Scopone Scientifico is played by 4 players in two partnerships with a 40-card Italian deck: 9 cards each and 4 face up on the table, with no drawing during the hand. You capture table cards of equal rank or sets whose values sum to your card; if you can capture, you must. Sweeping the table scores a scopa (+1). At the end of each hand the game points are awarded — cards, coins, settebello and primiera — and the first team to 11 points wins.
Play now — it's freeThe Italian 40-card deck is used (8s, 9s and 10s removed): Ace, 2–7, Jack (Fante), Queen/Knight (Cavallo), King (Re) in the suits ♠ spade, ♥ coppe, ♦ denari (coins), ♣ bastoni.
Exactly 4 players in two fixed partnerships, partners sitting opposite each other. Play passes anticlockwise, starting with the player to the dealer's right.
Each player receives 9 cards, all dealt at the start — there is no drawing. Four cards are then placed face up on the table.
If 3 or 4 Kings appear on the table the hand is thrown in and redealt.
On your turn you play one card:
| Card played | Result |
|---|---|
| Same rank as a table card | You capture all table cards of that rank |
| A set of table cards summing to your value | You capture the set (e.g. 4+6 with a 10) |
| Both at once | You capture everything in one play |
| Jack, Queen or King | Capture only their own rank (no sums) |
| Nothing to capture | Your card stays on the table |
Capturing is mandatory: if one of your cards can capture, you must play a capturing card. If a card could capture both a single card and a combination, the single card is always taken (the engine resolves captures automatically and maximally).
Captured cards go to the team pile and are scored at the end of the hand.
Taking every card on the table with a single play is a scopa: +1 point immediately.
The final play of the hand never counts as a scopa.
When the hands are exhausted, any cards left on the table go to the side that captured last. Then the points are counted:
| Item | Point |
|---|---|
| Cards (most captured) | 1 point — 20:20 tie: nobody scores |
| Coins (most ♦) | 1 point — 5:5 tie: nobody scores |
| Settebello (7♦) | 1 point — always awarded |
| Primiera (one card per suit) | 1 point — tie or missing suit: nobody scores |
| Each scopa | 1 point — immediately |
Primiera: the best card of each suit in your pile is scored with these values:
Values per suit (one card per suit; highest total wins):
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| 7 | 21 |
| 6 | 18 |
| Ace (A) | 16 |
| 5 | 15 |
| 4 | 14 |
| 3 | 13 |
| 2 | 12 |
| Face cards (J/Q/K) | 10 |
You need at least one card of every suit: a side missing a suit cannot win the primiera, and a four-suit primiera always beats a three-suit one. Ties award no point.
Hands are played until one team reaches at least 11 points at the end of a hand; if both pass 11 in the same hand the higher total wins, and a tie means another hand.
Never throw away the settebello (7♦): it is a whole point and helps the primiera.
Remember primiera values: sevens, sixes and aces are precious — capture them, don't feed them.
Face cards are the safest discards: they can only be captured by their own rank.
Sweeping with a card you need for the primiera is often a bad trade — check your hand first.
The Italian 40-card deck: 9 cards per player plus 4 face up on the table, all in play from the start.
Exactly 4, in two fixed partnerships sitting opposite each other.
Yes: if one of your cards can capture, you must capture. If nothing captures, you discard onto the table.
Capturing every card on the table with one play scores +1. The last play of the hand does not count as a scopa.
The 7 of coins (7♦): it scores 1 point for the team that captures it. The point is always awarded.
For each suit your best card counts: 7=21, 6=18, ace=16, 5=15, 4=14, 3=13, 2=12, face cards=10. Highest total wins; you need one card per suit and ties award nothing.
The match is won by the first team to reach at least 11 points at the end of a hand (some groups play to 21).
At most 4 game points (cards, coins, settebello, primiera) plus 1 point per scopa.
Yes — you can play free in your browser at scopone.yeeqia.com, no download or sign-up required.
Yes, the site is mobile-first and runs in any modern browser, in Italian and English.