Klaverjas Rules — Complete Guide

Klaverjas is a 4-player partnership game played with 32 cards (7 to Ace). Each deal a player names trumps; with their partner they must take more than half of the 162 points. Fail and it's nat: the trump team scores nothing and the opponents take everything, including all roem. First team to 500 points wins.

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Deck and players

Only 32 cards are used: ranks 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack (Boer), Queen (Vrouw), King (Heer) and Ace in all four suits. Each of the four players (two partnerships) receives all 8 cards, dealt 3-2-3.

Choosing trumps

The player to the dealer's left looks at their hand and either names a trump suit or passes; then the next player speaks, and so on. If all four pass, the forehand (dealer's left) must still choose trumps.

The first deal of a match is the roefel: clubs are always trumps and forehand plays them.

Card values

In trumps the Jack is the boss of the game (20), followed by the 9 (14). In side suits the Ace rules.

CardTrump valueSide-suit value
Jack (B)202
9140
Ace1111
101010
King (H)44
Queen (V)33
8 / 700

Card points total 152, plus 10 for the last trick: every deal is worth 162 points.

The trump obligation (Amsterdam rules)

You must follow suit whenever you can.

When trumps are led you must beat the highest trump so far — even your partner's. If you cannot, you still play a trump.

Void in the led suit with an opponent winning, you must ruff: overtrump if you can; if you cannot, discard a card of another suit. Under-trumping is only allowed when your hand consists entirely of trumps.

If your partner is winning with a plain card you may play anything. If your partner is winning with a trump, you may discard or overtrump, but you may not under-trump.

Roem: stuk, runs and four of a kind

Combinations that fall complete within one trick score roem for the team that wins the trick. Runs use the natural order: ace, king, queen, jack, ten, nine, eight, seven.

CombinationRoem
Run of three in one suit20
Run of four in one suit50
Run of three including trump K and Q40
Run of four including trump K and Q70
Four kings, queens, aces or tens100
Four jacks200
Stuk: king and queen of trumps20

In this version combinations are scored automatically as soon as the trick is taken — no announcing needed.

Scoring

Each team keeps the card points it captures, plus 10 for the last trick, plus its roem.

The trump-making team must take more than half of the 162 points — at least 82. If it does, each team scores its own points and roem. If it does not (nat), the trump team scores nothing and the opponents get all 162 points and all roem — including the roem claimed by the trump team.

Pit: a team that wins all eight tricks scores a 100-point bonus on top.

The first team to 500 points wins the match.

Frequently asked questions

How many cards are used in Klaverjas?

32 cards — 7 through Ace in all four suits; cards 2 to 6 are removed.

How many players play Klaverjas?

Four players in two fixed partnerships, partners sitting opposite each other.

How is trump chosen in Klaverjas?

The player left of the dealer starts: name a trump suit or pass. If everyone passes, the forehand must still choose trumps. The first deal is the roefel with clubs as trumps.

What is the trump obligation?

You must follow suit; void against an opponent you must ruff and overtrump if possible, and under-trump only when unavoidable. When trumps are led you must beat the highest trump, even your partner's.

What is stuk?

Stuk is the king and queen of trumps: 20 points of roem when they fall in the same trick your team wins.

What is roem worth?

A run of three scores 20, a run of four 50; including trump K and Q 40 and 70. Four kings/queens/aces/tens score 100 and four jacks 200.

What does nat mean?

The trump team takes less than half (fewer than 82 of 162 points): it scores nothing and the opponents get everything, including all roem.

What is pit?

A team winning all eight tricks of the deal scores a 100-point bonus on top of the 162.

Why are there 162 points per deal?

The 32 cards total 152 card points, plus 10 for the last trick.

Is this Klaverjas game really free?

Yes — you can play klaverjassen online free at klaverjas.yeeqia.com directly in your browser, no download or sign-up required to try a table.