OT: Sheepshead? Has anyone played it?

[Poli]

Just curious. It's a game you can play online in the yahoo games section.

I started playing it at work around April this year. Now I play nearly every day, whether at work, or at home online. At work, we keep "World Standings" for the 8-10 of us that play regularly. In fact, it's somewhat competitive just to sit at the table. Only 5 can play at a time, but we'll let 6 sit at the table (the dealer rotates and sits out of the hand). It's kind of like Euchre and Spades.

Just wondering if there are any other Mauers out there.

[revrew]

Yes, my family is from Wisconsin, so we've played sheepshead at every family gathering for the last 30 years. I've played on Yahoo Games a few times myself, but I rarely KNOW that I won't be interrupted, and I hate abandoning games, so I don't play that often. (I think I'm rated in the high 1500's right now, though I have been as high as 1750).

BTW, I play leasters, JD partner, rated games -- exclusively.

Love the game.

[Poli]

Sweet! I find myself playing leasters, but I bounce back and forth between JD and called ace.

We usually just play called ace at work unless someone is preparing for a JD tournament.

[Ramzavail]

I play it sometimes with friends, but I am a beginner, I just started looking around yahoo recently to begin playing on there.

[revrew]

Originally Posted by ardent enthusiast

Sweet! I find myself playing leasters, but I bounce back and forth between JD and called ace.

We usually just play called ace at work unless someone is preparing for a JD tournament.

I grew up playing JD, so I'm biased toward that rule. The thing I love about the game is no one knows who your partner is. Can't think of any other games like that. I also like the number of "unwritten" rules and tells involved (like poker, I suppose; it has that element of strategy). And like, say, blackjack, there is an inherent advantage to knowing every single card that has been played in the game thus far. My wife's family plays Rook, and after they taught me the game, they would just stare at me and say, "How did you know your nine would be high in that suit?" I smile and say, "Because 10-14 and the 1 were already played, of course." They think I'm a card-playing god, and it's only because I've been playing Sheepshead all my life.

[TredWel]

I was part of a card-playing contingent in college, and it was in our repetoire of games. A great five player game (can't think of many other card games that suit that many people), and the element of intrigue certainly fit our style of play.

Recently we played it using cards from a Tarot Deck, an experiment that went surprisingly well.

[moriarty]

Originally Posted by revrew

Yes, my family is from Wisconsin, so we've played sheepshead at every family gathering for the last 30 years.

Interesting, my Dad's from Wisconsin and he always talks about playing Sheepshead even though I've never even seen it played. You would think Wisconsin would share with the rest of the world like they do their cheese.

[Ramzavail]

speaking of a card-playing contingent, I was in one too.

Our favorite game to play with 4 people was hi-lo-jack or setback or pitch - but you can never find that game to play online

now that is a great game.

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by Ramzavail

speaking of a card-playing contingent, I was in one too.

Our favorite game to play with 4 people was hi-lo-jack or setback or pitch - but you can never find that game to play online

now that is a great game.

My card playing bunch played Spades, Hearts, and a domino game called Texas-42. I did very poorly those two years of college, but I can count a single deck shoe in my sleep.

[Craptacular]

Born and bred Cheesehead. Played a lot of Sheepshead in high school study hall and in the dorms at UW. Sad to say I haven't played it in 4 or 5 years now. It is a great game though.

[Hurst2112]

Originally Posted by revrew

Yes, my family is from Wisconsin, so we've played sheepshead at every family gathering for the last 30 years. I've played on Yahoo Games a few times myself, but I rarely KNOW that I won't be interrupted, and I hate abandoning games, so I don't play that often. (I think I'm rated in the high 1500's right now, though I have been as high as 1750).

BTW, I play leasters, JD partner, rated games -- exclusively.

Love the game.

I was just gonna say, "Isn't that a right of passage for Wisconsinites?" I remember endless summer nights watching grandparents and family playing it...with their whiskey old fashionds.

[timmae]

here, here.... although I didn't realize just how the game was confined to wisconsin borders until I left. Wow.

[Poli]

Originally Posted by timmae

here, here.... although I didn't realize just how the game was confined to wisconsin borders until I left. Wow.

Incredibly true. When I play online and say I'm from Missouri, flags go up.

Truth be told I learned at the base in Great Lakes (Chicago) from a couple of Cheeseheads from Kenosha.