Scopa and Escoba Rules

Scopa and Escoba are two similar card games. The first game is from Italy while the second game comes from Spain. The object of the game is to collect as many cards (referred to as tricks) as possible.

To Play the Game, You Need the Following:

• A regular deck of 52 cards from which you will remove the cards 8, 9 and 10.
• The Queen will be considered a Knight.
• Or an Italian or Spanish deck, which contains 40 cards.
  

The Number of Players

Scopa

• The game is played between 2 to 4 players.
• Each player can play for themselves only.
• Or you can form 2 teams of 2 players.
  

Escoba

• The game is played between 2 to 6 players.
• Each player can play for themselves only.
• Or by forming 2 teams of 2 players.
• Or by forming 3 teams of 3 players.
  

The Cards

• In ascending order, here is the hierarchy and the value of the cards:

The Deal

• One player is chosen to be the dealer.
• The dealer deals, one by one, 3 cards to each player.
• 4 cards are placed, one by one, face up, in the center of the table.
• The rest of the cards are set aside.
• Play moves in a clockwise direction.
  

How to Play

• Each turn, you must play a card from your hand.

Scopa

1^st case: play a card of the same value

• Place your card in front of its pair.
• Pick up both cards.
• Place them face down in front of yourself.
  

2^nd case: play a card whose value is the total of two or more cards on the table

• Place your card in front of the cards you want to collect.
• Collect your winnings.
• Place them face down in front of you.
  Example: Ace + 3 = 4
  

3^rd case: you cannot collect any cards

• Place one of your cards on the table.
• The turn passes to the next player.

Escoba

• The value of the card placed and those picked up must be 15.
  

Important Notes

• If they have the opportunity, a player must always collect the cards.
• In a game of Scopa, the 1st case (identical cards) always collects precedence over the 2nd case (sum of several cards).
• The player must always collect the fewest number of cards.
  Example: taking a 7 with a 7 takes precedence over taking an Ace and a 6 with a 7.
• In some variants, the number of cards that can be picked up is limited.
  

Making a Scopa or an Escoba

• A player makes a scopa or an escoba when they collect all the cards on the table in one turn.
  

A New Round

• After a scopa or an escoba, the next player places one of their cards on the table.
• Important Note: No card is placed in the center of the table by the dealer.
• If a player has no more cards in hand, they are given 3 new ones.
• If the draw pile is empty, the players must discard the cards they have in hand.

– They can raise (collect cards).
– Or put down a card.

• Once all the cards in hand have been used, the last player to have collected a trick picks up the cards from the table.
• Important Note: This is not considered a scopa or an escoba.
  

Points

Scopa

• A scopa earns 1 point.
• Important note: The last scopa in the game does not score points.
• 1 point for the player who collected the most cards.
• 1 point for the player with the most cards of the diamond or coin suit.
• 1 point for the player who has the 7 of diamonds or coins.
• 1 point for the player with the highest primiera score.

The Primiera

• Each card has another value that’s called the primiera:

• The player with the highest primiera total wins the primiera point. For example, a player who has a 3, 6, King and Knight has a primiera score of 51. (13 + 18 +10 + 10 = 51)

Escoba

• 1 point for each Escoba.
• 2 points for the player who has all the cards of the diamond or coin suit.
• 1 point for the player who has the most cards of the diamond or coin suit.
• 1 point for the 7 of diamonds or coins.
• 3 points for a four of a kind of the 7.
• 1 point for a three of a kind of the 7.
• 1 point for having the most cards.
• 1 point if you have fewer than 10 cards.

End of the Game

• The game can end when a predetermined score has been reached.

– 11 points for Scopa.
– 21 points for Escoba.

• The game can also end when a predetermined number of rounds have been played.