1XSKAT(6) Games Manual XSKAT(6)
2
6 xskat - a card game for 1 to 3 players.
7
9 xskat [-display|-d display] [-geometry|-g geometry] [-font|-fn font]
10 [-iconic|-i] [-title|-T string] [-name prog] [-fg color] [-bg color]
11 [-bt color] [-mark color] [-3d] [-2d] [-3dtop color] [-3dbot color]
12 [-mb button#] [-keyboard number] [-tdelay seconds] [-fastdeal]
13 [-slowdeal] [-help|-h] [-frenchcards] [-french4cards] [-germancards]
14 [-german4cards] [-color] [-mono] [-color1 color] .. [-color4 color]
15 [-large] [-small] [-up] [-down] [-alt] [-seq] [-list|-l file] [-alist]
16 [-nlist] [-tlist] [-log file] [-dolog] [-nolog] [-fmt] [-unfmt] [-game
17 file] [-briefmsg] [-verbosemsg] [-trickl2r] [-notrickl2r] [-lang lan‐
18 guage] [-start player#] [-s1 number] [-s2 number] [-s3 number] [-ram‐
19 sch] [-noramsch] [-ramschonly] [-sramsch] [-nosramsch] [-skattolast]
20 [-skattoloser] [-kontra] [-nokontra] [-kontra18] [-bock] [-nobock]
21 [-bockramsch] [-bockevents number] [-resumebock] [-noresumebock]
22 [-spitze] [-spitze2] [-nospitze] [-revolution] [-norevolution]
23 [-klopfen] [-noklopfen] [-schenken] [-noschenken] [-hint] [-nohint]
24 [-newrules] [-oldrules] [-shortcut] [-noshortcut] [-askshortcut] [-irc]
25 [-noirc] [-irctelnet program] [-ircserver hostname] [-ircport number]
26 [-ircchannel name] [-ircnick name] [-ircuser name] [-ircrealname name]
27 [-ircpos number] [-irclog file] [-irclogappend] [-irclogoverwrite]
28 [-auto #ofgames] [-opt file] [-pk] [player@display...]
29
31 XSkat lets you play the card game Skat as defined by the official Skat
32 Order.
33 Up to 3 players may be simulated by the computer.
35 After starting the game a mouse click or ESC/F1 will bring up a menu.
37 Other useful keys are: Space, Return, Tab, Cursor left/right/up/down.
38 The rest of the game controls should be fairly obvious.
39 An introduction to Skat can be found at
41 http://www.xskat.de/xskat.html
42
44 In the following descriptions, the player starting XSkat is called
45 player1.
46 -display display name
48 -geometry geometry specification
49 -font font name (default: 9x15 or 10x20)
50 -iconic
51 -title window title
52 -name application resource name
53 -fg foreground color
54 -bg background color
55 The usual X toolkit options.
56 -bt color
58 The color of dialog buttons.
59 -mark color
61 The color of the marks that indicate
62 who is forehand (during bidding),
63 who is the Soloist,
64 which card the computer would play,
65 or the keyboard focus
66 (default: red or black).
67 -3d Use a 3D look for dialogs (default).
69 -2d Use the old, flat style (default on monochrome screens).
71 -3dtop color
73 The color used for the lines around the top and left sides of 3D
74 buttons (default: white).
75 -3dbot color
77 The color used for the lines around the bottom and right sides
78 of 3D buttons (default: black).
79 -mb menu button
81 The number of the mouse button that brings up the menu (default:
82 0 = any button).
83 -keyboard number
85 Define how much of the user interface may be controlled by the
86 keyboard. The number has the following meaning:
87 0 : Nothing.
88 1 : More (default).
89 2 : Everything.
90 -tdelay seconds
92 Specifies how long the last trick will be visible. A delay of
93 more than 10 seconds means that the trick will be removed after
94 pressing a mouse button. In multiplayer mode the largest speci‐
95 fied value is used (default: 0.7).
96 -fastdeal
98 Deal the cards without any time consuming animation.
99 -slowdeal
101 Deal the cards slowly (default).
102 -help Show a short help text.
