Herzla
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Suit of Hearts from a Bavarian pack | |
| Origin | Bavaria, Germany |
|---|---|
| Alternative names | Herzl'n |
| Type | Trick-taking avoidance |
| Family | Hearts family |
| Players | 4 (3-8) |
| Age range | 6+ |
| Cards | 32 |
| Deck | Schafkopf pack |
| Rank (high→low) | A 10 K Q J 9 8 7 |
| Play | Clockwise |
Herzla or Herzl'n is a Bavarian, reverse trick-taking, card game for 4 players in which the aim is to avoid taking any Hearts. There is a simpler variant for children and adults that may be played by 3-8 players.
Herzla is reported as being popular in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg around 1900 and later, alongside 's Dappa, Spitzramsen, Mariaschen, 66 and Lügo.[1] It is still played there today[2] as well as in Bavaria.[3]
Rules
The following rules are based on Sirch (2008).[3]
Cards
Dealing
Bidding
Players may bid for the following contracts:
- Beddl - to take no tricks
- Mord - to take all tricks
If no-one bids for a contract, a normal game is played as described below. If two players bid, positional priority applies. The successful bidder becomes the declarer and plays against the 3 'defenders'.
Playing
Forehand leads to the first trick. There are no trumps. Hearts may not be led to either of the first two tricks. Players must follow suit (Farbzwang), but there is no compulsion to win the trick (i.e. no Stechzwang).
Beddl
Beddl is Bavarian for Bettel, i.e. a contract in which the declarer undertakes to win no tricks. If they do have to take a trick, the hand ends immediately and the declarer loses. Hearts become irrelevant.
Mord
Mord literally means "murder", but is the equivalent of a slam or march (Durchmarsch), a contract in which the declarer undertakes to win every trick. As soon as an opponent wins a trick, the hand ends and the declarer loses. Again, who wins which Hearts is irrelevant.
Schleichermord
A Schleichermord or "sneaky Mord" is when a player decides to play a Mord without announcing it and aims to win all the tricks.
Scoring
In a normal game, players pay 10c for every Heart captured to the player who has avoided taking any. If 2 players are void in Hearts, they each receive 40c. If a player captures all 8 Hearts, they pay 80c to the stock (pot). If a Beddl or Mord is won, the losers pay the declarer 80c each. If the declarer loses, he pays 80c to each opponent. A Schleichermord is worth 80c if won; if it is lost no-one will know anyway!
