Dealer shuffles then deals 3 cards to each player in turn, clockwise from dealer
(Last hand of 3-handed game is 4 cards each)
Announce "Last Hand" if applicable
On initial deal, place 4 cards face-up on table after dealing to players
♣ Playing
Player on dealer's left plays first
Player plays one card from their hand
Can either match one or more cards on table, or discard card to table
If there is a matching card on table, player must take matching card rather than multiple of smaller cards
If player has matching card in hand, they don't have to play it but can capture card by playing higher value and totalling smaller values
Pip Cards are worth their value (Ace is worth one) - Court/Face Cards are worth:
JACK = 11
QUEEN = 12
KING = 13
Players take turns to play their 3 cards in turn then dealer deals another 3 cards each (4 if last hand in 3-handed game)
A play starts after the previous player has finished (or the dealer has completed dealing) and ends when the player's fingers/hand have left the card that they've placed on the table - or when all the cards the player has chosen to remove have left the table (i.e. are no longer touching the table)
This means that the player can discard a card but as long as they are still touching it, they can return it to their hand and play another card
Until a player ends their play, they may change their mind, even if it means their opposition gaining knowledge of one of their cards
♦ Scoring
If a player clears all cards from the table during play (up to, and including, the last play), they call SCOPA! and score a point
If this moves the player to 11 points - they win the game immediately
When all cards have been dealt and played, the player who took the last trick takes all the remaining cards on the table
The non-dealer player scores their cards first:
Most Cards = 1 point (no points to either player if 26 cards each)
Most Hearts = 1 point
Most Sevens = 1 point (no points to either player if split 2 each)
7 of Hearts = 1 point
First player to 11 points wins the game
♠ Penalties
Wrong number of cards dealt and/or not noticed until the first card is played in that hand:
4 points to non-dealer, or 4 points shared if more than 2 playing
Hand ends immediately and new hand is dealt by next dealer (no points are tallied or scored)
Dealer shows a card when dealing - either their own or opposition:
Person affected can choose to keep card or return to middle of deck and be dealt another off the top
Dealer shows a card when dealing the last hand:
Person affected can choose to keep card or swap (blind) with one of the dealer's
Player shows one of their own cards before it's been played, by mistake:
No penalty to anyone
Player takes a multiple of cards when the same card is already on the table - or if player has mis-counted or mis-matched cards:
If noticed before the next play, all cards (including all multiples and match) must be placed on the table