104 -frenchcards
106 Play with French suited cards.
107 -french4cards
109 Change the colors of diamond and spade to orange and green, so
110 that the 4 suits have easily distinguishable colors (default).
111 -germancards
113 Use German cards.
114 -german4cards
116 Change the color of acorns to brown, so that the 4 suits have
117 easily distinguishable colors.
118 -color Use colored cards. If there are not enough colors left, the
120 number of colors used to draw the cards will be reduced appro‐
121 priately (default).
122 -mono Use b&w cards.
124 -color1 .. -color4
126 Redefine the colors of the suits diamond, heart, spade and club.
127 Selecting -french4cards overrides the colors for diamond and
128 spade.
129 -large and -small
131 Select the size of the main window (default: as large as possi‐
132 ble).
133 -down Sort cards downwards (default).
135 -up Sort cards upwards.
137 -alt Sort cards in alternating order.
139 -seq Sort cards in sequential order (default).
141 -list filename
143 The file for saving/restoring the game list (default:
144 $HOME/.xskat.lst or ./xskat.lst if HOME isn't set. For IRC
145 games: .irc instead of .lst).
146 -alist Alternative form of listing.
148 -nlist Normal form of listing (default).
150 -tlist Listing with tournament scoring.
152 -log filename
154 Turn on automatic logging, i.e. append logs of all games to
155 filename (- means stdout).
156 -dolog Turn on automatic logging (default file: $HOME/.xskat.log or
158 ./xskat.log).
159 -nolog Turn off automatic logging (default). Logs of individual games
161 may still be saved during the game.
162 -fmt Write formatted log files, i.e. use backspaces for underlining
164 and boldface.
165 -unfmt Write unformatted log files (default).
167 -game filename
169 Read predefined games from filename (- means stdin). Not avail‐
170 able for IRC play. See also section FILES below.
171 -briefmsg
173 Indicate who is forehand (during bidding) and who is the Soloist
174 by displaying a small mark on the back of the cards.
175 -verbosemsg
177 Additionally print out everyones position and what is being
178 played (default).
179 -trickl2r
181 Put down the cards of a trick from left to right (default).
182 -notrickl2r
184 Place the cards corresponding to the players positions.
185 -lang language
187 Currently available: English and German (default: $LANG/$LAN‐
188 GUAGE is tried first. Then: see Imakefile/Makefile).
189 -start number
191 The player who starts dealing cards (default: 2).
192 -s1 number
194 -s2 number
195 -s3 number
196 Change the playing strenght of the computer players.
197 s1 corresponds to the left computer in single player mode or to
198 the one and only computer in two player mode.
199 s2 corresponds to the right computer in single player mode.
200 s3 is only useful with -auto.
201 The number must be between -4 (weak) and 0 (default).
202 -ramsch
204 Play a game of Ramsch when all players pass.
205 The following rules are currently implemented:
206 The Skat remains face down until it goes to the winner of the
207 last trick (or to the loser of the game, s.b.). The amount lost
208 is the number of card points taken. If two players tie for most
209 card points, they both lose. If all tie, the score is 0. If
210 one player takes no tricks (a virgin) the amount lost by the
211 loser is doubled. Someone taking all the tricks (forced march)
212 wins 120 points.
213 -noramsch
215 Don't play Ramsch (default).
216 -ramschonly
218 Play Ramsch each game.
219 -sramsch
221 Play Schieberamsch instead of simple Ramsch.
222 The rules are:
223 Each player in turn, starting with Forehand, may pick up the
224 Skat and discard two cards face down. It's not allowed to pass
225 on jacks. The score is doubled each time a player doesn't pick
226 up the Skat.
227 -nosramsch
229 Don't play Schieberamsch (default).
230 -skattoloser
232 At the end of a Ramsch game the Skat is awarded to the loser(s).
233 This will increase the loss.
234 -skattolast
236 The Skat goes to the winner of the last trick (default).
237 -kontra
239 Allow opponents to say 'Kontra' which doubles the score of the
240 game. The Soloist may reply 'Re' to double the score again.
