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Brus (card game)

Brus is a four-hand card game of German descent that was once played in Denmark and Estonia. The game is descended from the oldest known card game in Europe, Karnöffel, a fact testified by its unusual card ranking and lack of a uniform trump suit.

Brus
Danish and Estonian version of Brusbart
The Brus
OriginNorth Germany
TypePlain-trick game
FamilyKarnöffel group
Players4
Cards36
DeckFrench pack
Rank (high→low)J♣ K♥ 8♠ 9s As Js 6s
Windmills: Ks Qs 8s 10s
PlayClockwise
Related games
Bräus • Brús • Bruus • Drużbart • Voormsi
Features 'chancing' and 'smacking';
double and triple tricks;
K♣ (Stodderkongen) with special powers.

Brus is designed for four players and is played with 36 cards of a French pack, each of the four suits comprising the cards 6-10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace.

History edit

Brus is described as an old Jutlandish game, but its rules and terminology suggest that it is descended from the centuries-old German game of Brusbart, now known as Bruus, which was once the national game of Hamburg and which spread across most of northern Europe spawning a family of games such as Russian Bruzbart, Polish Drużbart, Swedish Bräus, Greenlandic Voormsi and others. Brusbart in turn is descended from Karnöffel, the oldest card game in Europe with a continuous tradition of play down to the present day, a fact testified to by "the wildly disturbed ranking order in the chosen suit and particularly by the special role of the chosen Seven".[1][2][a]

Estonian Brus edit

Swedish-speaking peoples used to live on the Estonian islands until 1944 and, in 1855, were recorded by Russwurm as playing Brus. Although the description of the rules is scanty, the matadors are those typical of the Brus family of games: K♥, 8♠ and J♣. The Sevens are called friare and the aim is to win five tricks, presumably from a total of nine.[3]

Danish Brus edit

Much more detail is known of the Danish variant of Brus which was part of West Jutland's rural culture in the first half of the 19th century.[4] For example, it is described as one of two games[b] played around Christmas time by the older folk in Skanderup in the Danish county of Ribe. It was not played for money; instead the score was chalked up, presumably on a slate or the table. The top trumps were the Spidt (Jack of Clubs), Brus (King of Hearts) and Gal Hund (Eight of Spades). The men would play cards all evening while drinking schnapps and beer and reminiscing about the Napoleonic Wars.[5]

The rules of the Danish game are described in various sources from 1853 to 1973. It is a 36-card, 4-player game, with the same matadors as those in the Estonian game. Players received 3 hand cards and played for the best of nine tricks.[3]

There is evidence that the game is still be being taught and played in Denmark.[6][c] Unsurprisingly, its mechanics are very similar to its German Schleswig cousin, Bruus, played south of the border in German west Jutland.

Rules edit

Card ranking in Brus
Matadors
J♣ K♥ 8♠
Trick cards
9♣ 9♠ 9♥ 9♦ A♣ A♠ A♥ A♦ J♠ J♥ J♦ 6♣ 6♠ 6♥ 6♦
Sevens - unbeatable when led except by K♣
7♣ 7♠ 7♥ 7♦
Windmills (worthless cards)
K♣ K♠ K♦ Q♣ Q♠ Q♥ Q♦ 10♣ 10♠ 10♥ 10♦ 8♣ 8♥ 8♦

The following rules for Danish Brus are based on Smith's reconstruction of three Danish texts dating to 1853, 1920 and 1952.[3]

Cards edit

A 36-card, Danish-pattern pack is used. Cards rank as follows:[3]

  • J♣ - Spids
  • K♥ - Brus
  • 8♠ - Galhund or Gale Hund
  • Nines
  • Aces
  • Jacks
  • Sixes

The top three cards - Spids, Brus and Galhund - are the matadors. The Nines, Aces, Jacks and Sixes are called 'trick cards' (stikkort) and, at each rank, beat each other in suit order: and . The Sevens have a special role: they are unbeatable when led to a trick, except by a Seven of a higher suit or by the K♣ – the Stodderkonge[d] or Beggar King – otherwise the Sevens are worthless and cannot beat anything.[3] If the Beggar King is played, it can only be beaten by the K♠, nicknamed Kristian Andersen. Apart from these circumstances, neither King had any value. This was also true of the remaining cards: the other Kings, the Queens, Tens and Eights (except the Galhund). The worthless cards are 'windmills' and can never win a trick unless all four cards are windmills, in which case the led card wins.[3]

