Römer (card game)
Römer, also known as Einfach-Binokel or Württembergischer Einfach-Binokel, is a German card game for 2-4 players, most commonly played with three or four. It's a simplified version of the more complex Binokel, aimed at offering a faster and less strategic gameplay experience. The game is popular in the Swabian region of Germany (Baden-Württemberg).
Objective: The primary goal in Römer is to be the first player to reach a predetermined number of points, usually 1000. Points are earned by melding combinations of cards and by winning tricks.
Cards and Dealing: Römer is played with a standard 36-card Skat deck. This deck includes the suits of Clubs (♣), Spades (♠), Hearts (♥), and Diamonds (♦), and the ranks of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack (J), Queen (Q), King (K), and Ace (A). Each suit contains nine cards.
For a four-player game, each player receives eight cards. For a three-player game, each player receives twelve cards, and four cards are placed face down in the middle of the table to form a widow (German: Stock or Talon). These cards are revealed later in the game. In a two-player game, a set of cards is laid out in a specific way before the game begins; details on this variant may differ based on regional rules.
Gameplay: The player to the dealer's left leads the first trick. Players must follow suit if possible; if unable to follow suit, they may play any card. The trick is won by the highest card of the led suit. Trump is usually not a feature in Römer, but regional variations may exist that include a trump suit. The winner of a trick leads the next trick.
Melding: Before the first card is played to the first trick, players may declare melds. Common melds include:
- Aces Around (Asse): Four Aces of different suits.
- Kings Around (Könige): Four Kings of different suits.
- Queens Around (Damen): Four Queens of different suits.
- Jacks Around (Buben): Four Jacks of different suits.
- Ten-Nine Sequence (Binokel): Queen of Diamonds and Jack of Clubs. (This meld is often the basis of the more complex Binokel game.)
The point values for melds vary depending on the regional rules being followed. The meld with the highest value, if contested, typically takes precedence.
Scoring: After all the tricks have been played, players count the points in their tricks. The card values are typically:
- Ace: 11 points
- Ten: 10 points
- King: 4 points
- Queen: 3 points
- Jack: 2 points
- The remaining cards (6, 7, 8, 9) have no point value.
The total points in the deck are 120.
Players add the points from their melds and their tricks to their cumulative score. The first player to reach the agreed-upon point total (usually 1000) wins the game.
Variations: Römer has many local variations in rules, particularly regarding the dealing of cards, the scoring of melds, and the presence of a trump suit. It's essential to clarify these rules before starting a game.