, \text{K},$ and $\text{A}$ across all four suits ($6\text{s}$ and lower are removed).
#### Q: How are cards dealt in a 5-player game?
Each player is dealt **6 cards**, and **2 cards** are dealt face-down to the center of the table as the **Blinds** (or "Leaster").
* The standard deal rotation goes: 2 cards to each player $\rightarrow$ 2 cards to the blind $\rightarrow$ 2 cards to each player $\rightarrow$ 2 cards to each player.
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### 2. The Trump & Points Structure
#### Q: What cards are Trump in Sheepshead?
There are **14 total Trump cards** ranked from highest to lowest:
1. **Queens (4):** $\text{Q}\clubsuit > \text{Q}\spades > \text{Q}\heartsuit > \text{Q}\diamondsuit$ (highest to lowest)
2. **Jacks (4):** $\text{J}\clubsuit > \text{J}\spades > \text{J}\heartsuit > \text{J}\diamondsuit$
3. **Diamonds (6):** $\text{A}\diamondsuit > 10\diamondsuit > \text{K}\diamondsuit > 9\diamondsuit > 8\diamondsuit > 7\diamondsuit$
#### Q: How are point values counted in the trick pile?
The deck contains **120 total card points**:
* **Aces:** 11 points each
* **10s:** 10 points each
* **Kings:** 4 points each
* **Queens:** 3 points each
* **Jacks:** 2 points each
* **9s, 8s, 7s:** 0 points each
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### 3. Bidding & Partner Selection
#### Q: How does the Picker select a partner in a 5-player game?
Because there are 5 players, the **Picker** (the player who takes the Blind) plays against a 3-player defense team. To even the odds, the Picker calls a partner using the **Called Ace** rule:
* The Picker names a non-trump suit Ace ($\text{A}\clubsuit, \text{A}\spades,$ or $\text{A}\heartsuit$) that they **do not** hold in their hand.
* The player holding that Ace becomes the secret partner.
* **Secret Partner Rule:** The partner cannot reveal who they are until the called Ace is played in a trick.
#### Q: What if the Picker holds all three fail-suit Aces?
If the Picker holds $\text{A}\clubsuit, \text{A}\spades,$ and $\text{A}\heartsuit$ in their hand, they can choose one of two standard options:
1. **Call a "Unknown Ace":** Call an Ace they hold, provided they hold at least one other card in that suit to lead with.
2. **Go Alone:** Play 1-vs-4 without a partner for double stakes.
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### 4. Winning Conditions & Scoring
#### Q: How many points are needed to win a hand?
* **Picker & Partner Team:** Must collect at least **61 card points** (out of 120) to win.
* **Defender Team (3 Players):** Need **60 card points** (a 60–60 tie goes to the Defenders).
#### Q: What is a "Leaster"?
If all 5 players pass during the bidding round without picking up the Blind, the hand becomes a **Leaster**:
* Every player plays for themselves (no teams).
* The goal in a Leaster is to **take the lowest number of points** without taking zero points (taking no tricks at all penalizes you in some house variants). The 2 Blind cards are added to the winner of the last trick or set aside.