Scopa is traditionally played with a deck of 40 Italian cards that include the ace, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, Jack (or Knight), Horse (or Lady) and King. The cards are given a number value from 1 to 10, in the listed order.

The dealer deals three cards to each player, face down, and puts another four cards on the table. When all players have played all of their cards, the dealer deals three new cards to each player. This is repeated until the end of the deck. The end of the deck is considered ”a hand”. After each hand the dealer changes.

During the game the players take turn to play one card each. The aim of the game is to collect cards from the table by playing a card of equal value to one other card, or a card with a value equal to the sum of two or more cards on the table. Collected cards are placed in a pile face down in front of the player. If a player cannot win any cards, the played card is added to those already on the table, and the turn passes to the next player.

Note! If there are different possible combinations of cards, you must take the card with the equal value to the card you are playing. If there are several possible combinations but no card of equal value, you may chose the preferred combination freely.

At the end of the hand, all cards that remain on the table are won by the last player who won cards.

If a player manages to take all of the cards on the table with a single played card, this is called a ”scopa”, which is worth one point. Scopa made in the last play of the last hand worth nothing.

The score is calculated at the end of each hand.

Scopas: scopa = one point. (There can be several scopa points during the course of one hand.)

Cards: the highest number of cards won in a hand = one point. (If there is a tie, no point is assigned.)

Coins: 6 coin (or diamond) cards = one point. (If there is a tie, no point is assigned.)

Settebello: the seven of coins (or diamonds) = one point.

Primera: one point. (The ’primera’ is the total value of the best collected card in each of the four suit, using the following values: 7 = 21 points, 6 = 18 points, ace = 16 points, 5 = 15 points, 4 = 14 points, 3 = 13 points, 2 = 12 points, face cards = 10 points. The player with the highest number of points counting the ”primera” gets one point toward the game score.).

The points obtained in each hand are added to those obtained in the previous hand. The game is won by the player who first reaches or exceeds 11 points.

NAPOLA

In this variation the player capturing the ace, two, and three of coins achieves the Napola (or Napoli) and is awarded additional points equal to the highest consecutive coin they obtain, e.g. if a player captures the ace, two, three, four, and five, and eight of coins, that player is awarded 5 additional points.

REBELLO

IT’s the King (10) of coins and it’s worth one point.