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# How Five-Player Setup Works in Sheepshead: Step-by-Step Guide
Sheepshead is a traditional trick-taking card game commonly played by five people. Before the first trick begins, players need to prepare a special 32-card deck, distribute the cards correctly, and determine who will pick up the blind.
The five-player setup is important because it establishes the roles and conditions for the entire hand. One player usually becomes the picker, and a secret partner may join that player against the other three players.
This step-by-step guide explains how to prepare a five-player Sheepshead game, deal the cards, understand the blind, and get ready to play.
1. Prepare the Sheepshead Deck
Sheepshead uses a 32-card deck rather than a complete 52-card deck.
Start with a standard deck and keep only these cards from each suit:
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- Jack
- Queen
- King
- Ace
There are eight cards in each of the four suits, giving a total of 32 cards.
Remove the twos, threes, fours, fives, and sixes. These cards are not used in the standard five-player game.
Before dealing, count the cards to make sure the deck contains 32 cards. Shuffle thoroughly so that the distribution is unpredictable.
2. Seat the Five Players and Choose a Dealer
Arrange five players around a table. Choose the first dealer using an agreed method, such as cutting the deck or drawing cards.
The dealer is responsible for shuffling and distributing the cards. In the common setup, the player immediately to the dealer's left receives the first opportunity to pick up the blind after the deal.
Play generally moves clockwise. After the hand is completed, the deal passes to the next player according to the table's rotation.
If six people are present, some groups use a five-handed arrangement in which the dealer sits out that hand. The dealer role then rotates. This is an optional seating variation rather than a requirement for a five-player table.
3. Deal Six Cards to Each Player
In standard five-player Sheepshead, each player receives six cards.
Five players multiplied by six cards equals 30 cards. The remaining two cards become the blind.
A common dealing method is to distribute cards in groups of two or three, moving clockwise around the table. For example, the dealer might give each player three cards, place two cards face down in the middle, and then deal the remaining three cards to each player.
Another common method deals two cards to each player in three rounds, with the blind placed between rounds. The exact dealing pattern can vary, so players should agree on a consistent method before starting.
The important requirements are:
- Each of the five players receives six cards.
- Two cards are reserved for the blind.
- The blind remains face down until a player picks it up.
- The full 32-card deck is accounted for.
4. Set Aside the Blind
The blind consists of the two cards that are not initially dealt to any player.
Place both cards face down in the centre of the table. Players should not look at them before the picking phase.
The blind gives the player who picks it an opportunity to improve their hand. However, picking is also a commitment: the picker is expected to collect enough points to win under the applicable rules.
The blind is not a separate player's hand. It becomes part of the picker's hand when that player chooses to take it.
5. Begin the Picking Phase
Once all six cards have been dealt to each player, the picking phase begins.
Starting with the player to the dealer's left, each player gets an opportunity to pick up the blind or pass.
- **Pick:** Take the two blind cards into your hand.
- **Pass:** Decline the blind and allow the next player to decide.
The opportunity continues around the table until someone picks or everyone passes.
Players often consider the number and strength of their trump cards when deciding whether to pick. However, the decision also depends on the rest of the hand, the blind's unknown contents, and the local rules.
If everyone passes, the table must follow its agreed procedure. Common options include playing a leaster, in which the player with the fewest points wins under the applicable conditions, or using a doubler rule. Some groups require the dealer to pick.
6. Understand What Happens After Picking
When a player picks the blind, that player temporarily holds eight cards: the original six plus the two blind cards.
The picker must then bury two cards face down, returning their hand to six cards before play begins.
Burying means selecting two cards and placing them face down without showing them to the other players. Under common rules, the points in the buried cards count toward the picker's side.
This detail is important because Sheepshead uses card points to determine the result of the hand. Burying a high-point card can contribute to the picker's total, although the picker still needs to win enough points through the hand under the standard scoring rules.
After burying, the picker normally identifies a partner in the traditional five-player game.
7. Learn How Partner Selection Works
In the common called-ace version, the picker names an ace from a non-trump suit that they do not hold. The player holding that ace becomes the picker's partner, although the identity may remain unknown until the called ace is played.
The picker and partner form one side, playing against the other three players.
For example, if the picker calls the ace of hearts, the player holding that card becomes the partner under the standard called-ace approach. The exact procedure for calling an ace, including special cases, should be confirmed before play.
Some groups use a different partner rule, such as making the holder of the Jack of Diamonds the partner. Other groups allow the picker to play alone.