Players edit

Four players form two teams of two for the session with partners sitting opposite one another. Three may also play, each playing alone.[3]

Dealing edit

Players cut for the deal, lowest card deals first. Three cards are dealt clockwise to each player in one batch, starting with the dealer. The rest are placed face down on the table to form the talon.[3]

Playing edit

Forehand (left of dealer) leads to the first trick; the winner of a trick leads to the next. There is no requirement to follow suit, trump or head the trick. Players may always play any card. As in other games in the family, two or three cards of the same rank may be led and all must be beaten to win the double- or triple-trick thus arising. For example, Galhund and two other Eights can only be beaten by Spids or Brus and any two trick cards. When the trick is taken, players replenish their cards in order starting with the trick winner.[e][3]

Chancing and smacking edit

A player with the Galhund or Brus may say "I'll chance it" or "I dare"[7] as the card is played. This is only permitted, however, if a higher matador is still in play and not held by the chancer, if the talon is not exhausted, if another player has yet to play to the trick and if winning the bonus would not result in winning the rubber. The chancer scores a point unless the matador is 'smacked' by a higher card played by an opponent in which case the opposing side score two points. If the 8♠ is chanced and smacked by the K♥, but beaten in turn by the J♣, it is an 'oversmack' and worth 3 points, unless the K♥ was also chanced in which case it is worth 4 points. If a card is found to be unlawfully chanced, it is automatically smacked.[3]

Scoring edit

 
Traditional scoring system in Brus

In addition to the bonuses for chancing and smacking, the team that wins the most tricks in each deal scores a point. Two points are scored for winning the first 5 tricks i.e. winning 5–0. [3]

To keep score, players draw a so-called 'comb', a horizontal line with vertical lines drawn across it at right angles. Each team has one half of the comb and points are scored by erasing or striking out the lines on the team's side of the comb. The first side to erase or cross off all its lines wins. Game is usually 9 points.[3]

Ringkøbing variant edit

In a variant originally played in Ringkøbing during the 1950s and 1960s, there are the following differences from the above rules:[6]

  • Trick cards are called 'counting cards' (Kortenes værdi), the Sevens and K♣ are 'hawks' (høge) and the windmills are just called non-beaters (Ikke-stikkere)
  • The talon is called bunken
  • Fives are retained and the Tens are removed.
  • If a 7 is played, an opponent with the K♣ can beat it, saying "I'll hawk it", and score a bonus point.
  • There is no equivalent of the K♠, Kristian Andersen
  • A player with 3 cards may take over and lead to the triple trick automatically
  • Game is thirteen points. A 5–0 win is called a jan but is still worth 2 points.
  • At 12 points, a team may not chance because the winning point has to be for winning a deal. If a team does score a bonus point to reach 13, they receive a penalty point or 'chimney' and now have to score 14.

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ In terms of the card ranking and role of the Sevens in Brus, all four suits are 'chosen'.
  2. ^ The other being Hundred and One.
  3. ^ The rules are based on those learned during the 1950s and 1960s in Ringkøbing.
  4. ^ Literally "Beggar King" or "Vagabond King", the Stodderkonge was a 19th-century Danish official who was responsible for policing the vagrants, vagabonds, beggars of a district, an analogy for the way the K♣ 'sweeps up' the Sevens as if they were beggars.
  5. ^ Comparison with the closely related Bruus suggests that this would be done in one batch.

References edit

  1. ^ Dummett 1981, p. 130.
  2. ^ McLeod 1996, pp. 54/55.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Smith 1997, pp. 45–51.
  4. ^ Feilberg 1899, p. 234.
  5. ^ Korsgaard 1923, p. 111.
  6. ^ a b Regler for kortspillet Brus. at dansogspil.dk. Retrieved 19 Apr 2020.
  7. ^ Dedichen (1952), pp. 121–123.

Literature edit

  • _ (1853). Spillebog for Børn. Copenhagen. 40 pp. Brus described on pp. 21–23.
  • Dedichen, Herman, ed. (1952). Spillefuglen. pp. 121–123.
  • Dummett, Michael (May 1981). "Reviews of "Der Nidwaldener Kaiserjass Und Seine Geschichte" and "Der Kaiserjass, Wie Er Heute in Nidwalden Gespielt Wird"". The Playing Card. 9 (4).
  • Feilberg, Henning Frederik (1899). Dansk bondeliv, saaledes som det i mands minde førtes, navnlig i Vestjylland. Vol. 1. G.E.C. Gad.
  • Korsgaard, Otto (1923). "Folkeliv in Skanderup Sogn". Fra Ribe amt. 6. Historisk samfund for Ribe amt.
  • McLeod, John (1996). "Styrivolt, Vorms and Cicera". The Playing Card. 25 (2).
  • 'Per David' (pseudonym of Sv. Frederiksen) (1920), Reglerne for 52 gamle Spil, Copenhagen. Brus described on pp. 19–24.
  • Smith, Anthony (1997). George Beal (ed.). "Voormsi: A Greenlandic descendant of Karnöffel". The Playing-Card. 26 (2). The International Playing-Card Society. ISSN 0305-2133.

