Get the full experience in CardRules+
300+ games with text-to-speech, game night planner, quick reference cards, and offline access.
Download on Google Play- 2 players, 32 cards.
- Deal 6 each, turn up a trump candidate.
- Bid for trumps, then deal 3 more each.
- Must follow suit and beat the current winner if possible.
- Declare sequences before trick play for bonuses.
- Highest trump or led-suit card wins.
- Jass (trump J) = 20, Menel (trump 9) = 14.
- Last trick = 10 bonus. Trump chooser must outscore opponent.
Rules
Klabberjass (also Clob or Klob) is a classic two-player trick-taking game using 32 cards where the Jack and 9 of trumps are the two most powerful cards. Players bid, exchange cards, and declare melds before trick play.
Objective
Score more points than your opponent through trick-taking, card values, and bonus declarations.
Setup
- Players: 2 players.
- Deck: 32 cards (7 through Ace of each suit).
- Deal: Deal 6 cards to each player in batches of 3. Turn up the next card to propose a trump suit.
Gameplay
- Step 1: Non-dealer may accept the turned-up suit as trump, pass, or 'schmeiss' (propose a redeal). If both pass, a second round allows naming any other suit.
- Step 2: Deal 3 more cards to each player (9 total). Players may declare sequences of 3+ consecutive same-suit cards for bonus points.
- Step 3: Non-dealer leads the first trick. Players must follow suit and must beat the current winning card if possible.
- Step 4: Trump Jack (Jass) = 20 points, Trump 9 (Menel) = 14. Other trumps and non-trump cards have standard Belote values.
Scoring
- Card points: Jass (trump J) = 20, Menel (trump 9) = 14, Ace = 11, 10 = 10, K = 4, Q = 3, J = 2 (non-trump).
- Last trick bonus = 10 points. The player who chose trumps must outscore the opponent or the opponent gets all points.
Variations
- Belote Variant: Declare King-Queen of trumps for 20 bonus points.
- Jo-Jotte: A variant with more elaborate declaration rules.
Tips and Strategies
- Accept trump only with strong trump holdings, especially the Jass or Menel.
- Declarations can swing the score significantly, so count your sequences carefully.
- If you chose trumps, play aggressively to avoid losing all points.
Tips & Strategy
The Jass and Menel are worth 34 points combined. Only accept trump when you hold at least one of them plus supporting trumps.
Choosing trumps is a commitment. If you cannot outscore your opponent, they get all the points, so evaluate your hand carefully before accepting.
Trivia & Fun Facts
Damon Runyon featured Klabberjass in his stories, calling it 'Klob' and helping popularize it in America.
What are the two most powerful cards in Klabberjass and how many points are they worth?
History & Culture
Klabberjass has roots in 17th-century Dutch card gaming and spread across Europe under various names including Clob, Bela, and Kalabriasz.
Klabberjass and its variants are played across Europe and the Middle East, forming the backbone of the Jass family of card games.
Variations & House Rules
Belote-style declarations award bonus points for King-Queen of trumps. Jo-Jotte adds more complex declaration rules.
Play to a set number of hands or a target score. Add the Belote declaration for extra scoring opportunities.
