What is Scopa?
Scopa is a traditional Italian card game for two to six players. The objective of the game is to capture cards from a shared playing field by matching them with cards from your hand. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
What You’ll Need
Before getting into the details of dealing the cards, make sure you have the following:
- A standard deck of Italian cards (40 cards)
- Two to six players
The Setup
Once you have everything ready, follow these steps to set up the game:
- Gather all players around a table.
- Shuffle the deck thoroughly to ensure randomness.
- Designate a dealer for the first round.
- The dealer should deal three cards to each player, one at a time.
- After the initial three cards, the dealer should deal four more cards to each player, again one at a time. In Scopa, there are a total of seven cards per player.
- The remaining cards are placed in the center of the table to form the “stock.”
The Deal
Now that everything is set up, it’s time for the deal. Here’s how it’s done:
- The player to the right of the dealer goes first, and play continues clockwise.
- The active player begins their turn by playing a card from their hand and attempting to capture matching cards from the table.
- If the active player successfully captures cards, they add them to a pile known as the “scopone.”
- Once the active player finishes their turn, the next player in line starts their turn in the same manner.
- This continues until all the cards have been played from the players’ hands and the stock.
Final Thoughts
Dealing the cards in Scopa is a straightforward process that sets the stage for an exciting game. Remember to follow the rules of Scopa and enjoy the game with your fellow players. Now that you know how to deal the cards, gather your friends and start playing this captivating Italian card game!