Scopa (idea)

A card game which uses the Italian deck. This deck is made of 4 suits (Swords, Cups, Coins and Clubs). Each suit has cards numbered from 1-7 and 3 court cards: fante (pageboy), cavallo (knight), and re (king). In scopa, the court cards count as 8, 9 and 10, respectively.

An American playing card deck may be used if the 8s, 9s and 10s are taken out. The Queen takes the place of the cavallo, and Diamonds can be used for Coins.

1. Each player is dealt 3 cards.
2. After the initial deal, the next 4 cards are dealt face up in the play area.
3. Play begins to the right of the dealer. The object of the game is to get as many cards as possible. But since some cards are worth more than others, a little strategy must be used!
   During a player's turn, that player must either capture card(s) in the play area with a card from his/her hand, or play a card onto the play area. Cards can capture their own kind (six takes six, king takes king) or a combination that equal it (a 6 can take a 5 and a 1, or 3, 2 and 1; a knight can take a 6 and a 3). If a card is played, and the same kind of card is in the play area, it must capture that card.
4. Only one card may be played each turn. Captured cards are put face down in that player's capture pile.
5. If all cards in play are captured by a player, that player gains a scopa. This move is typically achieved with a sweeping fluorish of the capturing card, scooping up all the cards. Scopa means "sweep" or "broom" in Italian. (Put the capturing card face up and perpendicular in your capture pile to keep track of your scopas for scoring.)
6. Once all players' hands are empty, new hands are dealt. Game play ends once the deck has been used up.
7. A player may not scopa with the last card of the game. You may capture all of the remaining cards if you are able, but it won't count as a scopa.
8. The last player who captured gains the remaining cards in the play area after gameplay ends.

Each of these conditions gains a player 1 point.

1. Getting a scopa.
2. Having the settebello (7 of Coins).
3. Having the most 7s. No point is given in a tie.
4. Having the most Coins. No point is given in a tie.
5. Having the most cards. No point is given in a tie.
6. Having the best primiera. A primiera is a set of 4 cards made from your captures, one card of each suit. The point values (given below) are added up, and 1 point is awarded to the player with the highest value. No point is given in a tie.

   7s = 21
   6s = 18
   1s = 16
   5s = 15
   4s = 14
   3s = 13
   2s = 12