# Sheepshead

> Single-player trick-taking card game with computer opponents and multiple play modes. (iPhone/iPad app by Derek Hoffmeister.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sheepshead/id878817235 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Derek Hoffmeister](https://appshunter.io/developer/496135095)
- Category: Games, Entertainment, Card
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.23/5 from 80 App Store ratings · 56 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 14.0 · 14 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2014-06-12
- Data updated: 2026-08-01
- Monetization: ad-supported
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sheepshead/id878817235/reviews.md

## What is Sheepshead?

Play Sheepshead at any time.  Sheepshead is a trick-taking card game. This is a single player version with computer controlled opponents.

Sheepshead is played with 7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A in four suits, for a total of 32 cards

*** Game Features ***
* Supports five handed, four handed, and three handed play modes

* Tournaments: The player with the highest score will be delared the winner after 
   ten hands of Sheepshead have been played.

* Partner variants of:
    - Called Ace partner (allows calling of unknown, 10's , or going alone)
    - Jack of Diamonds
        - Call up next Jack is enabled by default, this can be disabled in the options menu.
    In three handed and four handed play the picker does not have a partner.

*Leasters: Enable in options menu. If leaster is not enabled and picking is passed by all players, the dealer will pick.

* Scoring: Can either be 'Double on the bump' (default) or 'Single on the bump'.

* Knocking: Also called rapping or cracking. This can be enabled in the options menu.

* Statistics: Keeps track of your play statistics, such as games won, tricks taken, times picked, etc.

* GameCenter integration:
    - Leaderboards: 'High Score' and 'High Tournament Score'
    - Achievements based on game score and tricks taken

* Large Print Cards, if those small cards are just too hard to see!

An overview of Sheepshead rules can be found in the support page.

**************************************
Double tapping to play a card is supported (it must be enabled in the options menu). If enabled, tapping a card once will select it, and tapping it a second time will play it.  

This will allow you to change selected cards if you accidentally select the wrong card! Simply tap the correct card, and the first card will be unselected.  Tap the second card again to confirm playing it.
**************************************

## Key features

- Single-player trick-taking card game
- Multiple player modes (3, 4, 5 handed)
- Tournament play
- Partner variants (Called Ace, Jack of Diamonds)
- Leaster and Knocking options
- Detailed play statistics
- GameCenter integration (leaderboards, achievements)
- Large print card option

## Recent user reviews (10 of 56)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sheepshead/id878817235/reviews.md

### 4/5 — Good but flawed

*2026-01-30, version 1.9.2*

When the picker does not take a trick, the bury does not count as points. Picker should be paying 6 per opponent, not 4

### 1/5 — Lopsided card distribution is the norm

*2023-09-27, version 1.9.2*

Hands are very often stacked. In a 10 game tournament it is common for 5-6 games to be no trick or no schneider. It happens all the time. In real games these hands happen on average less than 2 times in 10 hands. Just deal the cards randomly (like a real card game would) and play the game.

### 2/5 — Was good now isn’t

*2023-07-14, version 1.9.1*

Loners being called with three trump. Not hardly a challenge anymore.

### 2/5 — Locks up

*2023-06-22, version 1.9.1*

Game locks up

### 1/5 — Freezes

*2023-03-09, version 1.9.1*

I’ve been liking this game since I originally downloaded it and would have given 5 stars.  Gameplay isn’t what a human would do as the computer doesn’t shmeer points unless it knows the trick is theirs but it’s been a good learning tool to teach you how to play.  The reason I have tanked the rating is because if I’m second in line to pick and I have a good enough hand to pick, the app freezes.  The only thing I can do is to pass and then the game will freeze completely.  I have to close out the app to keep playing and I lose a good hand.  I’ve tried deleting and reinstalling twice and no improvement.  This just started in the last few weeks.

### 2/5 — Poor upgrade.

*2023-02-22, version 1.9.1*

Latest version is terrible.  Computer often picks and goes alone in 5 hand with no queens and 3 fail suites.  Hey I win but no one would ever do that for real.  Non picking partners lead trump.  Agree with other reviewers that computer gets better partners on average.  Prior versions seemed to have less quirks.

### 3/5 — Don’t go alone

*2023-02-21, version 1.9.1*

Ever since the update - players are going alone with very bad hands (not even worth picking with a partner either)

### 2/5 — Going alone logic bad

*2023-02-15, version 1.9.1*

Last weeks update broke the game. AI players now often go alone on poor picking hands.

### 1/5 — Worst Sheepshead game I have ever played.

*2023-02-11, version 1.9.1*

Developer knows the rules of Sheepshead, but has no clue as to how to play.

### 2/5 — Can’t Pick with latest version

*2023-02-06, version 1.9.1*

With version 1.9.1 it will sometimes not allow me to pick a hand.  Otherwise, great game to learn from. Agree with others about questionable computer decisions and suggestions, but that helps the learning process.

## Frequently asked questions about Sheepshead

### What is this app?

This app is a single-player digital version of the trick-taking card game Sheepshead. It allows you to play against computer-controlled opponents at any time. The game uses a 32-card deck and offers various play modes and rule variations.

### What are the key features of this Sheepshead app?

Key features include support for five, four, and three-handed play, tournament modes, partner variants like 'Called Ace' and 'Jack of Diamonds', optional 'Leasters' and 'Knocking', detailed play statistics, GameCenter integration for leaderboards and achievements, and a large print card option.

### Is this app free to play?

Yes, the app is free to download and play. It is supported by advertisements, which are displayed within the application.

### What devices is this app compatible with?

The description does not specify exact device compatibility, but it is designed for mobile devices. It is likely compatible with most modern iOS and Android smartphones and tablets that can run games.

### How can I learn to play Sheepshead with this app?

An overview of Sheepshead rules can be found on the app's support page. The app also offers various game modes and partner variants, allowing you to explore different ways to play the game.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.9.3 — 2026-04-24

iOS 26 support

### 1.9.2 — 2023-09-13

Bug fixes

### 1.9.1 — 2023-02-04

* Three handed logic improvements
* Bug fixes

### 1.9.0 — 2022-11-01

Internal updates and fixes

### 1.8.4 — 2021-11-01

Updated for iOS 15
Game logic updates
Called ace - added option to auto select call suit when there is only a single eligible suit.

## Apps similar to Sheepshead

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [K9 Sheepshead: Schafkopf](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/k9-sheepshead-schafkopf/id1469785096) | 4.7 (148) | Free | Games |
| [Schafkopf Sheepshead Online](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/schafkopf-sheepshead-online/id853048043) | 4.6 (58) | Free | Games |
| [Sheepshead, the App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sheepshead-the-app/id1339318972) | 4.5 (2,351) | Free | Games |
| [Cross Cribbage](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cross-cribbage/id1540640821) | 4.8 (626) | Free | Games |
| [Super Euchre!](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/super-euchre/id697411524) | 4.6 (17,781) | Free | Games |
| [Sheepshead Gold](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sheepshead-gold/id926113105) | 3.0 (8) | Free | Games |

## More apps by Derek Hoffmeister

- [GameRE](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gamere/id496135092)
- [EMF Hunter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emf-hunter/id527767947)
- [Disc Golf Score Keeper](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/disc-golf-score-keeper/id722304189)

All apps by Derek Hoffmeister: https://appshunter.io/developer/496135095

## Related topics

[sheepshead](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sheepshead) · [the sheepshead scoring sheet](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/the-sheepshead-scoring-sheet) · [sheepshead pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sheepshead-pro) · [sheepshead scorer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sheepshead-scorer) · [schafkopf sheepshead online](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/schafkopf-sheepshead-online)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-01.*