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Download on Google Play- Use a 32-card deck (7 through Ace) for 4 players in partnerships.
- Partners sit across from each other.
- Deal 8 cards each in batches of 3-2-3.
- Bid to accept the turned-up trump or name a different suit.
- Follow suit if possible; overtrump when you cannot follow.
- Declare Roem (sequence/four-of-a-kind bonuses) during play.
- Jack of trump: 20. Nine of trump: 14.
- Aces: 11, Tens: 10, Kings: 4, Queens: 3.
- Last trick: 10 points. Roem: 20-100 bonus points.
Rules
Klaverjas is the most popular card game in the Netherlands, a partnership trick-taking game with a distinctive trump hierarchy and bonus points for specific card combinations. It is played competitively in leagues and tournaments across the country.
Objective
Working with your partner, capture the most card points through tricks. The team that wins the bidding must reach a minimum point threshold, or they are penalized.
Setup
- Players: 4 players in two fixed partnerships, sitting opposite each other.
- Deck: 32-card deck (7 through Ace in each suit).
- Deal: Deal 8 cards to each player in batches of 3-2-3.
Gameplay
- Bidding: Starting left of the dealer, each player may pass or accept the turned-up suit as trump. If all pass, a second round allows any suit to be named.
- Trump hierarchy: In the trump suit, Jack is highest, then 9, then Ace, 10, King, Queen, 8, 7. In non-trump suits, the order is Ace, 10, King, Queen, Jack, 9, 8, 7.
- Trick play: The player left of the dealer leads. Players must follow suit if possible and must overtrump if they cannot follow suit.
- Roem (Bonus combinations): Sequences of three or more consecutive cards in a suit, or four of a kind, earn bonus points declared during play.
Scoring
- Jack of trump: 20 points.
- Nine of trump: 14 points.
- Aces: 11 points each.
- Tens: 10 points each.
- Kings: 4 points. Queens: 3 points. Jacks (non-trump): 2 points.
- Last trick: 10 bonus points.
- Roem bonuses: Three in sequence: 20 points. Four in sequence: 50 points. Four of a kind: 100 points.
Variations
- Amsterdam rules: Slight differences in bidding and Roem declaration timing.
- Rotterdam rules: Uses a different approach to the second round of bidding.
Tips and Strategies
- The Jack and 9 of trump are extremely powerful. Having both almost guarantees trump control.
- Declare Roem combinations promptly, as forgetting to announce them forfeits the bonus.
- Lead with trump early if your team holds the Jack, to draw out opponents' trump cards.
Tips & Strategy
Controlling the trump suit through the Jack and 9 is paramount. Lead trump early when you have strength, and always remember to declare your Roem combinations.
Counting points as tricks are won is essential in Klaverjas. Knowing whether the bidding team is on track to meet their threshold allows defenders to adjust their strategy mid-round.
Trivia & Fun Facts
The Netherlands has a national Klaverjas league with thousands of registered teams competing in regional and national championships every year.
What is the highest-ranking card in the trump suit in Klaverjas?
History & Culture
Klaverjas has been played in the Netherlands since the early 20th century and quickly rose to become the nation's favorite card game. It is related to the Jass family of games from Switzerland.
Klaverjas is deeply woven into Dutch social fabric, played in homes, cafes, and community centers. It is often described as the unofficial national card game of the Netherlands.
Variations & House Rules
Amsterdam and Rotterdam rules differ primarily in bidding procedures and the timing of Roem declarations, reflecting regional preferences across the Netherlands.
Play with mandatory trump bidding in the first round to speed up the game, or add a 'misere' bid where a player aims to take zero tricks.
