Scopa
What Is Scopa?
Scopa is one of Italy’s most beloved card games — the name means broom in Italian, because you sweep the table clean. Players take turns playing cards from their hand to capture cards on the table. You capture by matching the exact value of a single table card, or by matching the sum of multiple table cards. The special prize is a Scopa — when you capture every last card from the table in a single play. At the end of the game, points are counted in several categories and the player with the most wins.
What You Need
- A 40-card deck: take a standard 52-card deck and remove all 8s, 9s, and 10s. You are left with Ace through 7 plus Jack, Queen, and King in all four suits.
- Two to six players — works best with two players or two teams of two
- Score pad
Card Values in Scopa
- Ace = 1
- 2 = 2
- 3 = 3
- 4 = 4
- 5 = 5
- 6 = 6
- 7 = 7
- Jack = 8
- Queen = 9
- King = 10
Setting Up the Game
- Shuffle all 40 cards.
- Deal three cards face-down to each player.
- Deal four cards face-up in the center of the table. These are the table cards available for capturing.
- Place remaining cards face-down as the stock. New cards will be dealt as hands run out.
- If all four starting table cards are Kings, gather them up, shuffle, and re-deal — Kings cannot be captured directly.
How to Play — Step by Step
The player to the left of the dealer goes first. Play moves clockwise. On each turn you play exactly one card from your hand.
- Choose a card from your hand to play.
- Look at the face-up table cards. Does your card’s value EXACTLY MATCH any single table card? If yes, you may capture it — take both your card and the matching table card into your personal capture pile.
- Can your card’s value equal the SUM of two or more table cards added together? If yes, you may capture all of those cards at once. Example: you play a 9 (Queen). The table has a 5 and a 4. Since 5+4=9, you capture both the 5 and the 4 along with your Queen.
- If you can make multiple captures (a single match AND a sum match), you must choose one — but you always choose the option that captures the most cards.
- If your card cannot capture anything, you must trail it — place it face-up on the table to join the other available cards. It is now available for others to capture.
- After playing your card, your turn ends.
Scopa — The Special Bonus
If you play a card that captures every single remaining card from the table — leaving it completely empty — you have made a Scopa. Take a card from your capture pile and place it face-up and sideways on top of your pile. This visible card marks one Scopa point. Say ‘Scopa!’ so everyone knows. The next player must trail a card since the table is empty.
Dealing New Cards
When every player has played all three of their cards, the dealer deals three more cards to each player from the stock. No new cards go to the table — only players get new cards. Continue until the stock is fully dealt. After the last hand is played, any cards still on the table go to the last player who made any capture — but this does NOT count as a Scopa.
Scoring at the End of the Game
After all cards are played, count the following — each category is worth exactly 1 point:
- Carte (Most Cards): The player who captured the most total cards scores 1 point. Tie = no one scores.
- Denari (Most Diamonds): The player who captured the most Diamond cards scores 1 point.
- Settebello (Seven of Diamonds): The player who captured the 7 of Diamonds scores 1 point.
- Primiera: Each player selects their highest-scoring card in each of the four suits using the Primiera values: 7=21, 6=18, Ace=16, 5=15, 4=14, 3=13, 2=12, face cards=10. Add all four suit cards together — highest total scores 1 point.
- Scope: Score 1 point for each Scopa you made during the game.
Winning
First player or team to reach 11 points across multiple rounds wins.
Tips for New Players
- Always try to capture rather than trail — leaving cards on the table gives your opponent something to work with.
- The 7 of Diamonds is worth a dedicated point all by itself — always capture it when you can.
- A Scopa is worth 1 full point and also leaves your opponent with no cards to capture on their next turn — a double advantage.