Schweinchen facts for kids
German deck
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| Origin | Germany |
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| Type | Shedding card game |
| Players | 3 to 6 |
| Cards | 5 per player |
| Deck | French or German |
| Play | Counter-clockwise |
| Playing time | 5 minutes |
Schweinchen (pronounced shvine-chen) is a super quick card game from Germany. Its name means "piglet" or "piggy" in German. This game is perfect for 3 to 6 players and is all about getting rid of your cards as fast as you can! It's a fun game that kids can easily learn and enjoy.
Contents
What You Need to Play
To play Schweinchen, you'll need a deck of 32 cards. You can use either a French deck or a Altenburg deck. From this deck, you'll pick out four cards of the same value for each player. For example, if there are three players, you might use three sets of four cards, like four 7s, four 8s, and four 9s. Then, you'll add one extra random card from the cards left over.
How to Play Schweinchen
At the start of the game, each player gets 4 cards. The person who deals the cards gets 5 cards instead. Any cards left over are placed face down in a pile on the table. This pile is called the talon or stock.
Getting Started
The main goal is to collect four cards that are all the same value. For example, you want to get all four 7s or all four 9s. The dealer begins the game. They look at their 5 cards and pick one they don't need. They pass this card to the player on their right without showing it to anyone else.
Passing Cards Around
Now, the player who just received a card will have 5 cards in their hand. They choose one card they don't need and pass it to the player on their right. This continues around the table. Everyone is trying to get a set of four matching cards.
What if a Card Comes Back to You?
Sometimes, a card might travel all the way around the table and come back to the player who first passed it. If this happens, that player can put the card into a special discard pile next to the talon. Then, they get to draw the top card from the talon to replace it.
Winning a Round
When a player finally gets their fourth matching card to complete a set (like four Kings!), they quickly throw all their cards onto the table. At the same time, they shout "Piggy!" (Schweinchen!). As soon as the other players see this, they must also quickly throw their cards down. The very last player to throw their cards on the table loses that round!
The Finger-on-Nose Variant
There's a fun way to play Schweinchen that's a bit more sneaky! When a player gets their four matching cards, they don't shout "Piggy!" right away. Instead, they quietly put their cards down and then secretly place a finger on their nose. The other players need to be paying attention! As soon as they notice someone has a finger on their nose, they must quickly do the same. The last person to put a finger on their nose loses the round. As a funny penalty, they might even have to make a piglet grunting sound!
Other Ways to Play
Fingerpratzeln
In Austria, there's a game similar to Schweinchen called Fingerpratzeln. This name means "Finger Claw." It's played in areas like Flachgau and Tennengau. Another name for it is Kuhschwanzeln, which means "Cow's Tail," played in Rußbach. This version uses a 36-card William Tell pack. The first player to collect four cards of the same suit wins. They place their hand on the table. Everyone else must quickly do the same. The last person to put their hand down loses.
Schlafmütze
In another fun variant called Schlafmütze, the loser of the game has to wear a nightcap for the entire next game! Schlafmütze means "sleep cap" in German.
Images for kids
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German deck
