Watten: The Bavarian and Tyrolean Card Game Where Cheating Is the Rule

Overview

Watten is the most popular card game in Bavaria and Tyrol, played with fierce enthusiasm in Alpine pubs, at kitchen tables, and in tournament halls across southern Germany, western Austria, and the Italian province of South Tyrol. What makes Watten extraordinary — and utterly unique among European card games — is that signaling between partners is completely legal. Winking, nodding, lip-pursing, eyebrow-raising, and even coded verbal cues are not only permitted but expected. In Watten, what would be cheating in any other game is simply how the game is played.

At its core, Watten is a partnership trick-taking game for four players in two teams. Before each hand, the teams determine the Schlag (the winning rank) and the Trumpf (the trump suit), creating a unique hierarchy of card power. Three permanent super-trumps called Kritische sit above everything. Combined with the ability to raise stakes mid-hand (Gehen) and the constant social deception of signaling, Watten becomes a game where reading people matters as much as reading cards.

Watten is deeply rooted in Alpine culture. It is played in virtually every Gasthaus from Munich to Merano, and competitive Watten tournaments (Preiswatten) are major social events in Tyrolean villages. The game's combination of skill, bluff, and boisterous social interaction makes it one of Europe's most distinctive and entertaining card games.

The Watten Deck

Watten is played with a 32-card German-suited deck in Bavaria, or a 33-card deck in Tyrolean variants that include the dedicated Weli card. The four German suits are:

• Herz (Hearts) — typically the most important suit due to the Maxi
• Schellen (Bells) — home of the Weli in Bavarian play
• Eichel (Acorns) — home of the Spitz
• Gras / Laub (Leaves / Grass) — corresponds to Spades

Each suit contains 8 cards ranked (high to low): Ace (Daus/Sau), King (König), Ober, Unter, 10, 9, 8, 7. In Tyrolean decks, the standard Weli is a separate 33rd card rather than the 7 of Bells, often featuring a distinctive and whimsical illustration. This colourful extra card has become an icon of Tyrolean card culture.

Unlike most trick-taking games, card point values do not matter in Watten. There are no points counted within tricks. All that matters is winning 3 of the 5 tricks. This fundamental simplicity is part of what makes Watten so accessible, even though the strategic depth of signaling and raising adds enormous complexity on top.

The Card Hierarchy: Kritische, Schlag, and Trumpf

The card ranking in Watten is unlike any other card game. It is determined by a combination of permanent top trumps (Kritische), the chosen rank (Schlag), and the chosen suit (Trumpf). Understanding this hierarchy is the key to playing Watten.

The Kritische (Permanent Top Trumps)

Three cards are always the highest-ranking cards in the game, regardless of what Schlag and Trumpf are chosen. They are called the Kritische (critical cards):

1. Maxi — The King of Hearts. Always the single highest card in the game. Named “Maxi” in Bavarian dialect (short for Maximilian, honouring the Bavarian kings).
2. Weli — The 7 of Bells (Bavarian) or a special 33rd card (Tyrolean). The second-highest card. The name likely derives from “Belli” (Bells).
3. Spitz — The 7 of Acorns. The third-highest card. Also called “Spitzen” or “Biss” in some regions.

The Rechter and Linke

Below the three Kritische, the next tier of powerful cards is determined by the Schlag (chosen rank) and Trumpf (chosen suit):

• Rechter (Right One) — The card that has both the Schlag rank AND the Trumpf suit. For example, if Schlag is Ober and Trumpf is Acorns, the Acorn Ober is the Rechter. It is the fourth-highest card in the game, after the three Kritische.
• Linke (Left Ones) — The three cards that have the Schlag rank but are in the other three suits (not the Trumpf suit). These three Linke rank below the Rechter but above all regular trump cards. Among the Linke, the one in the Trumpf-adjacent suit sometimes ranks highest, but in most variants all three Linke rank equally (the first one played wins if two Linke clash).

