Scopa
From Italy
Capture table cards that match your card or add up to it. Sweep the whole table clean and shout “Scopa!”
the best bit: slapping down a king to sweep the whole table
- Players
- 2
- Time
- 20–40 min
- Learn in
- A few minutes
- Mood
- Chill
- Format
- Everyone for themselves
The 30-second version
Italy's classic card game. Play one card at a time to capture cards from the table: one that matches its value, or several that add up to it. Clear the table in one move and you've made a scopa, a sweep, worth a bonus point. After each hand, score points for most cards, most diamonds and more. First to 11 wins.
don't explain it all up front. play one practice round.
Grab these
Set up
- Take out the 8s, 9s and 10s. You'll play with 40 cards.
- Learn the values: aces are 1, number cards are their number, jacks are 8, queens are 9 and kings are 10.
- Deal three cards each, then four face up in the middle of the table.
How to play
-
Play a card
On your turn, play one card from your hand.
-
Capture
If it matches the value of a card on the table, take both. If it equals two or more table cards added together, take those. If a single card matches, you have to take that one.
-
Lay it down
If your card can't capture anything, it stays face up on the table.
-
Sweep for a scopa
If your capture clears the table, that's a scopa. Turn one of the cards face up in your pile so it gets counted.
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Deal again
When both hands are empty, deal three more each. When the deck runs out, whoever captured last takes whatever is left on the table.
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Score the hand
One point each for the most cards, the most diamonds, the 7 of diamonds and the most 7s. Plus one point for every scopa.
How to win
The first player to 11 points wins.
Once you know it
- Four players
- Play in two teams of partners sitting across from each other, sharing captures.
From experience…
- If the cards on the table add up to 10 or less, your opponent might sweep them all with one card.
- The 7 of diamonds is a point all by itself. Guard it.