The fun thing about Watten
is that it is not a concentrated and quiet game. On the contrary, hints, exclamations,
instructions and other talking are very welcome to insecure the opponent. It
contributes very much to the entertainment value of the game and this way also
spectators have a lot of fun watching the game.
But once a year, usually on the second weekend of January, friends of mine organize
a Watten-Competition where the rules are more strict and it is played in more
silence. The following rules are used for this event:
The teams that play against
each other are drawn.
The name, number and
number of the table you are playing at have to be written on the panel.
Everything has to be
written clearly on the panel, in case it needs to be check again later.
Every team writes its
own points. Once cards have been pick from the deck no points can be written
anymore.
For better control, the
line to mark if a team is "tense" is to be drawn next to the points
on the panel.
There are 3 games with
3 rounds up to 15 points. After each game the teams that plays against each
other are drawn again
Every game is worth following
points: A won game (who first reaches 15 points) notes 20 points. Each team
can reach a maximum of 3x20 points. Who sets up the most points has won the
game.
The players in each team
always remain the same. Only the opponents are drawn.
The team, which has drawn
the highest number, starts the game.
The rules are very strict.
The partner of each team has to wait until the game
is announced before he looks at his cards.
In each round the cards
can only be picked once.
First there are 3 then
2 cards to be drawn.
After drawing the cards
no additional card of the deck is to be looked at. The card deck is to be
put face on the table.
If too many cards have
been drawn the opponent may write 2 points. A wrong number of cards is to
be reported immediately.
If one team over bids
the points the opponent may write 2 points.
When punishing there
are only additional points to be written. No points get removed.
Being Tense means being
challenged at the same time. If you loose the opponent writes 3 points.
Kritische may be used
to announce the symbol or color.
If a "Kritische"
is played as Haube it cannot be beaten by a lower "Kritische".
If somebody is caught
cheating and the teams cannot reach an agreement the whole table will be disqualified.
If the cheater admits cheating the opponent team wins the game with 20 points.
