Watten

About this game

A popular Bavarian card game involving elements of betting and bluffing, this game is easy to learn and fun to play, especially by 4 in partnerships. Played with 32-cards, a German pack is usually used (acorns, leaves, hearts, bells) but a French-suited pack (spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs) will do just as well. The game is a trick-taking one with an interesting mechanism used for selecting the trump suit. Furthermore, when playing towards tricks, in most cases one is not obliged to follow suit! The game is often played in pubs in Bavaria, with the losers buying the drinks. A system of signaling to your partner using a code involving small facial movements is permitted. Your opponents may or may not notice these, and you may in any case be bluffing!

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 4.
• Rules load. At 2.1/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 8 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.