Escoba – Rules

Play Escoba against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Escoba (“broom”) is Spain's best-known fishing game and a wonderful adding game. Face-up cards lie on the table. When you play a card, you may take table cards that make exactly 15 together with it. Whoever clears the whole table makes an “escoba”.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 40 Spanish cards in four suits: oros (coins), copas (cups), espadas (swords), bastos (clubs).
• Card values:

• Siete de oros (siete de velo): The 7 of oros is the most important single card.
• Face up and face down: Hand cards concealed, table cards face up, captured cards face down; an escoba is placed crosswise.
• With French cards: Remove 8, 9, 10; jack = 8, queen = 9, king = 10; diamonds instead of oros.

3. Preparation and start

1. Dealer: By lot; after that the deal alternates.
2. Shuffle and cut.
3. Deal: Everyone gets 3 cards, then 4 cards go face up on the table.
4. Lucky deal: If the four table cards add up to exactly 15, the dealer takes them into their pile at once – this is not an escoba, as no hand card was played.
5. Start: The player to the dealer's right begins; play is anticlockwise.
6. Dealing again: When all hands are empty, everyone gets 3 new cards – no new table cards.

Start example: Player 2 deals. The table shows 3, 5, sota and rey. Player 1 goes first.

4. Goal and winning

• Hand: Lasts until all 40 cards have been played.
• Game: The first to 21 points wins. If several reach 21 in the same hand, the highest score wins; if tied, play on.

5. Play in detail

A turn. You play exactly one card:

1. Capture: If your card plus one or more table cards adds up to exactly 15, take your card and those table cards.
2. Lay down: If no 15 is possible, place your card face up with the table cards.

Each turn you take exactly one combination – never two separate 15s at once.

3. Escoba: If you capture all table cards, that's an escoba: 1 point. Place one card crosswise.

End of the hand. Whoever captured last takes the remaining table cards (not an escoba).

Example with Players 1 and 2. Table: 3, 5, sota (8), rey (10).

1. Player 1 plays a 7. Possible: 7 + sota = 15 or 7 + 3 + 5 = 15. He takes 3 and 5 (more cards).
2. Table: sota, rey. Player 2 plays a caballo (9): 9 + 8 = 17, 9 + 10 = 19 – no 15. He lays the caballo down.
3. Table: sota, rey, caballo. Player 1 plays a 6: 6 + 9 = 15. He takes the caballo.
4. Later only a 2 and a 3 are left on the table. Player 1 plays a rey: 10 + 2 + 3 = 15 – the table is empty: escoba!

6. Scoring

At the end of each hand there is 1 point each for:

• Tie in a category: nobody scores the point.
• Recording: One column per player or team.

7. Special rules and situations

• Several options: If different combinations make 15, the player chooses one. If you can capture, you must.
• Ten or more: A rey (10) needs table cards worth 5, an ace needs 14.
• Opening 15: The dealer gets the four cards, but no escoba.
• Last play: Clearing the table with the last card of the hand counts as an escoba here (regional differences).
• Miscalculation: Put the cards back; the played card stays on the table.
• Common mistakes: leaving the opponent an easy escoba (table sum between 5 and 14); leaving the 7 of oros on the table.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: Escoba del 15 from Spain – 3 hand cards, 4 table cards, game to 21.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play Escoba with two to four players (four alone or with a partner), as Escoba del 15 or Escova/Escopa – pick the variant in the switcher above.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Watch the table sum: If the table totals 5 to 14, your opponent can clear it with one card.
2. Take many cards: Choose the combination with the most cards.
3. Oros and sevens: Prefer combinations with oros or sevens.
4. Siete de oros: Never leave it if you can take it.
5. Lay down wisely: Prefer laying high cards that are hard to complete to 15.
6. Remember cards: Knowing which values are left helps you plan.
7. Last capturer: The leftovers at the end can be many cards.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 40 Spanish cards; sota 8, caballo 9, rey 10.
2. 3 cards each, 4 face up on the table.
3. Play one card.
4. Exactly 15 with table cards: capture.
5. Otherwise place the card on the table.
6. Table cleared: escoba = 1 point.
7. Empty hands: 3 new cards each.
8. The rest goes to the last capturer.
9. Points: cards, oros, 7 of oros, sevens, escobas.
10. First to 21 wins.

11. Frequently asked questions

Must I capture when I can?

Yes. If several combinations make 15, you choose one.

Does my played card count towards the 15?

Yes. Your card plus the captured table cards must make exactly 15.

What is the siete de oros?

The 7 of oros. Whoever has it at the end scores a point.

Can you play Escoba with ordinary cards?

Yes: remove the 8s, 9s and 10s; jack 8, queen 9, king 10; diamonds instead of oros.

What's the difference to Scopa?

In Scopa you capture equal values or sums equal to your card; in Escoba you complete to 15.

How long does a game take?

To 21 points about 20 to 40 minutes.

Origin & history

Escoba ('broom') is the Spanish relative of the Italian scopa and documented since the 19th century. Instead of cards of equal value, here you look for combinations that add up to 15.