From the beginning, card playing and wagering went together. Over the years, several stakes schedules have developed among which "penny a point" or "25 cents a point" are common. Many experts recommend stakes of 5 to 25 cents per point as a way of keeping the game interesting without too much burden.
1. Base Values
1.1 Partnership (Call) Games
The basic stakes in a partnership game are 10 cents. The two losing players pay the two winning players 10 cents each.
10 cents is added for Schneider. That is, each losing player pays 20 cents to the winners.
In the same way, 10 cents more are added for Schwarz. A total of 30 cents is paid by each player on the losing team.
1.2 Solo Games
The stakes are higher in Solo games: 50 cents. The winning solo player receives a total of $1.50 from the losing side (50 cents each x 3 players).
The soloist receives 10 cents more for winning Schneider and another 10 cents for Schwarz, receiving a total of $1.80 or $2.10 for Schneider and Schwarz respectively.
1.3 Null
Stakes are 30 cents in Null games.
1.4 Ramsch
The loser in a Ramsch game (the player with the highest number of card points) pays 20 cents each to the other three players.
If one player takes no tricks, s/he receives 40 cents from the loser of the Ramsch game.
Shooting the moon, however, in which a player takes all 8 tricks, calls for the payment of 70 cents from each of the three "losing" players.
Macks are not counted.
2. Macks (Matadors)
Aside from the basic stakes, there may also be a premium for the highest trumps. In partnership (call) games and in Solos, additional payments may be demanded by players holding three or more trumps in sequence from the top (Macks). One exta stake is paid for each of the top three Queens and for additional trumps in sequence beyond the third Queen. This payment is made independent of whom (offense or defense) holds the sequence. The counting stops when the sequence breaks. Thus, there are at most payments for 14 sequential trump (4 Queens, 4 Jacks, and 6 Hearts/Diamonds).
In Jacks, Jacks-Suit, Queens, and Queens-Suit Solos, payments may be demanded when holding the top two trumps or more in sequence.
If a mistake is made and the demanded extra payment is too much, the excess payment must be repaid double.
Extra payments can be demanded at any point up until the cards are cut for the next deal. After that point, the next game begins and the right to demand such extra payments is lost.
3. Schwarz with Macks
A game played Schwarz already calls for the special stakes of 50 cents. Macks add 10 cents each to this. This number is then doubled. There is no additional payment made for the implied schneider and Schwarz is not counted twice.
For example: a game is won Schwarz holding the four Queens. The score is then .50 + (.10 x 4) = 90 cents times 2 = $1.80.
Holding all Queens and Jacks continues in the same way except the total is quadrupled. Thus, the score would be: .50 + (.10 x 8) = $1.30 times 4 = $5.20.
4. Double and Redouble (Contra and Re)
The announcement of Contra doubles all stake values including those for the Macks.
Redoubling (Re) quadruples all values.
Supra doubles the Re values.
Resupra doubles the Supra values (i.e., eight times the original score).
