How to win at Scopa: 10 tips
In Scopa luck matters, but whoever remembers the cards that have come out and thinks about what they leave on the table wins much more often. Here are ten simple tips, from the easiest to the craftiest.
1. Keep an eye on the 7s
7s are worth a great deal: the settebello is a point on its own and the 7s are the best cards for the primiera. If you can take a 7, it's usually the right capture.
2. The settebello comes first
If the 7 of coins is on the table and you can take it, take it. If it's in your hand, play it when you're sure to capture something, so you don't leave it to your opponent.
3. Don't leave easy scope
Before laying down a card, add up what's left on the table. If the total is 10 or less, your opponent could take the lot with a single card. Better to leave a total above 10, or two cards that don't add up well.
4. Count the cards that have come out
There are 40 cards and each rank appears four times. If three kings have already come out, the last king is no longer a threat. The more cards you remember, the more you know about what your opponent might hold.
5. When you can, take the coins
Between two similar captures, choose the one with more coins cards: with 6 coins the point is yours.
6. Take lots of cards
The cards point is also won with 21. Between taking one card or taking two with a sum, the sum is often better.
7. Think about the primiera
For the primiera you need the best card in each suit: 7, then 6, then ace. If you already have a 7 of cups, another 7 of cups helps you less than a 6 of swords you don't have yet.
8. Face cards can wait
Jack, knight and king only take high cards or big sums. Keeping them for the end of the hand helps you settle things when the table fills up.
9. The last capture counts
The cards left on the table at the end go to whoever made the last capture. In the final plays, keep a card you know you can use to capture.
10. Watch the score
If your opponent is close to 11, play to stop them: take their coins or the settebello even at the cost of capturing fewer cards. If you're ahead, play safe and don't leave scope.
Go over the rules
Unsure about captures and points? Read the Scopa rules and the scoring with the primiera.