Leasters (Sheepshead)

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Leasters is a type of Sheepshead game where players "play for the least". Players attempt to collect as few points as possible, while still taking at least one trick to win. If a players does not win a trick that player can not win the leaster.

Typical leaster winners take a total of 10-20 points. Since players must take at least one trick, it's theoretically possible for one person to take all the tricks, and thus win the leaster.

[edit] Leaster Strategy

  • More often than not, the hand is won by jumping on a low-point trick with a high queen. In other words, players will seldom want to throw away that Queen of spades or hearts when the queen of clubs is played. It might be better to save it so you can be sure to be able to pounce on the right trick.
  • If a player has the Ace of a fail suit ("bare Ace"), it is wise to get rid of it as soon as possible. A trick taken by a bare ace can easily exceed 30 points.
  • When schmearing sometimes a player will be better off holding on to that 10 or Ace. That value might be needed to dump on an opponent trying to get a low point trick.