Scopa d'assi: the ace takes all
Scopa d'assi is good old Scopa with one extra rule: the ace takes all the cards on the table. In many homes it's called simply asso piglia tutto, "the ace takes all". One ace played at the right moment is enough to change the game.
What stays the same
Cards, captures and points are those of classic Scopa:
- it's played one against one with the 40 Neapolitan cards;
- 4 cards face up on the table and 3 each; when they run out 3 more are dealt;
- you take the card of the same rank or several cards that add up to the value of yours; if the equal card is there you must take it;
- whoever takes all the cards off the table makes a scopa.
The ace rule
| When you play an ace and… | What happens |
|---|---|
| there are no aces on the table | you take everything |
| there's an ace on the table | you take the ace |
| the table is empty | the ace stays there |
When the ace takes all it doesn't count as a scopa: the cards are yours, but the scopa point isn't. If instead there's only an ace on the table and you take it with yours, it's a normal scopa.
Some tips
- Keep an ace for when the table is full. The more cards there are, the more the capture is worth: maybe the settebello is in there.
- Count the aces that have come out. There are only four: once you've seen them all you can leave cards on the table more safely.
- If there's an ace on the table, your opponent's ace only takes that one. Sometimes leaving one down is the best way to defend the table.
End-of-hand points
One point each for cards, coins, settebello and primiera, plus a point for each scopa: it's all explained in Scopa scoring. It's played to 11 or 21 points.
Play it online
On FantaCarte choose Scopa, then Scopa d'assi. You can play with other people, with a friend at a private table or against the computer. Like the ace taking all? Try Cirulla too, where you can also capture by making 15.