Sheepshead: play online for free (solo & multiplayer)

Sheepshead is a classic trick-taking game of German origin, played by 4 players. In Euchre the trump suit changes every hand. In Spades it's always one plain suit. Sheepshead's trump never changes, but it isn't a single suit. All Queens, all Jacks, and all diamonds are trump, in every hand. Secret partnerships and point-based scoring mean you'll be thinking on every trick. If you like point-based trick play, try Pinochle too.

The game is free to play and can be played online. No download or registration is required! You can play solo against our bots, join tables with other players online, or create a private table to play with friends and family. So start up a game and let the fun begin!

Sheepshead by the numbers

Real totals from every game of Sheepshead played on World of Card Games, updated October 2026.

Rules

Here's everything you need to play your first hand. For the complete reference and an interactive tutorial that walks you through a real game, see our guide on how to play Sheepshead.

Objective

Every hand splits the table into the picker's team and the defenders. The deck holds 120 card points and the picker's team needs 61 of them to win the hand. The defenders win by holding the picker's team to 60 or fewer. A game runs 4 scored hands and the highest cumulative score wins.

The deal and the pick

Sheepshead uses a 32-card deck, the 7 through Ace of each suit. All Queens, all Jacks and all diamonds are permanent trump, 14 cards ranked from the Queen of Clubs at the top down to the 7 of Diamonds. The other 18 cards form the three "fail" suits (clubs, spades and hearts), each ranked Ace, 10, King, 9, 8, 7. Four players get 7 cards each and the last 4 cards go face down in the middle as the "blind". Starting left of the dealer, each player may pick up the blind or pass. If everyone passes, the next dealer deals a new hand and the passed hand does not count as one of the 4 hands.

Whoever picks takes the blind into their hand and buries 4 cards face down. The buried cards stay out of play but count toward the picker's points at the end of the hand. The picker then calls a partner by naming a fail suit Ace. Whoever holds that Ace is secretly on the picker's team and nobody else knows until the Ace is played. The picker must hold at least one card of the called suit and keep one until that suit is led. A picker who has all three fail suit Aces, in hand or buried, may call a 10 instead. A picker with a very strong hand can also go alone and play 1 against 3 defenders.

The play

The player left of the dealer leads the first trick with any card. Everyone must follow suit if they can. Remember that Queens, Jacks and diamonds all count as trump, not as their printed suits. If you can't follow, you may play any card, except a card you must keep for the called suit. The highest card of the led suit takes the trick unless someone played trump, in which case the highest trump takes it. The winner leads the next trick and a hand lasts 7 tricks.

Scoring and winning

Each Ace is worth 11 card points, each 10 is worth 10, Kings 4, Queens 3 and Jacks 2. After the last trick, both sides count the points in their tricks and the picker adds the buried cards. If the picker's team reaches 61, each defender pays each player on the picker's team 1 game point. That grows to 2 if the defenders took under 30 card points (called schneider) and 3 if they took no tricks at all (schwarz). If the picker's team falls short, the upset doubles the stakes, so each of its players pays each defender 2, 4 or 6 instead. After 4 scored hands, the highest score wins the game.

How to win at Sheepshead

These tips come from real games on this site. The big skills are knowing when to pick, burying the right cards and counting points on the way to 61.

Picking:

• Pick when you have 3 or more high trump cards, especially Queens and Jacks.
• Strong fail suit Aces add real value too. Each one is worth 11 points and usually wins its trick.
• Don't pick a weak hand and hope the blind saves you. It's 4 random cards and losing as the picker costs double.
• The blind can strengthen your hand, but it can also disappoint. Pick conservatively if you're in an early position.

Burying:

• Bury point cards you can't protect. Buried points count toward your 61 and can never be captured.
• Don't bury trump cards unless you have many extras. You'll need them to win tricks.
• Think twice before burying a fail suit Ace. It's worth 11 points, but it's also your best trick winner outside trump.

Calling a partner:

• Call the Ace of a suit where you hold only a low card or two. You must keep at least one card of the called suit and a thin holding there costs you the least.
• Calling a suit where you have the 10 can be strong. Your partner plays the Ace for 11 points, you follow with the 10 for 10 more, and that's 21 points in one trick.

Playing:

• Count trump as it falls. There are 14 trump cards. Once they're gone your fail suit Aces and 10s run the table.
• Lead trump early if you're the picker. It draws out the defenders' trump and keeps you in control.
• As a defender, leading the called suit forces the Ace out and shows you who the picker's partner is.
• Throw your Aces and 10s onto tricks your side is winning. Points win hands, not tricks.
• Keep a rough point count. You only need 61 and knowing where you stand tells you which tricks are worth fighting for.

Frequently asked questions

What is trump in Sheepshead?

Trump is a permanent suit consisting of all Queens, all Jacks, and all diamonds (14 cards total). Trump cards always beat fail suit cards and are ranked Queen of Clubs (highest) down to 7 of Diamonds (lowest).

What is a fail suit?

Fail suits are clubs, spades, and hearts (excluding their Queens and Jacks, which are trump). Each fail suit has 6 cards ranked Ace, 10, King, 9, 8, 7.

What is the blind?

The blind is the set of 4 cards dealt face down in the center of the table. The picker takes these cards into their hand and then must bury 4 cards, which count toward their final point total.

What does it mean to pick?

Picking means taking the blind cards and becoming the picker (the player who leads the offensive team). The picker calls a partner and their team must capture at least 61 points to win.

How do you call a partner?

The picker calls a partner by naming an Ace of a fail suit (clubs, spades, or hearts). Whoever holds that Ace becomes the partner, but their identity stays hidden until the called Ace is played.

What is schneider?

Schneider (German for "tailor") means the losing side was beaten badly and it doubles the payment. Defenders are in schneider when they finish with 29 card points or fewer. Each defender then pays each player on the picker's team 2 game points instead of 1. The picker's team is in schneider at 30 card points or fewer. Each of its players then pays each defender 4 instead of 2.

What is schwarz?

Schwarz (German for "black") occurs when the losing team fails to win a single trick. It triples the payment. Defenders in schwarz pay each player on the picker's team 3 game points instead of 1. A picker's team in schwarz pays each defender 6 instead of 2.

What does it mean to bury cards?

After picking the blind, the picker must bury (set aside face down) 4 cards. These buried cards count toward the picker's point total but cannot be played during the hand.

How do I play Sheepshead with friends?

Host a private table and invite your friends. Click the round yellow Play button at the table's top left to open the Play menu. Choose "Host table", turn on "Private table" and type a table name. At your new table, click "Invite players" and copy the link for your friends. Friends can also choose "Join private" in the same menu and type the same name.

Can I play Sheepshead against the computer?

Yes. This page starts you in a game against three bots right away, which is a good way to learn the trump ranking before facing live players. For another game, click the round yellow Play button to open the Play menu and choose "New game".

Can 2 people play Sheepshead?

Sheepshead here is a 4-player game, so two people can't play it alone. You and a friend can share a private table and fill the two remaining seats with bots.

How long does a game of Sheepshead take?

About 6 minutes on average across the games played on this site. A game is 4 scored hands, so each player usually deals once.

Is Sheepshead free to play here?

Yes. Sheepshead is free in your browser with no download and no signup. You only need an account if you want to keep long-term stats or play ranked games.

What games are similar to Sheepshead?

If you enjoy Sheepshead, try the site's other trick-taking games, such as Hearts, Spades, Euchre, Whist and Bridge.