Bauernfangen
Austrian card game
Bauernfangen ("catching farmers") is an old, trick-taking card game for 4 – 5 players, that used to be very popular especially in the Upper Austrian Hausruckviertel, and in the German-speaking region of South Bohemia where it was called Bauanfonga. Today it is also played in Lower Austria. It should not be confused with a game of the same name played in Bavaria which resembles Grasoberln except that the Green Unter replaces the Green Ober.
Cards
Bauernfangen is played with a French or double German pack with the suits of Hearts, Diamonds/Bells, Spades/Leaves and Clubs/Acorns. There are five playing cards which rank as follows in descending order: Ace, King, Ober, Unter or Bower (Bauer = "farmer", plural: Bauern), Ten. There is no trump suit.
Rules
There are 4 deals in the first leg and 4 in the return leg. In the first leg, the aim is not to take any Bowers in the tricks; in the return leg, players must aim to capture as many 'farmers' as possible.
At the start of the game, lots are drawn to decide the dealer. He then deals the cards clockwise so that every player has the same number of hand cards.
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