Paco – Rules
Play Paco against the computer
1. Overview
| Name | Paco |
| Type | Rummy game with several Spanish packs |
| Players | 2–12, also in teams |
| Recommended age | 12 and up |
| Playing time | one round 5–10 minutes; a game 30–60 minutes |
| Material | 5 Spanish packs of 40 cards (200 cards), chips or play money |
| Goal | Be first to get all your cards into combinations – ideally with valuable cards, because they earn "pesos". |
| Difficulty | medium |
What is it about? Paco is a Mexican relative of Conquian played with no fewer than five Spanish packs. Because there are so many identical cards, sets of completely identical cards also count – for example three fives of copas. Whoever finishes first collects pesos from every opponent for the scoring cards in their hand.
2. Cards and material
- Pack: 5 × 40 Spanish cards: 1–7, sota (10), caballo (11), rey (12) in oros, copas, espadas, bastos.
- Run: three or more consecutive cards of the same suit; the 7 is next to the sota (6-7-sota).
- Set: three or more identical cards (same rank and same suit).
- Scoring cards (pesos): 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 12 of each suit.
| Suit | Pesos per scoring card |
|---|---|
| Oros (coins) | 1 |
| Copas (cups) | 2 |
| Espadas (swords) | 3 |
| Bastos (clubs) | 4 |
- Face up and face down: Hands concealed, discard pile face up.
3. Preparation and start
- Dealing: Everyone gets 10 cards, one at a time anticlockwise.
- Passing: Everyone passes one card face down to the right at the same time.
- Start: The player right of the dealer begins.
Start example: You hold three fives of copas – a valid set of identical cards. Plus the 6 and 7 of bastos.
4. Goal and winning
- A round: Whoever has all 11 cards combined after drawing wins.
- Game: After the agreed number of rounds, the player with the most pesos wins.
5. Play in detail
A turn.
- Draw: from the stock or the top discard.
- Check: If all 11 cards are combined, lay them down – you win.
- Otherwise discard: one card onto the discard pile.
Paying out. Each opponent pays the winner the pesos of the scoring cards in the winner's combinations.
Example with Players 1 to 4.
- Player 1 holds three fives of copas, the 6-7 of bastos and five other combined cards.
- Player 4 discards the sota of bastos. Player 1 takes it: bastos 6-7-sota is a run.
- All 11 cards are combined – Player 1 wins.
- Scoring cards: three fives of copas (3 × 2) + the 7 and sota of bastos (2 × 4) + others = for example 23 pesos, paid by each opponent.
6. Scoring
| Case | Payout |
|---|---|
| Winner | pesos from each opponent |
| Scoring card in oros | 1 peso |
| Scoring card in copas | 2 pesos |
| Scoring card in espadas | 3 pesos |
| Scoring card in bastos | 4 pesos |
| Stock empty | draw |
- Scoring cards: 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 of each suit; 2, 4, 6, 11 earn nothing.
- Recording: Each player's pesos.
7. Special rules and situations
- Sets only identical: Three fives of different suits are not a set.
- Traditional play: As in Conquian, a middle card may only be taken if it is melded at once; cards can be forced on opponents.
- Teams: With an even number of players the winning team shares the winnings.
- Common mistakes: counting mixed suits as a set; keeping worthless cards.
8. Variants
Standard in this description: 5 Spanish packs, 10 cards, win with 11 combined cards.
| Variant | What changes | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Team play | Two teams share the winnings. | large groups |
| Other peso values | House rules for the suits. | a change |
| More packs | 6 or more packs with many players. | very large groups |
When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play against one to five computer opponents (standard: four players) over 5, 3 or 8 rounds; you draw from the stock or the discard pile.
9. Tips for beginners
- Collect identical cards: With five packs they come up often.
- Bastos are valuable: Each scoring card earns 4 pesos.
- Runs over 7-sota: They extend many sequences.
- Watch the discards: What others take reveals their combinations.
- Don't feed: Don't discard what the next player needs.
- Be quick: The first to finish collects from everyone.
- Shed worthless cards first: 2, 4, 6 and 11 earn no pesos.
10. Summary in 10 steps
- 5 Spanish packs (200 cards).
- 10 cards each, pass one to the right.
- Draw: stock or discard pile.
- Discard one card.
- Run: 3+ in one suit, 7 next to sota.
- Set: 3+ identical cards.
- All 11 cards combined: you win.
- Scoring cards: 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12.
- Oros 1, copas 2, espadas 3, bastos 4 pesos.
- Each opponent pays the winner.
11. Frequently asked questions
Why five packs?
So there are enough identical cards for sets.
Are three fives of different suits a set?
No, the cards must be completely identical.
Which cards earn pesos?
1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 12 of each suit.
Is 6-7-sota a run?
Yes, the 7 is next to the sota.
What happens when the stock runs out?
The round ends in a draw.
How long does a game take?
About 30 to 60 minutes.
Origin & history
A well-known Mexican game closely related to Conquian; the large number of cards and the payment by number cards recall the American Panguingue, to which it may be distantly related.