Rotterdam or Amsterdam rules
Rotterdam and Amsterdam klaverjas differ in a single rule: do you have to trump when your partner is already winning the trick?
Updated
The difference in one sentence
If you can't follow suit and your partner is already winning the trick, in Rotterdam you still have to trump. In Amsterdam you don't: you may play any card.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the strictest variant. If you can't follow suit you must always trump, and overtrump if trump has already been played and you can. It doesn't matter who is winning the trick, not even when it's your partner.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the same, with one exception: if your partner is winning the trick when it's your turn, you don't have to trump. You may play any card, such as a ten to give your partner points, or a low card to save your trumps. If the opponents are winning, you do have to trump.
Example
Left leads the 8 of clubs, your partner plays the ace of clubs and right plays the 9 of clubs. You have no clubs left.
- Rotterdam: you must trump, even though your partner is already winning.
- Amsterdam: your partner is winning, so you may play anything. Add a card with points or discard a low card.
What stays the same?
Everything else: card order and values, roem, nat and pit. In the Klaverjas Club app you choose the variant when you start a game, and the rules of your variant are always on hand during play.
FAQ
Questions
Which variant is more popular?
It depends on the region and the club. Rotterdam rules are common in competitions, Amsterdam rules at the kitchen table. Try both in the app.
