Scala 40 scoring: how points are counted

In Scala 40 points are a bad thing: you collect them, round after round, and whoever reaches 101 loses. Here's how the count is done at the end of a round, with some examples. The full rules are on the Scala 40 rules page.

1. Whoever closes takes no points

The round ends when a player runs out of cards, always by discarding the last one. Whoever closes takes 0 points. The other player takes the points of the cards still in their hand.

2. How much the cards in hand are worth

Cards melded on the table don't count at the end of the round: they only matter for opening, where the joker is worth as much as the card it replaces and the ace is worth 1 in the run A-2-3.

3. If you haven't opened: 100 points

If you haven't opened yet when your opponent closes, the cards aren't counted: you take 100 points, whatever you have in your hand.

4. Closing in hand: double points

If the closer opened and closed in the same turn, it's a closing in hand: the opponent takes double, including double the 100 points if they hadn't opened.

Examples

Anna closes. Bruno is left with a king, a 7, a joker and an ace in his hand: 10 + 7 + 25 + 11 = 53 points.

In the second case Bruno goes over 101 in a single round: he loses the game.

5. Whoever reaches 101 loses

Points add up round after round. As soon as someone reaches 101 or more, they lose and the other player wins the game. If the deck runs out too many times without anyone closing, the round ends with no points for anyone.

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