Full Card Hierarchy (Top to Bottom)

1. Maxi (King of Hearts)
2. Weli (7 of Bells / special card)
3. Spitz (7 of Acorns)
4. Rechter (Schlag rank in Trumpf suit)
5. Linke (Schlag rank in the other three suits)
6. Remaining Trumpf-suit cards (by normal rank order: Ace, King, Ober, Unter, 10, 9, 8, 7 — skipping any that are Kritische or Schlag)
7. Non-trump cards (only win if they are the led suit and no trump/Schlag is played)

This layered hierarchy means that the card strength changes with every hand, depending on which Schlag and Trumpf are chosen. A card that was worthless last hand could become the mighty Rechter this hand.

How to Play Watten (Standard Four-Player Game)

The standard game of Watten is played by four players in two fixed partnerships, with partners sitting across from each other. The game unfolds hand by hand, each hand consisting of exactly 5 tricks.

Step 1: Deal

1. Determine the Dealer The first dealer is chosen by any agreed method (cut cards, youngest player, etc.). After each hand, the deal passes clockwise to the next player.
2. Deal 5 Cards Each The dealer shuffles the 32 (or 33) card deck and deals 5 cards to each player, typically in batches of 3 then 2 or 2 then 3. The remaining 12 (or 13) cards are placed aside unseen and are not used during the hand.

Step 2: Choose Schlag and Trumpf

1. Forehand Chooses the Schlag The player to the dealer's left (Forehand) examines their 5 cards and announces the Schlag — the rank that will be the winning rank for this hand. They might say, for example, “Ober!” or “Zehn!” (Ten).
2. Dealer Chooses the Trumpf The dealer then announces the Trumpf — the suit that will be the trump suit. They might say “Herz!” (Hearts) or “Eichel!” (Acorns).
3. Everyone Notes the Hierarchy All players now know the full card hierarchy for this hand. The Rechter (Schlag in Trumpf suit) and the three Linke (Schlag in other suits) are identified.

Step 3: Play Tricks

1. Forehand Leads Forehand plays any card from their hand to start the first trick.
2. No Follow-Suit Obligation In standard Watten, there is no obligation to follow suit. Players may play any card they wish, regardless of what was led. This is a crucial difference from most trick-taking games and opens up enormous tactical possibilities.
3. Determine the Trick Winner The highest-ranked card according to the hierarchy wins the trick. If no Kritischer, Schlag, or Trumpf card is played, the highest card of the led suit wins.
4. Lead the Next Trick The winner of the trick leads the next one. No cards are drawn; players simply play out their 5 cards over 5 tricks.
5. Win 3 Tricks to Win the Hand The first team to take 3 of the 5 tricks wins the hand immediately. There is no need to play out remaining tricks once a team has won their third.

Signaling Between Partners (Deuten)

The most remarkable feature of Watten is the Deuten — the legal practice of signaling between partners. In virtually every other card game in the world, communicating the contents of your hand to your partner is cheating. In Watten, it is a core mechanic.

Signals are not standardized; each partnership develops their own system, and part of the game's social charm is that the opposing team can see these signals too. The challenge is making your signals clear enough for your partner but subtle enough that your opponents cannot exploit them. Here are some commonly used signals across Bavaria and Tyrol:

The signaling tradition gives Watten its uniquely social and lively atmosphere. Tables are loud, players are animated, and the constant cat-and-mouse game of real signals versus fake signals keeps everyone engaged even when they are not the one playing a card. It is this social element that has made Watten endure for centuries in Alpine communities.

Raising the Stakes (Gehen)

The second major strategic layer in Watten, alongside signaling, is the ability to raise the stakes during play. This is called Gehen (going) or Schöner (making it nicer/higher) in some regions.

How Raising Works

• Each hand starts at a default stake of 2 points.
• At any point during the hand — before playing a card, after a trick, or even mid-trick in some variants — a player may announce “Gehen!” (or “Geht's?” meaning “Do you go?”) to raise the stake by 1 point (to 3).
• The opposing team must then decide: accept (continue playing for the higher stake), fold (concede the hand and lose the current stake before the raise), or re-raise (raise again, increasing the stake further).
• Raises can continue back and forth, with the stake climbing to 4, 5, 6, or even higher in theory.
• Only the team that did not raise last may raise next. You cannot raise twice in a row.

