Classic
Scopone scientifico
- Players
- 4
- Duration
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- 2/3
- Deck
- 40-card deck (no 8s, 9s or 10s)
Chapter 1 of 5
How to set up
Scopa in pairs for four players, with the 40-card deck. Nine cards each, four on the table and no further deals, so every card is played with your partner in mind. No talking and no signals.
Before you start, make sure you know Scopa well: this page assumes you know card values, capturing rules and how to count the primiera.
Objective
Reach 21 points with your partner before the other pair. Points are scored as in Scopa: cards, diamonds, settebello, re bello, primiera, napola and scope.
Setup
- Deck
- 40 cards: remove the 8s, 9s, 10s and jokers
- In hand
- 9 each
- On the table
- four cards face up, no stock
- The pairs Four players in two pairs. Partners sit opposite each other.
- The deal Choose a dealer. They deal counterclockwise, starting with the player on their right: three cards each and two on the table, then three more each and two more on the table, then three more each.
- Kings on the table If three or four of the table cards are K, reshuffle and deal again.
Card values and capturing rules are those of Scopa.
Variants to agree on first
- Ten-card Scopone. Deal ten cards each and none to the table: the first player opens onto an empty table. Here the dealer's last card does make a scopa if it clears the table.
- Scopa: the same game for 2 to 6 players, three cards at a time.
- Classic scoring. Re bello and napola do not count, and play is to 11 points.
Chapter 2 of 5
How to play
- Your turn The player on the dealer's right starts, then play goes counterclockwise. On your turn you play one card face up.
- Capturing As in Scopa: you take a card of the same value, or two or more cards that add up to the value of the card played. If the card can capture it must, and a single card comes before a sum.
- The scopa Clearing the table makes a scopa: put the card you played sideways among your pair's captures.
- Silence Nobody talks about their cards or signals to their partner.
- End of the hand When everyone has played their nine cards, any cards left on the table go to the pair that captured last. The dealer's last card never makes a scopa, even if it clears the table.
- The next hand Count the points, the deal passes to the player on the right and another hand is played, until a pair reaches 21.
Frequently asked questions
Can I talk to my partner?
No, neither in words nor with signals. You communicate only through the cards you play.
How is it different from four-player Scopa?
In Scopa you get three cards at a time, in Scopone scientifico all of them at once. You know your whole hand from the start and can plan the hand with your partner.
Does the dealer's last card make a scopa?
No. It captures as usual, but even if it clears the table it is not a scopa.
Chapter 3 of 5
How to score
At the end of the hand each pair counts its captures. One point each, except scope and napola.
| Item | Points | How |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | +1 | one point for each scopa |
| Cards | 1 | to whoever has the most cards; on a tie, nobody |
| Diamonds | 1 | to whoever has the most diamonds; on a tie, nobody |
| Settebello | 1 | to whoever has the 7♦ |
| Re bello | 1 | to whoever has the K♦ |
| Primiera | 1 | to the highest primiera; on a tie, nobody |
| Napola | 3+ | A♦ 2♦ 3♦ scores 3, then one point for each diamond in a row: 4 with the 4♦ and so on |
The primiera: how to work it out
Each player picks their best card of each suit by the values below and adds the four values. You need at least one card of each suit: if you are missing a suit, you have no primiera.
Who wins. The first pair to reach 21. If both get there in the same hand the higher score wins; on a tie, play another hand.
Chapter 4 of 5
An example hand
The start
Anna and Carla play against Bruno and Dario. Dario deals, so the order of play is Anna, Bruno, Carla, Dario. On the table are 5♠ 2♣ 6♥ J♦.
Tips
- With nine cards in hand from the start, count the ones played: halfway through the hand you already know almost everything your partner and your opponents have left.
- If the opponent after you could make a scopa, leave cards adding up to more than 10 on the table, or play a card your partner can take.
Chapter 5 of 5
Table summary
- 4 players
- 15 min
- 40-card deck (no 8s, 9s or 10s)
In short
- Four players, two pairs, partners opposite. Counterclockwise.
- Nine cards each and four face up on the table, dealt 3 + 2, 3 + 2, 3. No further deals.
- Three or four K on the table: deal again.
- The first pair to 21 wins.
Capturing
- As in Scopa: same value or a sum. Capturing is compulsory, a single card before a sum.
- Empty table: scopa. The dealer's last card never makes a scopa.
- Cards left at the end of the hand: to the pair that captured last.
- No talking and no signals to your partner.
Points
- Scope, cards, diamonds, settebello (7♦), re bello (K♦), primiera, napola (from A♦ 2♦ 3♦).
- Primiera values: 7 21, 6 18, A 16, 5 15, 4 14, 3 13, 2 12, court cards 10.
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