Ramsch, formerly also called Mike in East Germany, is a card game based on the contract of the same name in the popular German card games, Skat and Schafkopf. However, thanks to its interesting mode of play it has since developed into an independent game in its own right which is only loosely based on Skat or Schafkopf. It should not be confused with the games of the Rams family – Ramsen and Ramscheln – that also go by the name Ramsch.

The term Ramsch in German means something like "low-quality rejects", "cheap products", "mass-produced goods", "worthless junk" or simply "rubbish". The aim in Ramsch, unlike normal contracts, is not to score the most card points (Augen), but to achieve a low score, because the player who scores the most points at the end of the hand has lost.

Ramsch is not part of the official rules of Schafkopf and, as a result, there are variations. Usually Ramsch is played if all four players "pass" instead of declaring a game, because they think they have poor hands. Alternatively, if the first three pass, the fourth player may choose a Ramsch (as opposed to a Stock in which players ante a stake to the next round and the cards are thrown in).

In a standard Ramsch the Obers, Unters and Hearts form the trump suit and all other cards are ranked in the normal ace–ten order (A, 10, K, 9,...). Players play for themselves and aim to score as few points as possible and, ideally, take no tricks. Some circles play a Bauernramsch in which only the Obers and Unters are trumps; the rest of the Hearts form a plain suit along with Acorns, Leaves and Bells. The rules of play in Ramsch are the same as normal: players must follow suit if they can; otherwise may play any card. The player with the most points has lost and pays the other three an agreed stake. If two or more have the same number of points, the number of tricks is the decider; if they are also equal the player with the most trumps is the loser, and, if they are also equal, the player with the highest trump has lost. If a player takes no tricks, this is a Jungfrau ("virgin" or "maiden"). If, however, one player can take all the tricks, he has made a Durchmarsch ("march"). It is very common to agree that, in this case he wins the Ramsch.

It is usual to agree a fixed stake for a Ramsch. In Danyliuk and Peschel, a Ramsch is worth double the basic stake i.e. 20¢ is paid to each opponent by the loser and a Jungfrau receives 40¢ from the loser. A Durchmarsch counts as a Solo won with schwarz and the winner receives 70¢ from each opponent.

In some rules, the payments are simply doubled if someone achieves a Jungfrau.

As in Schafkopf, Ramsch is not part of the official rules of Skat. Once again, the aim, unlike normal contracts, is not to score the most card points (Augen), but to achieve a low score, because the player who scores the most points at the end of the hand has lost. In Skat, as in the Grand contract, only the Unters (Jacks) are trumps. Again the card ranking is the same as in Grand (A, 10, K/O, Q/U, ...). The loser has to deduct these points from his score, hence the name, Augenramsch, since Augen are card points in German.

If a player takes no tricks, this is a Jungfrau or Jungfer ("virgin" or "maiden") and the loser's minus points or the agreed stake are doubled. If, however, one player can take all the tricks (both opponents thus remaining Jungfers), he has won a Durchmarsch ("march"). It is very common to agree that, in this case he wins the Ramsch. Then the loser's points are awarded to his opponents or the winner receives 120 plus points. Of course, higher values may be agreed.