Strategic Folding

Knowing when to fold is as important as knowing when to raise. If your team has poor cards and the opponents raise, conceding 2 points is far better than losing 3 or 4. Conversely, a bold raise with a mediocre hand might convince the opponents that you are strong, causing them to fold and give you 2 free points. This poker-like element makes Watten far more than a simple trick-taking game.

Regional Variants

Watten has evolved numerous regional variants across its Alpine homeland. While the core principles remain the same, each region has developed its own distinctive flavour.

Bavarian Watten (Bayerisches Watten)

The standard form played throughout Bavaria. Uses a 32-card German-suited deck with the 7 of Bells serving as the Weli. Schlag and Trumpf are announced openly, and signaling (Deuten) is legal and enthusiastically practised. This is the version most commonly encountered in Munich beer halls and rural Bavarian inns.

Tyrolean Watten (Tiroler Watten)

Played in the Austrian state of Tyrol and the Italian province of South Tyrol. Uses a 33-card deck with the dedicated Weli card. In some Tyrolean communities, Schlag and Trumpf are announced openly as in Bavaria. The Weli card is a cultural icon in Tyrol, and decks featuring regional artistic designs for the Weli are collectors' items.

Blind Watten (Blindwatten)

The most dramatic variant, especially popular in South Tyrol (Alto Adige). In Blind Watten, the Schlag and Trumpf are not announced openly. Instead:

• Forehand secretly selects the Schlag and signals it to their partner using Deuten.
• The Dealer secretly selects the Trumpf and signals it to their partner.
• The opposing pair must deduce the Schlag and Trumpf from the cards played and signals observed.

Blind Watten elevates the signaling element to the centrepiece of the entire game. Every gesture, glance, and twitch becomes critical intelligence. This variant produces the most animated and entertaining games and is the form most commonly played in South Tyrolean tournaments.

Ladinisches Watten (Ladin Watten)

Played by the Ladin-speaking communities in the Dolomite valleys of South Tyrol. Ladin Watten follows the Blind Watten format but has specific local conventions for signaling and some unique rules about which Kritische are recognized. The game is an important part of Ladin cultural identity.

Böhmisch Watten (Bohemian Watten)

Böhmisch Watten (Bohemian Watten) is a variant historically played in Bohemia and parts of upper Austria. It differs from standard Watten in the number of Kritische recognized and in certain rules about following suit. Some versions of Böhmisch Watten require players to follow suit when a Kritischer is led, adding a constraint absent from standard Bavarian play. This variant is less commonly encountered today but survives in some communities.

Frog Watten (Froschwatten)

A lighthearted party variant where additional penalty rules apply. For example, a player who wins zero tricks in a hand may be designated the “Frog” and must buy the next round of drinks, or suffer some other humorous forfeit. This variant is popular at informal social gatherings and is not taken as seriously as competitive Watten.

Why Watten Is Unique in the Card Game World

Watten occupies a singular position among the world's card games for several reasons:

• Legal signaling — No other widely played card game officially permits and encourages partners to communicate their hands through gestures and expressions.
• No follow-suit obligation — The freedom to play any card at any time is rare in trick-taking games and opens up strategic possibilities impossible in games like Bridge or Skat.
• Dynamic trumps — With the Schlag and Trumpf changing every hand, no two hands play the same. The interaction between permanent Kritische and variable Schlag/Trumpf creates a unique hierarchy system.
• Integrated bluffing — The Gehen (raising) mechanism brings poker-like stakes negotiation into a trick-taking framework, rewarding psychological play alongside card play.
• Deep cultural roots — Watten is not just a game but a social institution in Alpine communities. It is played at weddings, funerals, festivals, and routine pub nights with equal enthusiasm.

Strategy Tips

Frequently Asked Questions