The pozzetto in Burraco: how it works and when to take it

The pozzetto is what sets Burraco apart from many other card games: a spare packet of 11 cards that you pick up when you run out of cards in your hand. Taking it early is often the key to the round.

What the pozzetto is

At the start of each round, after dealing 11 cards to each player, two pozzetti of 11 cards are set aside face down. In two-player Burraco each player has one; in pairs, there is one per team.

How you take it

On the fly

If you meld or add all the cards in your hand without discarding, you take the pozzetto on the fly: you pick it up straight away and carry on your turn with the 11 new cards. Then, as always, the turn ends with a discard.

With a discard

If you have one card left and you discard it, you take the pozzetto with the discard: you'll play the 11 new cards from your next turn.

The pozzetto when playing in pairs

In pairs each team has only one pozzetto: it goes to whichever of the two players runs out of cards first. The partner keeps playing with their own. From then on the team can start thinking about closing.

Why it matters so much

• Without the pozzetto you can't close: to close you must already have taken it and have at least one burraco.
• Whoever doesn't take it loses 100 points at the end of the round.
• It's 11 extra cards: more melds to lay down and more chances to make a burraco.

How to get there sooner

• Meld the groups you have early: melded cards are worth points and bring you closer to the pozzetto.
• Don't keep too many cards "for later": every card in your hand is one more step to go.
• Think twice before picking up a very large discard pile: it gives you useful cards, but takes you further from the pozzetto.
• When you have only a few cards left, try to meld them all and go on the fly: you gain a turn.

Read also:
Burraco rules How points are counted 10 tips to win