241 -nokontra
243 Disallow Kontra (default).
244 -kontra18
246 Only an opponent who said at least 18 may say 'Kontra'.
247 -bock Play a Bockround after some special event. The score is doubled
249 in the next 3 games. If an event causing a new Bockround hap‐
250 pens before the current Bockround is over or several Bockround
251 events happen at the same time, the number of Bockrounds still
252 to play is increased appropriately.
253 -nobock
255 Don't play Bockrounds (default).
256 -bockramsch
258 Play a round of compulsory Ramsch after each Bockround. Before
259 a game of Ramsch begins, each player in turn, starting with
260 Forehand, may declare to play Grand Hand instead. After a Grand
261 Hand the same player deals again because this game does not
262 count towards completing the Ramschround.
263 -bockevents number
265 Specify the events that cause a Bockround.
266 (1) A game is lost with 60 points.
267 (2) A successful Grand Hand.
268 (4) A successful Kontra (opponents win).
269 (8) A game with Kontra & Re.
270 (16) A player's score ends in 3 equal digits.
271 (32) A player's score is a multiple of 100.
272 (64) A game value of +72 or more.
273 (128) A game value of +96 or more.
274 Add up the numbers in parentheses to specify the desired events
275 (default: 0).
276 Notes:
277 A Kontra where the Soloist said Re but lost counts as one event
278 not two (events 4 and 8).
279 To check a player's score, the current listing options of
280 player1 are used (events 16 and 32). A score that is a multiple
281 of 1000 counts as one event.
282 The game value (events 64 and 128) is the normal value without
283 considering any doubling caused by Ramsch, Kontra or Bock.
284 -resumebock
286 Resume unfinished Bockrounds after quitting and restarting
287 XSkat. The number of games to play is read from the game list
288 file.
289 -noresumebock
291 Don't resume Bockrounds (default).
292 -spitze
294 Allow the Soloist to declare Spitze. This means that the last
295 trick must be made with the lowest trump to win the game. This
296 will be indicated to the other players by displaying the lowest
297 trump. The game multiplier is increased by 1. It's not allowed
298 to say Spitze in a Grand with 4 jacks.
299 -spitze2
301 Declaring Spitze increases the multiplier by 2.
302 -nospitze
304 Don't allow Spitze (default).
305 -revolution
307 Enable a special variation of Null ouvert. After the Soloist's
308 cards are exposed the opponents can look at each other's cards
309 and rearrange the cards between their two hands in any way they
310 wish before the start of the play. Revolution is worth 92
311 points.
312 -norevolution
314 Don't allow Revolution (default).
315 -klopfen
317 During a Ramschround you may knock (klopfen) at the beginning of
318 a game to indicate that you think you won't lose. This will
319 double the score of the game. Klopfen is not possible if you
320 don't pick up the Skat in Schieberamsch.
321 -noklopfen
323 Don't allow Klopfen (default).
324 -schenken
326 If the opponents decide at the start of the play that they can‐
327 not defeat the Soloist, they can give up. This is done by
328 selecting Schenken from the main menu during the first trick
329 when it's your turn. If the Soloist accepts, the score is as
330 though the game was won simply. The Soloist can insist on play‐
331 ing on, but in that case has to make the opponents Schneider to
332 win. The score in this case is as for an announced Schneider
333 (the multiplier is increased by 2). If the Soloist goes on the
334 opponents can schenken again, giving the Soloist the Schneider.
335 The Soloist can accept Schneider or insist on playing on for
336 Schwarz.
337 -noschenken
339 Don't allow Schenken (default).
340 -hint Put a mark over the card the computer would play.
342 -nohint
344 Don't show computer hints (default).
345 -newrules
347 Use the official rules of 01/01/1999:
348 Lost Hand games count double.
349 The Grand Ouvert multiplier is 24.
350 (default)
351 -oldrules
353 Lost Hand games count simple.
354 The Grand Ouvert multiplier is 36.
355 -shortcut
357 Always finish the game when the remaining tricks will all go to
358 one side.
359 -noshortcut
361 Play each trick.
362 -askshortcut
364 Ask whether a shortcut should be taken (default).
365 -irc Play via Internet Relay Chat. This option will establish a con‐
367 nection to an IRC server where you can join other people for a
368 game of Skat.
