Scopa is an Italian card game from the 18th century that is played widely throughout Europe and parts of South America. Play style varies from region to region, but this will explain the rules that Spellani play, usually played in the southern region of Calabria.

Cards: There are four suits in the Italian deck. There are the Bastoni (clubs), Dinari (coins), Spade (Swords), and Coppe (Goblets). Each of these suits has ten cards, starting with l’asso (the ace), and continuing to the seven. After that there are three face cards, the Fante (knave, 8), Cavallo (Knight, 9), and Re (King, 10). The knave is male figure standing, the knight is a male figure on a horse, and the king is similar to the knave, but with a crown. You can buy your own scopa cards in any Italian paper or dry goods store, or here are the ones we play with on Amazon.

Gameplay: The gameplay goes as follows. Each player (minimum of two and maximum of six) is dealt three cards by the designated dealer. Four cards are dealt face up onto the table. The player to the right of the dealer begins play. They have two choices. They can either claim cards, or they can place a card. Claiming cards is done by showing any card from your hand that is equal to any card on the table, or the sum of two or more. For instance, if you had a five in your hand, and a four and an ace were already on the table, you may take all those cards, including your own card, and put them face down in your score pile. However, if there is a card on the table that is equal to the card you are revealing, you may not take multiple cards that add to yours. For example, if you have a six, and there are a five, a one, and another six on the table, you must take only the six. If there are multiple combinations that add to your card, you must choose one combination, and may not take both. The same goes for multiple equals, for instance if you had a three and there are two threes on the table, you must choose one (this would only happen if two threes were originally dealt). You may choose to put down a card instead of picking up cards, and must do this if you have no matches or combinations. You may not place down a card that could pick up cards. For instance if you have a seven and there is a four and a three, you may not place the seven, but must instead pick up the cards. If you had a seven in a hand, you don’t have to take the four and a three, you can choose to place down a different card, but you may not place down a card that can take cards.

Scopas: A Scopa (broom) is when you take all the cards that are on the table in one move. This includes taking a card with equal value to yours. After a Scopa when there are no cards on the table, the next player must place one of their own cards on the empty table. Cards should never be dealt onto the table, excluding the initial four cards. When you claim a Scopa, place one of the cards from the scopa face up in your score pile, to signify that you have earned a scopa when the score is tallied at the end of the round.

Playing scopa in Bologna—it’s a great travel game!

Hand End: A hand is over once all players hands are empty. The dealer then deals out another three cards to each player.

Round End: A round is over once all the cards in the deck have been depleted. The amount of hands in a round varies depending on the amount of players. Score is tallied at the end of each round.

Game end: The game ends once the tallies from all the rounds adds to an agreed upon score, often 11 for two people, 16 for three, and 21 for four and above. The winner gets to gloat.

Scoring: Scoring is done at the end of each round, and the method varies from place to place, but this is how the Spellani play.

Playing scopa with a spritz, in Spello, Umbria, Italy

Each criteria your deck fits, you get one point.

Carte: The most amount of cards
Dinari: The most amount of cards in the coin suit
Primiera: The most amount of sevens, if it is a tie, count sixes, then aces, then fives, fours, threes, twos, kings, knights, and finally knaves.
Sette Bello: If you have the seven of coins.
Re Bello: If you have the king of coins.
Additionally, every scopa earned is worth one point.