How to Play

Klaverjas is the Netherlands' national 4-player partnership trick-taking game with 32 cards, the trump Jack as highest card, and Roem bonuses for sequences and four-of-a-kind.

Klaverjas (or Klaverjassen) is the Netherlands' national card game, a 4-player partnership trick-taking game with the trump Jack as the highest card and a system of bonus melds called Roem. Each player gets 8 cards from a 32-card deck (7 to Ace). The dealer's partnership names trump and contracts to win at least 82 of the 162 points available; failing means all 162 points go to the defending side ('nat'). Roem bonuses (three or four in a row, four of a kind, the King-Queen of trump 'stuk') are declared as cards are played and added to whichever side wins the trick they were declared in. The two main regional rule sets are Amsterdams (you may discard if your partner is winning) and Rotterdams (must always trump and overtrump if void). Matches are usually 16 deals so each player deals four times.

Players

Exactly 4 players in two fixed partnerships, partners sitting opposite. The deal rotates clockwise after each hand; play also runs clockwise. Three-handed and two-handed variants exist (Driemansklaverjas, Twee-mans-klaverjas) but the four-handed partnership game is the standard.

Card Deck

One 32-card French-suited deck: 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace in each of clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades. Trump-suit ranks (high to low): Jack (20 pts), 9 (14), Ace (11), 10 (10), King (4), Queen (3), 8 (0), 7 (0). Non-trump ranks (high to low): Ace (11), 10 (10), King (4), Queen (3), Jack (2), 9 (0), 8 (0), 7 (0). The card-point total is 152; the 10-point last-trick bonus brings the deal total to 162.

Objective

The bidding partnership must capture more than half the deal's 162 points (i.e., 82+). Across multiple deals, accumulate the highest cumulative score. Most matches are 16 deals (each player deals four times); the partnership with the higher running total wins.

Setup and Deal

1. Choose first dealer by drawing for the highest card. Dealer shuffles, the player to dealer's right cuts.
2. Dealer gives 8 cards to each player clockwise in batches of 3-2-3.
3. Trump bidding: The dealer turns the next card from the deck face up to suggest a trump suit. Starting with the player to dealer's left, each player either says 'play' (accepting that suit as trump) or 'pass'. If all four pass, a second round lets any player name any other trump suit; the dealer must choose if all three opponents pass again. The first 'play' wins; the player who said 'play' becomes the bidder, and that player's partnership becomes the bidding side.
4. Misdeal: A card exposed during the deal voids the deal; the same dealer redeals.

Gameplay

1. Player to the dealer's left leads to the first trick by playing one card face up. Play continues clockwise; each remaining player plays one card.
2. Following suit: Each player must follow the led suit if able. If void in the led suit, the player must play a trump if they have one. A player void in both the led suit and trumps may discard any card.
3. Overtrumping (Rotterdams rule): If a player must play trump (because they are void in the led suit), they must play a higher trump than any trump already in the trick whenever possible. If the highest trump on the trick is your partner's, you still must overtrump if able.
4. Overtrumping (Amsterdams rule): Same as Rotterdams except: if your partner is currently winning the trick (with any card, trump or otherwise) and the led suit is non-trump, you may discard freely without trumping.
5. Winning the trick: Highest trump wins. If no trump was played, the highest card of the led suit wins. The trick winner gathers the 4 cards face down in front of their partnership and leads the next trick.
6. Roem (declaring bonuses): When you play a card that completes a Roem combination already in your hand, announce the Roem aloud as you play. The points are added to whichever partnership eventually wins that trick. Sequences run in the natural rank order 7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A.
7. Last trick: Winning the final trick scores +10 (laatste slag).
8. Continue until all 8 tricks are played; tally card points, Roem, and last trick.

Scoring

• Card points (per captured card): Trump J = 20, trump 9 = 14, every Ace = 11, every 10 = 10, every King = 4, every Queen = 3, non-trump J = 2; the 7s, 8s, and non-trump 9s = 0. Total 152.A♠K♠Q♠
• Last trick (laatste slag): +10 to the winning side.
• Roem bonuses: Three-card sequence in one suit = 20; four-card sequence in one suit = 50; four-of-a-kind in 9, 10, J, Q, K, or A ranks = 100; four Jacks specifically = 200 in some clubs (100 in others, agree before play). Stuk (King + Queen of trump) = 20.K♠Q♠J♠3♠
• Bidder threshold (nat): The bidding side must score more than half (82+ of 162 points including Roem). If they fail, they are 'nat' (wet); all 162 points plus any Roem they would have collected go to the defenders for that deal.
• Pit (march): The bidding side wins all 8 tricks: bonus +100 added to their score.
• Match scoring: Sum each side's totals across all deals (typically 16). Higher total wins the match.

Winning

• Deal winner: The side with the higher score for that deal (after applying the nat penalty if the bidder failed).
• Match winner: Higher cumulative total after the agreed number of deals (commonly 16).
• Tie-breaker: If the cumulative totals are tied at the end of the match, play 4 more deals (one per player as dealer) to break the tie.
• Slot bonus: Some clubs award +50 to the bidder if the defenders score zero in the deal; widely a house rule.

Common Variations

• Amsterdams (Amsterdam rules): When your partner is winning the trick and the led suit is non-trump, you may discard freely without trumping. The default rule set in much of the Netherlands.
• Rotterdams (Rotterdam rules): You must always trump and overtrump when void in the led suit, even if your partner is winning. Stricter and more punishing for the bidder.
• Verplicht ondertroeven: A house rule that you must under-trump if you cannot overtrump; rare.
• Ledig (nil): A nil bid where the bidder undertakes to win zero tricks; scores +50 if successful.
• Driemansklaverjas (3-handed): Each player plays alone; one suit chosen as a 'silent partner' Ace pile.
• Klaverjassen op de gezelligheid: Casual home rules with no nat penalty (failed bidder simply scores fewer points instead of zero).

Tips and Strategy

• The trump Jack and 9 carry 34 of the 152 card points; controlling them defines the deal. Bid only with both, or with the Jack plus three other trumps.
• When you hold a long side suit, lead its Ace and 10 first (21 points) before opponents can ruff. Wait until trumps are drawn to set up these big captures.
• Always declare Roem the moment you play the last card of a combination. A forgotten Roem at trick 4 cannot be claimed retrospectively.
• If your side bid the deal, count the running total after each trick. If you cross 82 with three tricks remaining, focus on safe captures rather than chasing the last 10s.
• Defenders should aim to push the bidding side to nat; even one pull-trick that captures one of the 10s or Aces can swing 20+ points and trigger the nat penalty.
• Stuk (K + Q of trump) is 20 free points but signals to opponents that you hold a trump marriage; declare it on a trick you will safely win.

Glossary

• Bidder / declarer: The player who said 'play' to set trump; their partnership becomes the bidding side.
• Roem: A meld of consecutive cards or four-of-a-kind, declared during play for bonus points.
• Stuk: The King + Queen of the trump suit; +20 to the side that wins the trick where the second of the pair is played.K♠Q♠
• Nat (wet): The bidding side failing to score more than half the points; all 162 plus Roem go to the defenders.
• Pit (march): Winning all 8 tricks; +100 bonus.
• Laatste slag: The last trick of the deal; +10 to the winning side.
• Amsterdams: Rule variant allowing discard when partner is winning a non-trump-led trick.
• Rotterdams: Rule variant requiring overtrump always when void.