Scala 40 rules
Scala 40 is one of the most loved card games in Italy: you meld runs and sets, open with 40 points and try to run out of cards before your opponent. Here are the rules as they are played on FantaCarte, one against one.
Scala 40 at a glance
- Cards: two French decks and 4 jokers, 108 cards; each player gets 13, also when playing two-handed.
- Opening: at least 40 points laid down in the same turn.
- Values: 2 to 10 at face value, picture cards 10, ace 11 (1 in the run A-2-3), joker left in hand 25.
- Jokers: only one in each run or set; whoever holds the real card can take it.
- End: whoever goes out scores nothing; whoever reaches 101 points loses.
The cards and the deal
It's played with two French decks and 4 jokers, 108 cards in all. Each player gets 13 cards. One card is turned face up to start the discards; the rest form the deck you draw from. Every round the dealer changes and the other player starts.
Melds: runs and sets
- Run: at least 3 cards of the same suit in sequence, for example 7-8-9 of hearts.
- Three or four of a kind: 3 or 4 cards of the same rank and different suits, for example three 8s of hearts, diamonds and clubs.
- The ace can go before the 2 (A-2-3) or after the king (Q-K-A), but runs don't wrap around: K-A-2 doesn't count.
- The joker replaces any card. Each meld, run or set, can contain only one joker. 2s are normal cards.
How much the cards are worth
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| 2 to 10 | their number |
| Jack, queen, king | 10 |
| Ace | 11 (1 in the run A-2-3) |
| Joker in a meld | as much as the card it replaces |
| Joker left in hand | 25 |
Your turn
- Take a card: draw from the deck or, if you've already opened, pick up the last discarded card. The card you pick up must be used straight away, in the same turn, in a meld.
- Meld new runs or sets or add cards to the melds already on the table (after opening).
- Discard a card: the turn passes to your opponent. You can't discard a card that fits a meld on the table, unless every card in your hand fits.
If the deck runs out, the discards (except the last one) are shuffled and become the new deck.
Opening: 40 points
The first time you meld you must lay down, in the same turn, melds worth at least 40 points. For example 10-J-Q of hearts (30) plus three 5s (15) makes 45: you open. If you don't reach 40, the cards go back to your hand. You can also open before drawing, with the cards you have, and then take your card for the turn. Before opening you can't pick up the discards or add cards to the melds on the table.
After opening
You can add cards to every meld on the table, including your opponent's. If a meld has a joker and you hold the real card it's replacing, you can put it in its place and take the joker.
Closing and points
Whoever runs out of cards closes, always by discarding the last one. Then the points are counted:
- whoever closes takes no points;
- the opponent takes the points of the cards still in their hand;
- if the opponent hadn't opened, they take 100 points;
- if the closer opened and closed in the same turn (closing in hand), the opponent's points are doubled.
Points add up round after round: whoever reaches 101 points loses and the other player wins the game.
On FantaCarte
It's played one-on-one: with a friend, with other people or against the computer. Until you discard you can tap Cancel and take the turn back. If you don't know the game, read how to play Scala 40 and try the guided game, which explains the moves one at a time. Then read the tips to win at Scala 40; if a term isn't clear there's the Scala 40 glossary, and the points count with examples is in Scala 40 scoring.
Frequently asked questions
How many cards are dealt in Scala 40?
It's played with two French decks and 4 jokers, 108 cards in all, and each player gets 13 cards.
How many points do you need to open in Scala 40?
To open you must meld, in the same turn, runs or sets worth at least 40 points.
How much is the ace worth in Scala 40?
In the run A-2-3 the ace is worth 1 point; in the run Q-K-A and in sets it's worth 11. Runs don't wrap around: K-A-2 isn't valid.
Who wins at Scala 40?
Whoever closes takes no points, the opponent takes the points of the cards in their hand. Whoever reaches 101 points loses the game.
How much is the joker worth in Scala 40?
It depends on where it is. If it is still in your hand at the end of the hand it is worth 25 points. If it is laid down in a meld it is worth the card it replaces: in 7-joker-9 of hearts it is worth 8.
Can you put two jokers in the same run?
Not on FantaCarte: each meld, run or set, can hold only one joker. The second joker goes in another meld.
How much is a set of three aces worth in Scala 40?
A set of three aces is worth 33 points (11 per ace). On its own it is not enough to open: you need at least 7 more points laid down in the same turn, for example the run 2-3-4 (9 points).
Can you take a joker that is already on the table?
Yes, once you have opened. If you hold the real card the joker stands for, you put it in its place and take the joker. If you have just picked that card up from the discard pile, you can swap it from your next turn.
How many players can play Scala 40?
Scala 40 is played by two or more people. On FantaCarte it is one against one, with a friend or with other players, and each player gets 13 cards.