TheOber, formerlyObermann, in Austrian also called theManderl, is thecourt card in theGerman andSwiss styles ofplaying cards that corresponds in rank to theQueen inFrench packs. The nameOber (lit.: "over") is an abbreviation of the former name for these cards,Obermann, which meant something like 'superior' or 'lord'.[1] Van der Linde argues that the King, Ober and Unter in a pack of German cards represented the military ranks of general, officer (Oberofficier) and sergeant (Unterofficier), while thepip cards represented the common soldier.[2]
The figure depicted on an Ober is usually anobleman orofficer. It is distinguished from the lowest court card, theUnter (lit. "under", formerlyUntermann or "vassal", "subject", "subordinate"), by the figure's suit sign located in the upper range of the card. In the Württemberg pattern the Ober appears on horseback, as they were inspired byCego packs whose face cards included aKnight or Cavalier as well as theJack,Queen andKing.[3]
The earliest description of playing cards in Europe comes fromJohn of Rheinfelden in 1377. He describes the recent introduction of cards in his region. For packs he regards as common, beneath the seated King were twomarshals (cavalry commanders), with one holding his suit sign up while the other held his hanging down. This corresponds with modern Obers and Unters with the exception that they are no longer mounted on horseback.[4]
Card packs that contain four Obers are used, for example, inSkat,Mau Mau,Bavarian Tarock andSchafkopf. By contrast, the packs used to playGaigel andDoppelkopf have eight Obers. In Schafkopf, the four Obers are the highesttrump cards, in Doppelkopf the eight Obers are the highest trump cards after the two tens of hearts. In the Bavarian card game,Grasobern, tricks that contain the 'Grass Ober' (i.e. Ober ofLeaves) are to be avoided.