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Brus is a four hand card game of German descent that was once played in Denmark and Estonia The game is descended from the oldest known card game in Europe Karnoffel a fact testified by its unusual card ranking and lack of a uniform trump suit BrusDanish and Estonian version of BrusbartThe BrusOriginNorth GermanyTypePlain trick gameFamilyKarnoffel groupPlayers4Cards36DeckFrench packRank high low J K 8 9s As Js 6s Windmills Ks Qs 8s 10sPlayClockwiseRelated gamesBraus Brus Bruus Druzbart VoormsiFeatures chancing and smacking double and triple tricks K Stodderkongen with special powers Brus is designed for four players and is played with 36 cards of a French pack each of the four suits comprising the cards 6 10 Jack Queen King and Ace Contents 1 History 1 1 Estonian Brus 1 2 Danish Brus 2 Rules 2 1 Cards 2 2 Players 2 3 Dealing 2 4 Playing 2 5 Chancing and smacking 2 6 Scoring 3 Ringkobing variant 4 Footnotes 5 References 6 LiteratureHistory editBrus is described as an old Jutlandish game but its rules and terminology suggest that it is descended from the centuries old German game of Brusbart now known as Bruus which was once the national game of Hamburg and which spread across most of northern Europe spawning a family of games such as Russian Bruzbart Polish Druzbart Swedish Braus Greenlandic Voormsi and others Brusbart in turn is descended from Karnoffel the oldest card game in Europe with a continuous tradition of play down to the present day a fact testified to by the wildly disturbed ranking order in the chosen suit and particularly by the special role of the chosen Seven 1 2 a Estonian Brus edit Swedish speaking peoples used to live on the Estonian islands until 1944 and in 1855 were recorded by Russwurm as playing Brus Although the description of the rules is scanty the matadors are those typical of the Brus family of games K 8 and J The Sevens are called friare and the aim is to win five tricks presumably from a total of nine 3 Danish Brus edit Much more detail is known of the Danish variant of Brus which was part of West Jutland s rural culture in the first half of the 19th century 4 For example it is described as one of two games b played around Christmas time by the older folk in Skanderup in the Danish county of Ribe It was not played for money instead the score was chalked up presumably on a slate or the table The top trumps were the Spidt Jack of Clubs Brus King of Hearts and Gal Hund Eight of Spades The men would play cards all evening while drinking schnapps and beer and reminiscing about the Napoleonic Wars 5 The rules of the Danish game are described in various sources from 1853 to 1973 It is a 36 card 4 player game with the same matadors as those in the Estonian game Players received 3 hand cards and played for the best of nine tricks 3 There is evidence that the game is still be being taught and played in Denmark 6 c Unsurprisingly its mechanics are very similar to its German Schleswig cousin Bruus played south of the border in German west Jutland Rules editCard ranking in Brus Matadors J K 8 Trick cards 9 9 9 9 A A A A J J J 6 6 6 6 Sevens unbeatable when led except by K 7 7 7 7 Windmills worthless cards K K K Q Q Q Q 10 10 10 10 8 8 8 The following rules for Danish Brus are based on Smith s reconstruction of three Danish texts dating to 1853 1920 and 1952 3 Cards edit A 36 card Danish pattern pack is used Cards rank as follows 3 J Spids K Brus 8 Galhund or Gale Hund Nines Aces Jacks Sixes The top three cards Spids Brus and Galhund are the matadors The Nines Aces Jacks and Sixes are called trick cards stikkort and at each rank beat each other in suit order and The Sevens have a special role they are unbeatable when led to a trick except by a Seven of a higher suit or by the K the Stodderkonge d or Beggar King otherwise the Sevens are worthless and cannot beat anything 3 If the Beggar King is played it can only be beaten by the K nicknamed Kristian Andersen Apart from these circumstances neither King had any value This was also true of the remaining cards the other Kings the Queens Tens and Eights except the Galhund The worthless cards are windmills and can never win a trick unless all four cards are windmills in which case the led card wins 3 Players edit Four players form two teams of two for the session with partners sitting opposite one another Three may also play each playing alone 3 Dealing edit Players cut for the deal lowest card deals first Three cards are dealt clockwise to each player in one batch starting with the dealer The rest