Overview

Klørsjavs is a point-trick game in which the aim is to take points in tricks. Players bid to become the declarer who may then exchange with the talon cards, known as the "cat", and then play against the two defenders. A 20-card, Danish pattern, French-suited pack is used, comprising the A K Q Kn and 5 from a standard pack. The jacks are known as knaves. Cards rank in natural order, except in clubs which is the trump suit and ranks as follows: ♣Q ♠Q ♣Kn ♠Kn ♥Kn ♦Kn ♣A ♣K ♣5.^[7] The trumps may be known as Wenzels (see also Scharwenzel and Skaervinsel).

The card have the normal ace–ten values except that the fives are worth 10 points because there are no tens. The aces and fives are known as "counters" because of their high value. There are thus 120 points in the game. One player is nominated as the scorer.^[7]

Deal

The scorer is usually the first dealer. Thereafter the deal rotates to the left. After shuffling and offering to the right to cut, the dealer deals a packet of 3 cards each, then 2, face down, to the table, and another 3 cards each (3-(2)-3), so that each player has 6 cards and there are 2 in the cat.^[7]

Bidding

Beginning with forehand to the dealer's left. There is now a single round of bidding in which players may "play" or "pass". As soon as any player announces "play", the bidding is over and that player becomes the declarer. If all pass, the cards are redealt.^[7]

Exchanging

The declarer may now exchange with the cat – called 'stroking the cat' – by discard 2 cards and picking up the cat. The declarer may re-look at the discards up to the point when the first card is led. If the declarer chooses not to use the cat, it is left unseen until the end. In either case the discards or the cat and any points therein count to the declarer at the end.^[7]

Play

Forehand leads to the first trick. Players must follow suit if able, otherwise may play any card. The trick is won by the highest card of the led suit, or the highest trump if any trumps are played. The trick winner leads to the next trick.^[7]

Scoring

The declarer needs to score at least 61 to win. Each player begins with 60 øre (= points) and øre are deducted for losing as follows:^[7]

Declarer scores 120 points: defenders lose 16 øre each Declarer scores 91-119 points: defenders lose 8 øre each Declarer scores 61-90 points: defenders lose 4 øre each Declarer scores 1-60 points: declarer loses 8 øre Declarer takes no tricks: declarer loses 16 øre (or 8 if he or she folded before play began)

The first player to reach 0 øre or below has lost and pays the agreed penalty e.g. a round of drinks, a sum of money (such as 10 kr) or performs 10 press-ups. If two players reach 0 in the same deal, the one with the lower score in the previous deal loses. If that was the same, a decider is played. A player finishing on 60 øre may also be penalised with e.g. a bottle of port.^[7]

Variations

Overview

Faroese Sjavs uses 32 cards from a standard pack, the numerals 2 to 6 being left out. There are 6 permanent trumps which rank as follows: ♣Q ♠Q ♣J ♠J ♥J and ♦J. Cards have their usual ace–ten values giving a total of 120 points in the pack. The declarer thus needs over 60 to win. There are bonuses for scoring 90 or more and for taking all tricks. Players start with 24 points and the objective is to get down to 0 and have a few 'crosses'. A cross is awarded for reaching 0 while the opposing team remains stuck on 24.^[10]

Deal

Normally the player who is the scorer deals first. The dealer shuffles well and lays the cards in front of the cutter, the player on the right, who knocks or cuts the pack. If the cutter knocks, players are dealt all 8 cards at once; if the cards are cut, the dealer deals two rounds of 4 cards each. In the event of a misdeal, the cards are redealt by the next dealer.^[10]

Auction

The player to the left of the dealer opens the auction, followed by the rest in turn. The aim is to decide who will choose trumps. A player must have at least 5 cards in one suit in hand in order to bid, otherwise must say "pass". A player who is unable to overcall the preceding players must also pass.<^[10]

When bidding, a player should always announce the longest suit in hand. This is the one with most cards, including the permanent trumps. If there ar two of equal length, a bid in clubs is better than one in another suit, also called a simple bid (meld í simplum). A simple bid may be overcalled by one in clubs by saying "better" .e.g. if someone has already bid "5", it may be overcalled by "5 better" (even if the earlier bidder also intended to entrump clubs).^[10]

Play

Forehand leads to the first trick and the trick winnner leads to the next. If no trumps are played, the highest card of the led suit wins the trick; otherwise the highest trump wins. Suit must be followed if possible; otherwise any card may be played. However, if a trick is trumped a later player must overtrump.^{[10][lower-alpha 2]}

Scoring

The game points won are deducted from the starting total of 24. If the declaring team win they score game points as follows:^[10]

• Simple game, 61-89 points: 2 /
• Simple game, 90-120 points: 4 /
• Simple game, all tricks: 12 /
• Simple game; one player takes all tricks: 16
• Clubs, 61-89 points: 4 /
• Clubs, 90-120 points: 8 /
• Clubs, all tricks: 16 /
• Clubs; one player takes all tricks: 24

If the declaring team lose, the defenders score as follows:^[10]

• Simple game: 4
• Clubs: 8

If no-one bids, the winning team always get 4 points. In the event of a tie, 60-60, the winners of the next game score an additional 2 points in a simple game or 4 points in clubs. The scoresheet is drawn up as a ladder with the two teams marked "We" and "They" (Vit and Tit).^[10]

The system described by John McLeod at pagat.com is more elaborate if the defenders win. If the declaring side score 31-59, the defenders get 4 in a simple game or 8 if clubs were trumps. If the declarers score 0-30, they get 8 or 16 respectively, and if the declaring team fail to take a trick the defenders score 16 regardless. Winning all tricks is a vol, scoring 30 or fewer is a javn (equivalent of a jann), escaping this is at vera javnfrujjur.^[1]

Variations

McLeod also records a version of Faroes Sjavs played at Tórshavn on the island of Streymoy as well as a three- and two-hand variant and variations from the island of Suðuroy. These are summarised below:^[1]