Mauscheln

The name Mauscheln means something like "(secretive) talk". According to Meyers Konversationslexikon of 1885 to 1892 the word Mauschel is derived from the Hebrew word moscheh "Moses", in Ashkenazi Herbrew Mausche, Mousche, and was a nickname for Jews; in Old German mauscheln means something like "speak with a Jewish accent" or haggle".[2] The word first surfaced in the 17th century.[3] Today mauscheln is a synonym for "scheme", "wheel and deal", "wangle" or "diddle".[4]

Other names for the game include Anschlagen (in Tyrol and Lower Austria[5]), Polish Bank (Polnische Bank, not to be confused with another game of this name) or Panczok, also Kratzen,[6] or Frische Vier (in Lower Austria, Styria and Burgenland[5]) or Frische Viere (in South Bohemia in the early 20th century).[7] It also used to be known as Angehen.[8]

The 3-card game, Dreiblatt or Tippen, is very similar to Mauscheln.

Mauscheln was clearly current in the early 19th century because it is banned in the Austro-Hungarian Empire as a gambling game in 1832. It is described as popular in many places in the Styria where it was said to be very similar to the forbidden game of Zwicken or Laubiren. The law goes on to say that it went under the other names of Tangeln, Chineseln, Prämeniren or Häfenbinden.[9] The rules for Mauscheln first appeared towards the end of the 19th century and was initially very popular in Jewish trading circles. In 1890, Ulmann described Angehen as "very popular in ladies' circles", noting that it was called Mauscheln in south Germany.[10] During the First World War it flourished among the German soldiers and has since become widespread in the German-speaking world.[11]

Mauscheln is one of the most popular games in Austria and is commonly played everywhere except in the states of Vorarlberg in the west and Burgenland in the east.[12] One modern source describes it as little more than an excerpt of Ombre and Boston and "so simple and mindless that anyone can learn it in five minutes." The game clearly revolves around money, resulting in attempts to classify and ban it as a game of chance. However, it is not a gambling game in the legal sense.

Like Tippen, Mauscheln may be played by 3 to 5 players with a 32-card, usually German-suited, pack. If more players participate a 52-card French pack may be used.[1][13]

The dealer places a stake of four chips or coins (e.g. 40¢; it must be divisible by four) as the Pinke or Stamm in the pot and deals two cards to each player. The next one is turned as trumps and then another 2 cards are dealt. The remaining cards are placed face down on the table.[1]

Forehand leads the bidding by announcing whether to "pass" (i.e. drop out of the current deal) or to "sneak" [lower-alpha 1] (ich mauschele i.e. "I'll play"). In doing so, he undertakes to win at least two tricks. If he drops out, the other players in turn may opt to sneak. If no-one sneaks, the cards are thrown in, the next player pays 4 chips to the pot and deals for the next game. Once a player has declared "sneak", the others may either fold by saying "pass" (ich passe) or "not me!" (ich nicht!) or "play" (ich gehe mit, lit. "I'll go with you").[1][13]

If all the others fold, the sneaker (Mauschler) claims the pot without play. If at least one other player joins in, all active players, in order, may exchange up to 4 hand cards with the talon, throwing their discards face down onto a 'bonfire' (Scheiterhaufen).[14][13]

The sneaker leads to the first trick. Thereafter the winner of a trick leads to the next. Players must follow suit if possible or trump if unable to follow; subject to those rules, they must head the trick if they can.[14][13]

Scoring is as follows: [14][13]

• For every trick taken a player wins 1/4 of the Pinke
• A player who 'joins in' but fails to take a trick pays a bête into the pot i.e. an amount equivalent to that in the pot; as does the sneaker if he or she only succeeds in taking one trick.
• A sneaker who remains trickless is Mauschelbete and pays a "sneaker bête" (double bête) into the pot.

If the dealer turns up a high trump such as the Sow (= Ace/Deuce), and before looking at his cards, he may 'knock' (klopfen) which in effect means he will sneaker. He takes over the game and has to take at least 2 tricks. If one or more of the others choose to play, the dealer looks at his cards, discards any he deems unfavourable and exchanges them with the trump turnup and fresh cards from the talon, without viewing them. Once the other active player(s) have exchanged, the dealer may pick up his new cards together with the 'knocked' trump.

If anyone is dealt a quartet, they must discard them onto the bonfire, pay the Pinke and are then dealt another hand which they may exchange.

The ♦7 or 7 is the permanent, second-highest trump after the trump Ace or Sow. It may incur a penalty payment if lost to the Ace.[13]

The Weli (6) may be added to the pack as the 33rd card and permanent, second-highest trump