Scherwenzel
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Scherwenzel or Scharwenzel is a 16th century, German, gambling game played with cards and named after the Unters or Jacks that had special privileges. It appears to have been an elaboration of Grobhäusern or Färbeln played in Germany, Poland, Silesia and Bohemia, but especially in Bavaria in which the Unters were variously known as Scharwenzels, Scherwenzels, Scherers or Wenzels. They, and to some extent also the Nines, functioned as wildcards. According to Adelung, Grobhäusern, on which it was based, was "far simpler than Scherwenzeln".[1][2][3]
An historical south German gambling game | |
Origin | South Germany |
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Alternative names | Scharwenzel |
Type | Gambling game |
Players | 4 |
Deck | French or German-suited cards |
This game should not be confused with the north German partnership game of Scharwenzel, in which the Jacks have no special role, but the top trumps, as in Hombre and Solo are the black Queens and trump 7.