Sheep’s Head (Sheepshead) Rules & Scoring

Deck and rank

With five players, deal six cards each and two to the blind. Starting left of the dealer, players may pick or pass.
The picker takes the blind and buries two cards. Buried card points count for the picker’s side.
Standard five-player partnership uses either the called ace or J♦ rule. Agree which before dealing. The picker may instead announce going alone.
If everyone passes, use the agreed no-picker rule: leaster, doubler/redeal, or another house choice.

The player left of the dealer leads the first trick. Follow the led suit when able; all trump count as one suit.
If void, play any fail card or trump. Highest trump wins; without trump, highest card of the led fail suit wins.
The trick winner leads next. After all six tricks, count card points by side.

Picker’s side wins with 61–90: picker +2, partner +1, each defender −1.
Picker’s side wins with 91–119 (schneider): +4, +2, −2. Taking every trick: +6, +3, −3.
Picker’s side loses with 31–60: normally −2, −1, +1. With double on the bump, use −4, −2, +2.
Picker’s side loses with 1–30: normally −4, −2, +2. With double on the bump, use −8, −4, +4.
If the opposition takes every trick, picker −9, each defender +3, partner 0. Every hand must sum to zero.

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