Skat event in The Holly Bush

The British Skat Association will hold a event in The Holly Bush, 106 Bridge Street, Oxford OX2 0BD on Saturday April 16th, Easter Saturday.

The premises will open at 11:00. Registration will close at 11:15, and play will start by 11:30, and consist of 4 sessions of duplikat Skat, ending about 19:30. Each session will take about 105 minutes, and there will be a break for lunch after the first session, and short breaks between subsequent sessions. You are welcome to play in any or all of the rounds, though you will have little chance of winning a prize unless you play in all four.

"Duplicate" Skat means the that same hands are played at all the tables. For the individual player, there is no difference from the way you would play at home, except that you don't get to shuffle the cards. After each session (of around 20 hands) your results will be compared with those of the other players who held the same cards at other tables, and used to calculate your score for the round.

The Holly Bush normally has four different real beers on draft, and serves lunch (for which we should stay in the bar area) and evening meals (for which we may need to book a table in the restaurant area). Their food has improved since we were there in 2019. I recommend the beef lasagne and the pizzas (I very rarely recommend pizzas, but the Holly Bush cooks them properly in a pizza oven).

We encourage players of all abilities, and aim for an enjoyable and competitive day. After a session or two you should find yourself at a table with other people whose level of play is similar to your own.

The entry fee for the full day is £10. Or you can enter individual sessions, at £3 each. Prizes will be awarded to the winner and runner-up; you are unlikely to win one of these unless you enter all four sessions. There will also be a small prize for the best result for a single session achieved by somone who has not won another prize, so that even a player who enters only one session has a chance to win something.

Please tell the organiser, Nick Wedd, at least three days in advance if you intend to play. The more advance notices we get, the better the prizes will be.

Late entries can be accepted until 11:15 a.m. on the day. If you expect to be there in time for the start of play at 11:30, but not in time for the close of regstration at 11:15, you must ring or text the organiser at 07890-998884, otherwise you will not get to play in the first round.

Please contact me with any questions, at nick@maproom.co.uk.