Sheep Head

Card Game Notes

At least how we play it :)

4 Players

Card Ranks/Points
Q ♣	3 points
Q ♠
Q ♥
Q ♦
J ♣	2 points
J ♠
J ♥
J ♦
A ♦	♣ ♠ ♥	11 points
10 ♦	♣ ♠ ♥	10 points
K ♦	♣ ♠ ♥	4 points
9 ♦	♣ ♠ ♥	0 points
8 ♦	♣ ♠ ♥
7 ♦	♣ ♠ ♥
6 ♦	♠

Card Play

Players take turns dealing the cards. Each player is dealt a hand of 8 cards with 2 cards in the blind hand.

Starting to the left of the dealer, each player in turn decides if they can take the lead. If so, that player picks up the blind hand and sets down 2 cards face down out of their hand.These cards are kept and counted later as part of the cards taken by the leader's team.At this point you are playing for The MOST POINTS.

If no one picks up the blind hand, you are playing for The Least Points or a 'Leaster'.

Playing for MOST Points

The Picker and his Partner comprise Team 1. The remaining players comprise Team 2. The Partner is determined by the player who plays the 7♦. If the Picker happens to hold the 7♦, then the Partner is determined by the play of the 8♦ and so on. The Partner may only be revealed by playing the cards which may take a few plays.

Important Note: The card revealing the partner must be played when that suit is lead unless there is no other option for the player (such as playing trump or throwing off another card).

Regardless of who took the Pick, the player to the immediate left of the dealer starts and the card they play determines the suit for that round. Each player in turn lays down a card. Players must follow suit. If they do not have a card in that suit, they may choose to use a trump card or other.The highest card wins the round and that team (or player) takes the cards and earns those points.

Adding Up Points

Each teams adds up their points for each card (see Card Ranks/Points Table above).

If Team 1 collects 61 points they win. If not, they go set and Team 2 wins.

Scoring

Using tokens (or poker chips) is one way to keep score.

Team 1 Points	Team 2 Points
61 or more	29 or less	Each Team 2 member pays 2 Tokens
61 or more	30 or more	Each Team 2 member pays 1 Token
less than 61		Team 1 pays 2 Tokens to each member of Team 2

Traditionally when the teams are even, the Picker would win more or pay more when the teams are not even.

Playing for LEAST Points

There are no teams. The play is similar to the MOST points except that every play is trying to take the least points possible.The player with the least points but took at least 1 trick, wins. A player must take at least one trick to win.

Each player pays 1 token to the winner.

End of Game

Game is over when 8 hands have been played (or each player dealt twice).

Set-Up for 4 Players

Starting with a standard deck of cards, remove the Jokers and cards 5 through 2. Also pull-out the 6♣ and 6♥ leaving the other 6's

3 Player Option

Pull out all 6s, deal 10 cards each and 2 in the blind. Leader plays alone against a team of two.

5 Player Option

Add back the 5♦ leave in all 6s, deal 7 cards each and 2 in the blind.

The Picker and a Partner play against the other three players.

The Partner is determined, by the Picker calls out a non-trump Ace such as 'The Ace of Spades'. The leader must also have a least 1 card of that suit in his hand to play. In rare cases another non-trump card may be requested, if there is not an Ace that meets the criteria.