If you are a fan of card games and looking to spice up your game nights, you must try playing 'Asso Piglia Tutto'. This traditional Italian card game is not only easy to learn but also highly entertaining. In this blog post, we will guide you through the rules and gameplay of 'Asso Piglia Tutto' so that you can start enjoying this exciting game with your friends and family.
What is 'Asso Piglia Tutto'?
'Asso Piglia Tutto', also known as 'Ace Takes All', is a popular Italian card game that can be played with a standard deck of 40 Italian playing cards. The game requires at least two players, but it becomes more enjoyable with a larger group.
How to Setup the Game?
To set up the game, you need a standard deck of Italian playing cards. Remove all the face cards (Kings, Queens, and Jacks) from the deck, leaving only the Ace through 7 of each suit. Shuffle the cards thoroughly and deal them clockwise, starting from the dealer. Each player should have an equal number of cards.
How to Play 'Asso Piglia Tutto'?
Once the cards are dealt, the game begins. The player next to the dealer goes first, and the turns proceed clockwise. The objective of the game is to capture cards from the center pile and earn the highest number of points.
During each turn, the active player can play a card from their hand that matches the rank of one or more cards in the center pile. For example, if there is a 3 of Hearts in the center, the player can play another 3 from their hand to capture the pile. If the player doesn't have a matching card, they must play any card face up to the center pile.
After playing a card, the player captures the matching cards from the center pile and adds them to their capture pile. If multiple cards of the same rank were played, the player can capture all of them at once. The captured cards, along with the player's face-up card from their turn, are then placed face down in a separate pile.
If a player captures all the cards from the center pile, they shout "Asso piglia tutto!" (Ace takes all) to signal their victory for that round. The player with the highest total point value of captured cards at the end of the game wins.
Scoring in 'Asso Piglia Tutto'
Each card captured during the game has a specific point value:
- Aces: 11 points
- Sevens: 10 points
- Sixes: 9 points
- Fives: 8 points
- Fours: 7 points
- Threes: 6 points
- Twos: 5 points
The total point value of captured cards determines the winner of the game.
Tips and Strategies
Here are a few tips to improve your gameplay:
- Try to capture the high-value cards, such as Aces and Sevens, to boost your score.
- Observe the cards played by other players to deduce their hand composition. This can help you make better decisions during your turn.
- Timing is crucial. Holding onto a certain card until the right moment can help you capture a pile of matching cards.
Now that you know the rules and strategies of 'Asso Piglia Tutto', grab a deck of Italian playing cards and gather your friends for a thrilling game night. Enjoy the excitement and friendly competition brought by this fantastic Italian card game!