Schlauch was a three-hand, bidding and trick-taking game played with 32 German-suited cards in which the aim was to win the auction and achieve one's selected contract.

The dealer shuffles, offers it to the right for cutting and then places the bottom card of the pack on the table face up.

The dealer then discards 2, showing any ace or any card of the turnup suit to the others first.

Beginning with forehand to the left, players pass or announce a contract.

If all pass, a force game of Schlauch in the turnup suit may be played in which the one with the most card points wins.

A loss by the declarer incurs 4 or 8 marks respectively, while the defenders score 100 or 200 points each.

After each round of three hands, players compare scores and, for every 100 points a player has in excess of another the latter incurs 1 penalty stroke and whoever has the fewest points also incurs a penalty stroke.