369 How it works:
370 Start XSkat from an xterm. Wait until the server has printed the
371 welcome message. You are now on channel #xskat where new games
372 should be planned. Everything you type into the xterm will be
373 sent to everyone else on this channel. After you have found one
374 or two other players and agreed upon the name of a new channel
375 (say #xskat123), you should type /join #xskat123. When all
376 players are on the new channel, exactly one player has to type
377 /go (or /go2 if there are only 2 players) to start the game. Now
378 you can play and talk.
379 -noirc Don't use IRC (default).
381 -irctelnet program
383 Specify the program that will be used to connect to the IRC
384 server. If you are sitting behind a firewall, a program like
385 rtelnet must be used and you may have to set $SOCKS_SERVER to
386 the name of your firewall host (default: telnet).
387 -ircserver host-name
389 Select an IRC server near you! (default: $IRCSERVER or irc.fu-
390 berlin.de, if not changed in the Imakefile/Makefile)
391 -ircport number
393 The port of the IRC server to connect to (default: $IRCPORT or
394 6667).
395 -ircchannel name
397 The channel to join initially (default: #xskat).
398 -ircnick name
400 Your IRC nickname. If your nick is already used by someone else,
401 a different nick will be generated automatically. Some servers
402 allow a nick length of 30, others limit it to 9 characters.
403 (default: $IRCNICK or $IRCUSER or $LOGNAME or xskatNNNN).
404 -ircuser name
406 Your user/login name. Note: most servers don't like faked user
407 names (default: $IRCUSER or $LOGNAME).
408 -ircrealname name
410 Your real name (default: $IRCNAME or the entry from the passwd
411 file or 'XSkat player').
412 -ircpos number
414 Select your position relative to the other players. Positions
415 are numbered clockwise 1, 2 and 3. Player 2 will start dealing
416 if not specified otherwise with -start or /start. If you don't
417 specify your position or there is a conflict with someone else's
418 choice or you give an invalid number (3 in a 2 player game),
419 this will be fixed automatically. Choosing the right positions
420 is important if you want to continue with a saved game list
421 (default: 0 = I don't care).
422 -irclog file
424 Everything sent to or received from the IRC server is saved to
425 this file (- means stdout). It may be useful for debugging
426 (default: $HOME/.xskat.ilg or ./xskat.ilg).
427 -irclogappend
429 Append output to the log file.
430 -irclogoverwrite
432 Overwrite existing log file (default).
433 IRC commands:
435 /nick name, /nick - change or display your nickname.
436 /who - is on the current channel ?
437 /list, /list string - show all channels that match the word
438 xskat or the specified string. This will take some time on net‐
439 works with a large number of channels. Trying to stop the list‐
440 ing will terminate the program.
441 /pos number - see -ircpos.
442 /bell - toggle the alarm bell. When on, the bell will ring each
443 time someone joins your channel or sends a message to you. The
444 bell is off initially.
445 /quit - terminate XSkat.
446 /sync - if messages get lost due to a net-split (or because
447 someone left the channel during play), XSkat will detect this
448 and in most cases should be able to synchronize automatically
449 (within 30 seconds) after the connection is reestablished. Typ‐
450 ing /sync will try this immediately.
451 /quote command args - for those who know what they are doing.
452 The following commands are only useful for the player who will
453 start the game by typing /go because that player will determine
454 the rules of the game.
455 /default - set the official rules.
456 /ramsch, /sramsch, /skattoloser, /kontra, /bock, /resumebock,
457 /spitze, /revolution, /klopfen, /schenken, /oldrules, /bock‐
458 events, /alist, /tlist, /start, /s1 - change the rules of the
459 game. All of these require an argument (a number or True/False)
460 just like the resources with the same name.
461 /rules - show the current rules to everyone on your channel.
462 Notes: The version numbers of all participating programs must be equal.
464 Most options cannot be changed during the game. Options that
465 can be changed are not saved to a file.
466 The game list can only be cleared during bidding or when it's
467 your turn to play a card. There is a different default game
468 list for IRC games (see -list).
