Scopa – Rules

Play Scopa against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Scopa is Italy's national card game. Face-up cards lie on the table. With a card from your hand you capture a table card of the same value, or several cards whose sum matches. Whoever clears the whole table makes a “scopa” (broom) and scores a point. At the end, the number of cards, coins, the sette bello and the primiera count.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 40 Italian cards in four suits: denari (coins), coppe (cups), spade (swords), bastoni (batons).
• Card values:

• Sette bello: The 7 of denari is the most important single card.
• No trumps: No suit ranks above another.
• Face up and face down: Hand cards concealed, table cards face up, captured cards face down; a scopa is placed crosswise in your pile.
• With French cards: Remove 8, 9, 10; jack = 8, queen = 9, king = 10; diamonds instead of denari.

3. Preparation and start

1. Dealer: By lot; after that the deal alternates every hand.
2. Shuffle and cut.
3. Deal: Everyone gets 3 cards, then 4 cards go face up on the table.
4. Three kings: If three or four kings lie on the table, redeal.
5. Start: The player after the dealer begins.
6. Dealing again: When everyone has played their 3 cards, the dealer gives everyone 3 new cards – but no new table cards.

Start example: Player 2 deals. Player 1 gets 3 cards; 3, 5, king and 2 go on the table. Player 1 begins.

4. Goal and winning

• Hand: A hand lasts until the stock is empty and all cards are played (with two: six times 3 cards).
• Game: The first to 11 points wins. If both reach 11, the higher score wins; if tied, play on.

5. Play in detail

A turn. You play exactly one card from your hand:

1. Same value: If a table card has the same value, you must capture it.
2. Sum: If there's no equal card, you may capture several table cards whose values add up exactly to your card.
3. Single card before sum: If both are possible, you must take the single matching card.
4. Nothing fits: Then place your card face up with the table cards.
5. Captured cards and your own card go face down to your pile.

Scopa. If you capture all cards on the table, that's a scopa: 1 point. Place your card crosswise in your pile.

End of the hand. Whoever made the last capture takes all cards still left on the table. This does not count as a scopa.

Example with Players 1 and 2. On the table: 3, 5, king, 2. Player 1 holds the 5 of coppe, the 5 of bastoni and a fante.

1. Player 1 plays the 5 of coppe. There's a 5 on the table – he must take it, not 3 + 2.
2. Table: 3, king, 2. Player 2 plays a king and takes the king.
3. Table: 3, 2. Player 1 plays the 5 of bastoni and takes 3 + 2 = 5. The table is empty: scopa! He places the 5 crosswise in his pile.
4. Now Player 2 has to place a card on the empty table.

6. Scoring

After each hand there is 1 point each for:

Primiera: Each player takes their best card of each suit according to this table and adds the four values:

• Tie (e.g. 20 cards each): nobody scores the point.
• If you're missing a suit entirely, you have no primiera.

7. Special rules and situations

• Last play: Clearing the table with the last card of the hand is not a scopa.
• Must capture: If you can capture, you must; you may not simply lay down a matching card.
• Several sums: If different combinations fit, the player chooses.
• Ace: In the variant scopa d'assi an ace captures all table cards.
• Wrong capture: Put the cards back; the opponent decides whether the turn is replayed.
• Common mistakes: taking a sum although an equal single card lies there; forgetting that the rest goes to the last capturer.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: two players, 3 hand cards, 4 table cards, target 11 points.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play Scopa with two to four players using Spanish suits (oros = denari, copas, espadas, bastos); a game goes to 11 or 21 points.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Hunt the sette bello: The 7 of denari is a sure point – take it whenever you can.
2. Don't give away a scopa: Don't leave the table so that one card can clear it.
3. Watch sums: With a 2 and a 3 on the table, any 5 clears it.
4. Collect sevens: They count most for the primiera.
5. Count denari: Six denari secure the point.
6. Remember cards: Knowing which values are left makes your discards safer.
7. Last play: The last capturer gets the rest – plan your final capture.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 40 cards, values 1 to 10 (face cards 8, 9, 10).
2. 3 cards each, 4 face up on the table.
3. Play one card.
4. Same value on the table: must be captured.
5. Otherwise capture cards with a matching sum.
6. Nothing fits: place the card on the table.
7. Table cleared: scopa = 1 point.
8. 3 new cards each when hands are empty.
9. The rest goes to the last capturer.
10. Points: cards, denari, sette bello, primiera, scopas – first to 11 wins.

11. Frequently asked questions

Must I capture when I can?

Yes. If you can capture, you may not just lay the card down.

Which comes first: single card or sum?

The single card. If there's a 5 and also 3 + 2, your 5 takes the single 5.

Does clearing the table at the end count as a scopa?

No. The rest taken by the last capturer is not a scopa.

What is the primiera?

A count of the best card in each suit, where sevens are worth most (21).

Can you play Scopa with ordinary cards?

Yes. Use 40 cards without 8, 9, 10; jack = 8, queen = 9, king = 10.

How long does a game take?

To 11 points about 20 to 40 minutes.

Origin & history

Scopa is documented in Italy since the 18th century and is one of the country's most popular card games. The name means 'broom' – whoever sweeps the table clean makes a scopa. The variant Scopone is considered the more demanding form for four players.