Letzter Stich
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 French-suited 32-card pack used in Letzter Stich | |
| Origin | Germany |
|---|---|
| Type | Plain-trick |
| Family | Last Trick group |
| Players | 3-6 |
| Age range | 6+ |
| Cards | 32 |
| Deck | Piquet |
| Rank (high→low) | A K Q J 10 9 8 7 or A 10 K Q J 9 8 7 |
| Play | Clockwise |
Letzter Stich is a card game for 3 or 4 players in which the aim is solely to win the last trick. It originated in Germany and the names mean "last trick" respectively. It has been described as suitable for children, yet having a "surprising wealth of interesting game situations."[1] It should not be confused with Letzter, a reverse game of greater complexity where the aim is to lose the last trick.
The name of the game suggests a certain antiquity and in fact it is mentioned as early as 1707 as Letzte Stich in a book of poems and songs for various games.[2] As Letzter Stich it appears in 1839[3] and may be related to Swedish Femkort. In 1967, Gööck describes it as being suitable for children, yet having a "surprising wealth of interesting game situations."[1]
