
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Gaukelspiel
- 3–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 1998

1997
Rules assistance for Beutelschneider
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 3 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Beutelschneider is a board game released in 1997 for 3–4 players and 30 minutes per game. It was designed by Mark Sienholz and its main mechanics are Trick-taking.
Translated as Cutpurse, this is a fairly unique entry in the trick-taking genre. Three of the suits are relatively normal, however, the cards that are worth points, in the form of gold coins, have the least value. The special thing about this game is the trump suit, which could have the Assassin killing the King or the Adventurer seducing the Countess; the character interaction is very interesting aspect.
Beutelschneider supports 3–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Beutelschneider is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
Beutelschneider has a complexity rating of 1.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Beutelschneider belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Trick-taking. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Beutelschneider are: Mark Sienholz. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Beutelschneider as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.