The multiplier depends mostly on the number of top trumps the declarer holds, but various bonuses may be added:

If declarer holds the ♣ J (the top trump ), the multiplier is the number of trumps he holds in sequence from the ♣ J down. If declarer does not hold the ♣ J, the multiplier is the number of trumps he is missing, in sequence from the ♣ J down.

If declarer plays ‘hand’, i.e. he does not look at the skat, but just puts the two cards in his pile of tricks, he adds one to the multiplier. If declarer announces that he is going to make Schneider at the beginning of the poker hand, then he adds another one to the multiplier in addition to the one for making Schneider.

It is illegal to announce Schneider except when playing in hand. If declarer announces Schneider and takes fewer than 90 card points, then the multipliers for Schneider and Schneider announced still apply, but he lose.

If declarer makes ‘Schwartz’ (German for black he takes all the tricks), then he gets another one added to the multiplier in addition to the one for Schneider.

If declarer announces Schwartz then he gets yet another one added, but, as for Schneider, he may only announce Schwartz when playing in hand.

One is always added to the multiplier 'for the Game'. If declarer fails to make his contract he loses double the score he would have won, except when playing in hand.

Let us consider some examples: The declare plays in hearts, holding ♣ J, ♠ J, ♦ J, and he takes 76 cards points. He is ‘with two’ Jacks (the ♥ J is missing) and claims:

‘With two, poker game three, times 10, makes 30.’The declarer plays a Grand holding ♥ J, ♦ J, and he makes 59 card points (not enough) and announces:

‘Without two, game three, off six, times 20, loses 120.’The declarer plays in spades, in hand, holding ♣ J, ♠ J, ♥ J; and he announces Schneider. He makes 87 card points (not enough), therefore loses:

‘With three, game four, hand five, Schneider six, announced seven, times 11, loses 77.’The declarer plays in clubs, in hand, holding ♣ J, ♥ J, ♦ J, and the Ace of clubs. He makes 96 card points, and the ♠ J proves to have been in the skat (lucky). He claims:

‘With five, game six , hand seven, Schneider eight, times 12, makes 96.’ In addition to the normal trump contracts, there is a contract called null, which is contract to take no tricks at all. Card points do not count, and the playing poker hand stops immediately if the declarer takes a trick (he has lost).

The order of the cards is different in null. There are no trumps, and the four suits each have eight cards: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10,9,8,7 in that order (the 10s and Jacks are back where you would expect them to be).

In null it is possible to play ‘open the declarer exposes all his cards, and plays with them face up on the table. There are four contracts, depending on whether declare looks at the skat:

As with ordinary contracts, the declarer loses double the number of points if he has looked at the skat, but just loses what he would have won if he plays in hand.

Skat scoring is designed for players who use piles of money on the table in front of them, and settle up after each hand the poker rules is that the declarer is paid by (or pays if he has lost) each of the other players.

If you intend to play for honor (or if you, or the publican, do not like having money on the table) then the score can be kept on a piece of paper. After each hand add the score for that hand to the total under the declarer’s initial.

At the end each player pays each other difference between their scores. (If you are not playing for money it’s just the player with the biggest score who wins, which is simpler)