Rufjass

Rufjass is a traditional Swiss card game played with a 36-card German-suited deck, typically originating from the cantons of Bern and Valais. The game is a trick-taking game for four players, played in two fixed partnerships. Players sit opposite their partners.

The objective of Rufjass is to score points by winning tricks, and particularly by winning specific combinations of cards. The game is played in rounds, and a target score is usually set beforehand, with the first partnership to reach it winning. Points are awarded for taking tricks, for holding certain high-ranking cards, and for calling "Ruf" or "Jass" at opportune moments.

The deck consists of 36 cards, with ranks from 6 to 10, Under (Buur), Over (Nell), King (König), and Ace (As) in each of the four suits: Hearts (Guugger), Spades (Schild), Clubs (Eichel), and Diamonds (Schellen). The trump suit is determined at the start of each round.

Rufjass is characterized by its strategic depth, requiring players to remember which cards have been played and to communicate effectively with their partner through their play. While simple in its basic rules, mastering the game involves understanding bidding strategies and defensive play. It is a popular social game in certain regions of Switzerland.