469 It's possible to type into the xterm or the game window (which
470 is recommended), but changing input sources in the middle of a
471 line won't work.
472 If you want better input line editing and a split screen try the
473 program ssfe. It is used like this: ssfe -raw xskat -irc
474 You can omit -irc when you specify any of the other IRC options.
475 -auto #ofgames
477 Three computers play the specified number of games without human
478 interaction. The resulting scores are printed.
479 With this option, no resources are read, and the game list is
480 saved only if -list is specified.
481 -opt filename
483 The file for saving/restoring all interactively changeable
484 options of all players (default: $HOME/.xskat.opt or
485 ./xskat.opt). Command line options take precedence over options
486 specified in this file which in turn override resource specifi‐
487 cations. This may be changed with the useoptfile resource.
488 -pk If you want the computer to deal a Good Hand every time. (as
490 requested by Petra K.) Alternatively, pressing F6 three times
491 will result in a Good Hand for the next game. Does not work in
492 multiplayer mode.
493 player@display
495 Specifies the display of the second and third player (but is
496 ignored for IRC games). The player@ part may be omitted if the
497 alias resource is set on display.
498
500 Command line options take precedence over resource specifications for
501 player1.
502 geometry, font, title, foreground, background
504 The usual X11 resources.
505 mark (see -mark).
507 button (used for 2D buttons, see -bt).
509 3dbutton
511 (used for 3D buttons, see -bt, default: a shade of gray).
512 3dbackground
514 (used for 3D dialogs, see -bg, default: a different shade of
515 gray).
516 3d True or False (see -3d and -2d).
518 3dtop (see -3dtop).
520 3dbot (see -3dbot).
522 menubutton
524 (see -mb).
525 keyboard
527 (see -keyboard).
528 tdelay (see -tdelay).
530 fastdeal
532 True or False (see -fastdeal and -slowdeal).(#)
533 cards 0, 1, 2 or 3 (see -frenchcards, -french4cards, -germancards and
535 -german4cards).
536 color True or False (see -color and -mono).
538 color1 .. color4
540 (see -color1 .. -color4).
541 large True or False (see -large and -small).
543 down True or False (see -down and -up).
545 alt True or False (see -alt and -seq).
547 list (see -list).(#)
549 alist True or False (see -alist and -nlist).
551 tlist True or False (see -tlist and -nlist).
553 log (see -log).(#)
555 dolog True or False (see -dolog and -nolog).(#)
557 formatted
559 True or False (see -fmt and -unfmt).(#)
560 game (see -game).(#)
562 briefmsg
564 True or False (see -briefmsg and -verbosemsg).
565 trickl2r
567 True or False (see -trickl2r and -notrickl2r).
568 language
570 (see -lang).
571 start (see -start).(#)
573 s1, s2 (see -s1, -s2).(#)
575 ramsch 0, 1 or 2 (see -noramsch, -ramsch and -ramschonly).(#)
577 sramsch
579 True or False (see -sramsch and -nosramsch).(#)
580 skattoloser
582 True or False (see -skattoloser and -skattolast).(#)
583 kontra 0, 1 or 2 (see -nokontra, -kontra and -kontra18).(#)
585 bock 0, 1 or 2 (see -nobock, -bock and -bockramsch).(#)
587 bockevents
589 (see -bockevents).(#)
590 resumebock
592 True or False (see -resumebock and -noresumebock).(#)
593 spitze 0, 1 or 2 (see -nospitze, -spitze and -spitze2).(#)
595 revolution
597 True or False (see -revolution and -norevolution).(#)
598 klopfen
600 True or False (see -klopfen and -noklopfen).(#)
601 schenken
603 True or False (see -schenken and -noschenken).(#)
604 hint True or False (see -hint and -nohint).
606 oldrules
608 True or False (see -oldrules and -newrules).(#)
609 shortcut
611 0, 1 or 2 (see -noshortcut, -askshortcut and -shortcut).