Agree on the partner-selection method before dealing to avoid confusion after the blind has been picked.
8. Understand the Basic Trump Structure
Knowing which cards are trump helps players understand why the initial hand matters.
In standard Sheepshead, all four Queens, all four Jacks, and the diamonds that are not already counted among those Queens and Jacks are trump. This gives the game 14 trump cards.
The remaining 18 cards are fail cards. They are the sevens, eights, nines, tens, kings, and aces in clubs, spades, and hearts.
Trump cards generally outrank fail cards. Sheepshead also has a special ranking order within the trump and fail groups, so players should learn the full card hierarchy before playing competitively.
Card strength and point value are different concepts. For example, a card may be valuable in scoring without being the strongest card in a trick.
9. Start the First Trick
After the picker has buried two cards and selected a partner according to the table's rules, play can begin.
In common five-player rules, the player to the dealer's left leads the first trick. Each player then plays one card in turn, following the game's suit and trump rules.
Players generally must follow the relevant suit when able. In Sheepshead, all trump cards are treated as one trump suit for this purpose, which is an important difference from many standard trick-taking games.
The highest-ranking eligible card wins the trick. The winner collects the cards and normally leads the next trick.
Because five players each hold six cards at the start of play, the hand contains six tricks.
10. Check the Setup Before Playing
Use this checklist before beginning a five-player Sheepshead hand:
- The deck contains 32 cards.
- Five players are seated and ready.
- Each player has six cards.
- Two cards are face down in the blind.
- Everyone understands the picking order.
- The table has agreed on what happens if everyone passes.
- The partner-selection rule is clear.
- Players know the basic trump and fail distinction.
Checking these details at the start prevents disputes later and makes it easier for new players to learn the game.
Common Five-Player Setup Mistakes
### Using a Full 52-Card Deck
The standard game uses 32 cards. Leaving low cards in the deck changes the game and produces an incorrect setup.
### Dealing Seven Cards to Each Player
Five-player Sheepshead uses six cards per player, not seven. Six cards each plus two blind cards account for all 32 cards.
### Revealing the Blind Too Early
The blind should remain face down until a player picks it up. Looking at it beforehand removes an important element of uncertainty.
### Forgetting to Bury Two Cards
The picker adds two cards from the blind to their hand and then buries two cards face down. The picker should return to six cards before the first trick.
### Confusing Trump With Point Value
A card's power in a trick and its scoring value are not the same. Beginners should learn both the ranking order and the point values.
### Leaving House Rules Unsettled
Partner selection, the procedure when everyone passes, and other details may differ between groups. Confirm these rules before dealing.
Conclusion
The five-player setup in Sheepshead is straightforward once you understand the deck and the dealing sequence. Prepare 32 cards, deal six cards to each player, and place the remaining two cards face down as the blind.
Next, give each player a chance to pick or pass, follow the agreed rule when someone picks, and complete the partner-selection procedure before the first trick begins.
Learning the setup first helps players focus on trump, trick-taking, and scoring during the hand. Since Sheepshead has several house-rule variations, make sure everyone agrees on the rules before the game starts.
Frequently Asked Questions
### 1. How many cards are used in five-player Sheepshead?
The standard game uses 32 cards: the sevens, eights, nines, tens, Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Aces from all four suits.
### 2. How many cards does each player receive?
Each of the five players receives six cards. The remaining two cards are placed face down in the blind.
### 3. What is the blind in Sheepshead?
The blind is the two-card pile left face down in the middle of the table. The player who picks it up adds the cards to their hand and then buries two cards face down.
### 4. Who gets the first chance to pick?
In common rules, the player immediately to the dealer's left has the first opportunity. The option then moves clockwise around the table.
### 5. What happens if everyone passes?
The result depends on the group's rules. Common options include a leaster, a doubler, or requiring the dealer to pick.
### 6. How does partner selection work in five-player Sheepshead?
In the common called-ace version, the picker names an eligible ace, and the player holding it becomes the partner. Some groups use the Jack of Diamonds or another agreed variation.
### 7. How many tricks are played in a standard five-player hand?
Each player starts with six cards and plays one card per trick. Therefore, a standard hand consists of six tricks.
### 8. Do all Sheepshead groups use the same setup?
The basic 32-card deck and six-card hands are standard for five-player play, but dealing patterns, partner selection, and what happens when everyone passes can vary by group.