Count after the deal
Play every card, then award remaining table cards to the last capturer. Only then count the points. Keep a running match score separately: most games take several deals to reach 11. There are four collection categories, worth one point each, plus one point for every valid sweep.
1. Most cards · one point
Count every card in each capture pile, including the cards you played into captures and the table cards collected at the end. With 40 cards split between two players, 21 or more guarantees this point. If both have 20, neither scores it. A 23–17 split is still worth just one point.
2. Most coins · one point
Count only the coins suit, denari. There are ten coins in the deck. Six or more guarantees the point in two-player Scopa; a 5–5 tie awards nothing. The coin ranks do not matter here. An ace and a king each count as one coin.
3. Settebello · one point
The seven of coins. Whoever has it scores one point. It also counts as a card, a coin, and a strong primiera card. These benefits stack.
The settebello is not a trump. It still captures with value 7, just like every other seven. Its special role appears when you score.
4. Primiera · one point
Primiera rewards a useful collection across all four suits. For each suit, select the card with the highest primiera value, then add the four values. The higher qualifying total earns one point. Equal totals earn neither player the point.
All four suits are required. Without at least one card in every suit, you do not qualify. If only one player qualifies, that player earns the point. If neither qualifies, neither scores it.
| Card rank | Capture value | Primiera value |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 21 |
| 6 | 6 | 18 |
| Ace | 1 | 16 |
| 5 | 5 | 15 |
| 4 | 4 | 14 |
| 3 | 3 | 13 |
| 2 | 2 | 12 |
| Fante | 8 | 10 |
| Cavallo | 9 | 10 |
| Re | 10 | 10 |
A four-suit example
21 + 21 + 21 + 18 = 81
These are the best cards in each suit from your worked-example pile.
Three sevens and a six make 81. Your opponent’s best four are six of cups, six of swords, seven of clubs, and two of coins: 18 + 18 + 21 + 12 = 69. You win the primiera point. An impressive primiera total is still worth only one scoring point.
There can also be ties: two sevens and two sixes total 78, regardless of which suits hold them. Compare the totals, not just the number of sevens.
5. Sweeps · one point each
Each legal capture that empties the table earns a scopa. Both players may score multiple sweeps in a deal. Keep track as you play, because the final pile alone cannot tell you how many you made.
A table-clearing capture on the last play of the entire deal earns no scopa. Simply collecting leftovers after the deal also earns no scopa. Emptying the table on the last card of an earlier hand can still count.
A complete deal at a glance
Here is a full 40-card example: your 23 cards include six coins and the settebello. Both players qualify for primiera. You made two valid sweeps; your opponent made one.
| Category | You | Opponent | Point to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most cards | 23 | 17 | You (+1) |
| Most coins | 6 | 4 | You (+1) |
| Settebello | Yes | No | You (+1) |
| Primiera | 81 | 69 | You (+1) |
| Sweeps | 2 | 1 | Both (+2 / +1) |
| Deal total | 6 | 1 | Add to match score |
There are seven points awarded in this example: four collection points plus three sweep points. A deal does not always award the same total. Tied categories reduce it; sweeps increase it.
Finish the match, not just the deal
Add these results to the running score. After a completed deal, a player at 11 or more wins if their total is higher. If both players finish tied at or above 11, play another deal. Our reference rules do not allow a mid-deal victory claim.
For a regular French-suited deck, diamonds stand in for coins: most diamonds and the seven of diamonds score those categories. The primiera rank values stay the same.
Practice scoring in lesson three