612 irc True or False (see -irc and -noirc).(#)
614 irctelnet
616 (see -irctelnet).(#)
617 ircserver
619 (see -ircserver).(#)
620 ircport
622 (see -ircport).(#)
623 ircchannel
625 (see -ircchannel).(#)
626 ircnick
628 (see -ircnick).(#)
629 ircuser
631 (see -ircuser).(#)
632 ircrealname
634 (see -ircrealname).(#)
635 ircpos (see -ircpos).(#)
637 irclist
639 (see -list).(#)
640 irclog (see -irclog).(#)
642 irclogappend
644 True or False (see -irclogappend and -irclogoverwrite).(#)
645 opt (see -opt).(#)
647 useoptfile
649 True or False (default: False). This is a resource for multi‐
650 player mode (but not for IRC). It is ignored for player1. If
651 set to True, the contents of the option file, which is owned by
652 player1, are used. This means that you may end up with someone
653 else's preferred settings if player1 used this file in a differ‐
654 ent multiplayer game.
655 alias The player's real name (max. 2 words of 9 characters, default:
657 $LOGNAME).
658 Only player1 may specify the resources marked with (#).
660 Filenames starting with ~/ are interpreted correctly if HOME is set.
662
664 An example of a file specifying predefined games:
665 # The following block specifies the distribution
667 # of cards for player1, 2, 3 and Skat(0).
668 # A 10 K Q J 9 8 7
669 2 2 2 2 2 0 3 3 # Diamond
670 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 # Heart
671 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 # Spade
672 1 1 1 1 1 0 3 3 # Club
673 # The following is not the same game !
674 # Player numbers rotate 3 -> 2 -> 1 -> 3
675 # (and depend on the start option).
676 2 2 2 2 2 0 3 3
677 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3
678 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 3
679 1 1 1 1 1 0 3 3
680 repeat
681 # Repeat the above games forever.
682 # The following lines take effect only
683 # when you delete the 'repeat'.
684 random_seed 123456 0 2
685 # Specifies the random number which determines
686 # card distribution for all following games.
687 # The second number lets you skip that many
688 # games in the sequence.
689 # The third (optional) number defines
690 # who will start dealing cards (see -start).
691 # An additional L or R following this number will
692 # rotate the cards left or right.
693 # The random_seed will be shown in game logs
694 # to allow easy replay. Just type:
695 # echo random_seed 123456 0 2 | xskat -game -
696
698 There are no official rules for the variations Ramsch, Kontra, Bock,
699 Spitze, Revolution, Klopfen and Schenken.
700 If executing xskat player@otherhost:0 on yourhost gives an error mes‐
702 sage you could try the command xhost yourhost on otherhost to grant
703 yourhost access to otherhost's display.
704 If you replay a game with your own cards, it doesn't matter whether
706 'Forehand changes' is set to 'yes' or 'no'.
707 Some versions of telnet have a bug, that prevents them from reading
709 input from a pipe correctly. See README.IRC for a fix or put this into
710 your ~/.telnetrc:
711 irc.fu-berlin.de
713 set echo off
714 set escape off
715 set rlogin off
716 set flushoutput off
717 set interrupt off
718 set quit off
719 set eof off
720 set erase off
721 set kill off
722 set lnext off
723 set susp off
724 set reprint off
725 set worderase off
726 set start off
727 set stop off
728 set forw1 off
729 set forw2 off
730 set ayt off
731 Leading blanks are important! Change the irc server line appropri‐
733 ately.
734
736 Gunter Gerhardt
737 The latest version is always available at
739 http://www.xskat.de/xskat.html
740 This program is free software; you can redistribute it freely.
742 Use it at your own risk; there is NO WARRANTY.
743 Redistribution of modified versions is permitted
745 provided that the following conditions are met:
746 1. All copyright & permission notices are preserved.
747 2.a) Only changes required for packaging or porting are made.
748 or
749 2.b) It is clearly stated who last changed the program.
750 The program is renamed or
751 the version number is of the form x.y.z,
752 where x.y is the version of the original program
753 and z is an arbitrary suffix.
754 Card images used with permission by
756 Spielkartenfabrik Altenburg GmbH, Marke ASS Altenburger
757 Leipziger Strasse 7, 04600 Altenburg, Germany
758 May 2004 XSKAT(6)