
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,207
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Schafkopf
- 4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 1780

1965
Rules assistance for Kaiser
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 4 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Kaiser is a board game released in 1965 for 4 players and 60 minutes per game. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Team-Based Game, and Trick-taking.
Kaiser is a Canadian trick-taking card game for four played in partnerships. The game uses a 32-card French-suited deck with a tweaked distribution: AKQJT98 in all suits, plus 7♣, 7♦, 5♥, and 3♠. Bids are made for how many tricks will be taken, and the winner names the trump suit. Points are added or subtracted depending on whether the bid is made. Each trick is worth a point. Winning the 5♥ or 3♠ is worth +5 or -3, respectively. The game has been around for at least 40 years and it is often believed that it has its origins in the Ukrainian culture, possibly being brought over by immigrants to Canada. The Pagat database and newer research indicate that it was introduced in the 1920s or 1930s and is a version of the traditional card-games Three-spot and Troika, but was re-named with the influence of the card game Joffre that was originally called "Shoo le Kaiser". Re-implementation of: Joffre Lost Heir (Kaiser has absolutely no connection with the ancient Swiss card game called Kaiserspiel or Kaiserjass.)
Kaiser supports 4 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Kaiser is 60 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.
Kaiser has a complexity rating of 1.8 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.
Kaiser belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Team-Based Game, and 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 catalogue lists Kaiser 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.