Binokel Wirtshaus

Ascendancydota

Contains adsIn-app purchases

About this game

Binokel is the card game of the Swabian tavern ("Wirtshaus"): bid, pick up the widow ("Dabb"), name trumps, meld and take tricks. This app plays it with the traditional Württemberg deck – just like at the regulars' table.

German emigrants took Binokel to America, where it grew into Pinochle. If your family played it generations ago, the melds will look familiar.

HOW YOU PLAY
• Against bots – any time, even without internet. The computer opponents come in several strengths, from the apprentice “Lehrbua Lukas” up to “Oma Berta”, a granny who is rarely beaten.
• Online with others – at open tables or with people you know via an invite link. Bots can fill empty seats.
• Three or four players (partners sit opposite), up to 1000 or 1500 points or over a fixed number of rounds.

FOR BEGINNERS
• A guided first game explains what to do at the important moments.
• The illustrated rules help shows card values, melds, bidding and scoring.
• Playable cards are lifted, unplayable ones dimmed.

EASY TO READ
• Large cards and large text, adjustable in small steps.
• Three looks: Tavern, Arena and Clear with high contrast.
• Languages: English, German and Swabian dialect.
• Calm pace: animations can be slowed down or switched off.

TALER – OPTIONAL
• Taler are the game currency. You earn them by playing and can trade them in the Taler shop for card backs, table cloths and other cosmetics.
• At tables with at least two humans you can propose a stake in Taler before the game – fair by win chance, just for fun. If you would rather play without a stake, you play without a stake.
• Taler can also be bought. That is optional: everything stays playable without buying. Taler have no cash value and are never paid out.
• Ads only appear if you switch them on yourself in the settings (default: off). In the quarry you start short videos yourself and get Taler for them.

LIKE A REAL TABLE
• Melds are laid face-up on the table, the trick travels to its winner.
• After each round the points are counted up card by card – you can see exactly how the result comes about.
• Chat at the table: text, quick phrases and, if you like, voice and video chat with your fellow players. Microphone and camera stay off until you switch them on yourself.

PLAY TOGETHER
• Clubs (Stammtisch): your own group with an invite link, its own tables and its own leaderboard.
• Add friends, see who is around and invite them to your table.
• Ratings for 3- and 4-player games, leaderboards, the daily deal (the same cards for everyone each day) and a weekly tournament.
• Pub TV: watch the bots play, with all cards open.

LEARN AS YOU GO
• Replay your online games at your own pace.
• The game analysis shows for every move what you did and what would have been better – when bidding, discarding and playing.

HOUSE RULES
• With or without sevens, Durch and Untendurch, no widow, calling a card, passing cards, round limit and more – the way you play it at home.

FAIR AND RELAXED
• No real money is played for: Taler are never paid out. There are no loot boxes and no random purchases.
• The app contains in-app purchases (Taler) and optional ads – both only if you use them yourself. Terms and right-of-withdrawal information: “Taler & purchases” link at the bottom of the lobby.
• Anyone who misbehaves can be reported, muted or blocked.
• You need no account to play against bots. For online play a guest account is enough – no email address, no password. You can delete it yourself in the settings at any time.

Questions, problems or ideas? In the app: Settings → About → “Report a bug”.

What’s new

Test version 0.2.0 (1237). Improvements and bug fixes.