Origin
The term ''Schneider'' ("tailor") is German and comes from the medieval guild of tailors. Tailoring was a trade often associated with financial difficulties. For example, the pejorative remark "a tailor doesn't weigh more than 30 lots", alluding to a tailor being underweight, was a common saying. People who were financially better off were thus "out of ''Schneider''" i.e. "off the hook". In the 19th century, the term was also used by student fraternities. The drinking game "Lustig, meine Sieben", in which a pair of scissors was drawn on the table if one scored under 30 points, called the loser of the game a "tailor", who then had to drink twice the amount. In the wake of this the term was probably transferred to the then still relatively new game of Skat, which spread quickly, especially among Thuringian and Saxon students, and is now Germany's national game. The colloquial proverb fromCard games
In certain card games, mainly point-trick games fromSkat
In the German national sport of Skat there are 120 card points in play and therefore a player needs at least 61 points to win the game. If the declarer scores 90 points or more (i. e. the defenders have 30 or fewer points), then the opponents are ''Schneider'' and the declarer is credited with a higher game score. Likewise, a declarer who fails to score at least 31 is ''Schneider'' and loses by a higher amount. An extension of ''Schneider'' is ''Schwarz''. This is where all the tricks are won by one player or partnership and achieve an even higher game score. In order to achieve ''Schwarz'', the opponent or opponents must not have won any tricks at all, even those which do not score any card points. In ''Hand'' games where the ''skat'' (the two cards in the talon or stock) is not picked up, the declarer may announce ''Schneider'', or ''Schneider'' and ''Schwarz''. In open games ''Schwarz'' is automatically assumed and the game value increases accordingly. The player loses the game at this value, however, if he does not achieved the announced goal. Should the player become ''Schneider'' or ''Schwarz'' in this situation, there is no additional penalty; i.e. you cannot ''Schneider'' yourself.Schafkopf
In the game ofSchnapsen and 66
In Austria's national game,Bauernschnapsen
In Bauernschnapsen, a variant of Schnapsen for four players, the term ''Schneider'' is used in a different way. In this game the aim is to be first to score 24 game points over several deals. This feat is recorded with a ''Bummerl'' or blob for the losers. However, if a team wins 24-0, the losers are ''Schneider'' and receive 2 ''Bummerls''.''Bauernschnapsen''Other card games
Other card games that use the terms ''Schneider'' or ''Schwarz'' include: * Bavarian Tarock * Bohemian Schneider * Elfern *Darts
In German darts competitions, ''Schneider'' occurs if the game or leg is ended and the loser has not achieved enough points from which it is possible to end the game with 3 darts. In a ''double out'' this is 170 points, in a ''triple out'' or ''master out'' it is 180 points. The term was probably borrowed from Skat.''Matsch''
In some games, particularly of Austrian or south German origin, the term ''Matsch'' ("mud"), formerly ''Mätsch'' or ''Martsch'', is used instead of ''Schneider'', but often has the same meaning in card games. A player or team that has lost and typically scored fewer than ¼ of the points is said to be 'in the mud' (''im Matsch'', ''Matsch werden'') or ''gematscht'' and usually has to pay double. To 'make a march' (''einen Matsch machen'') means to win all tricks. Examples include Einwerfen, German Tarok, Hundertspiel, Mariage, Skwitz andReferences
External links