are placed face down on the table to form the talon 3 Playing edit Forehand left of dealer leads to the first trick the winner of a trick leads to the next There is no requirement to follow suit trump or head the trick Players may always play any card As in other games in the family two or three cards of the same rank may be led and all must be beaten to win the double or triple trick thus arising For example Galhund and two other Eights can only be beaten by Spids or Brus and any two trick cards When the trick is taken players replenish their cards in order starting with the trick winner e 3 Chancing and smacking edit A player with the Galhund or Brus may say I ll chance it or I dare 7 as the card is played This is only permitted however if a higher matador is still in play and not held by the chancer if the talon is not exhausted if another player has yet to play to the trick and if winning the bonus would not result in winning the rubber The chancer scores a point unless the matador is smacked by a higher card played by an opponent in which case the opposing side score two points If the 8 is chanced and smacked by the K but beaten in turn by the J it is an oversmack and worth 3 points unless the K was also chanced in which case it is worth 4 points If a card is found to be unlawfully chanced it is automatically smacked 3 Scoring edit nbsp Traditional scoring system in Brus In addition to the bonuses for chancing and smacking the team that wins the most tricks in each deal scores a point Two points are scored for winning the first 5 tricks i e winning 5 0 3 To keep score players draw a so called comb a horizontal line with vertical lines drawn across it at right angles Each team has one half of the comb and points are scored by erasing or striking out the lines on the team s side of the comb The first side to erase or cross off all its lines wins Game is usually 9 points 3 Ringkobing variant editIn a variant originally played in Ringkobing during the 1950s and 1960s there are the following differences from the above rules 6 Trick cards are called counting cards Kortenes vaerdi the Sevens and K are hawks hoge and the windmills are just called non beaters Ikke stikkere The talon is called bunken Fives are retained and the Tens are removed If a 7 is played an opponent with the K can beat it saying I ll hawk it and score a bonus point There is no equivalent of the K Kristian Andersen A player with 3 cards may take over and lead to the triple trick automatically Game is thirteen points A 5 0 win is called a jan but is still worth 2 points At 12 points a team may not chance because the winning point has to be for winning a deal If a team does score a bonus point to reach 13 they receive a penalty point or chimney and now have to score 14 Footnotes edit In terms of the card ranking and role of the Sevens in Brus all four suits are chosen The other being Hundred and One The rules are based on those learned during the 1950s and 1960s in Ringkobing Literally Beggar King or Vagabond King the Stodderkonge was a 19th century Danish official who was responsible for policing the vagrants vagabonds beggars of a district an analogy for the way the K sweeps up the Sevens as if they were beggars Comparison with the closely related Bruus suggests that this would be done in one batch References edit Dummett 1981 p 130 McLeod 1996 pp 54 55 a b c d e f g h i j k l Smith 1997 pp 45 51 Feilberg 1899 p 234 Korsgaard 1923 p 111 a b Regler for kortspillet Brus at dansogspil dk Retrieved 19 Apr 2020 Dedichen 1952 pp 121 123 Literature edit 1853 Spillebog for Born Copenhagen 40 pp Brus described on pp 21 23 Dedichen Herman ed 1952 Spillefuglen pp 121 123 Dummett Michael May 1981 Reviews of Der Nidwaldener Kaiserjass Und Seine Geschichte and Der Kaiserjass Wie Er Heute in Nidwalden Gespielt Wird The Playing Card 9 4 Feilberg Henning Frederik 1899 Dansk bondeliv saaledes som det i mands minde fortes navnlig i Vestjylland Vol 1 G E C Gad Korsgaard Otto 1923 Folkeliv in Skanderup Sogn Fra Ribe amt 6 Historisk samfund for Ribe amt McLeod John 1996 Styrivolt Vorms and Cicera The Playing Card 25 2 Per David pseudonym of Sv Frederiksen 1920 Reglerne for 52 gamle Spil Copenhagen Brus described on pp 19 24 Smith Anthony 1997 George Beal ed Voormsi A Greenlandic descendant of Karnoffel The Playing Card 26 2 The International Playing Card Society ISSN 0305 2133 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brus card game amp oldid 1222605289, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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