How to Play Escoba
Escoba — Spain's classic "fifteens" game — is Scopa's Spanish cousin, with one key difference: instead of matching values, you're adding them up to fifteen. Quick to learn, satisfying to master, and full of sweep opportunities. Learn the rules here, then play free with guided practice hands.
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Overview
Escoba is a capturing game built around one simple idea: combinations of cards that add up to fifteen. It rewards mental arithmetic and table awareness — a good player is constantly scanning the table for combinations before they play a card, not after.
How to Play
- Deal. Each player is dealt three cards, and four cards are placed face-up on the table.
- Play a card. On your turn, play one card from your hand face-up onto the table.
- Make fifteen. If your card, combined with one or more cards already on the table, adds up to exactly fifteen, you capture all of those cards plus the one you played. Numbered cards count at face value; Jacks count as 10, Queens as 11, Kings as 12.
- No match, no capture. If nothing on the table adds to fifteen with your card, it simply stays on the table.
- Sweep the table. Capturing every remaining card at once is an escoba — the game's namesake move — worth a bonus point.
- Redeal three cards each (no new table cards) once hands are empty, and continue until the deck is exhausted.
- Last capture of the hand takes any cards left on the table (not counted as a sweep), then the hand is scored.
Scoring at the End of Each Hand
- Escobas — 1 point for each sweep made during play.
- Most cards — 1 point to whoever captured more cards overall.
- Most oros — 1 point to whoever captured more cards of the Oros (Coins) suit.
- Siete de oros — 1 point for capturing the Seven of Oros.
- Primera — 1 point for the best combination of one card per suit, using each game's agreed value ranking.
Strategy Tips
- Scan before you play, not after — look for every fifteen combination on the table before choosing your card.
- Avoid leaving easy fifteens for your opponent, especially late in a hand when the table is thin.
- Hold onto Kings and low cards when possible — they combine into more fifteens than the middle-value cards.
- Track the Oros — with only ten in the deck, you'll often know exactly how many are left and whether the "most oros" point is still in play.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players does Escoba need?
Escoba is usually played by two, three, or four players — with four, it's often played as two fixed partnerships.
How many cards are used in Escoba?
Escoba uses the 40-card Spanish deck (Oros, Copas, Espadas, Bastos), with no 8s or 9s. If using a standard 52-card deck, remove the 8s, 9s, and 10s, and treat Jacks as 10, Queens as 11, and Kings as 12.
What does it mean to make fifteen?
You capture cards from the table by playing a card whose value, combined with one or more table cards, adds up to exactly fifteen. Any combination of table cards that sums to fifteen along with your played card can be taken at once.
What is an "escoba" (sweep)?
An escoba happens when your capture clears every card off the table at once. It's worth a bonus point and is the game's namesake move.
How is Escoba scored?
Points are awarded at the end of each hand for: most cards captured, most cards of the Oros (Coins) suit, holding the Seven of Oros, best primera (highest combination of one card per suit), and one bonus point per sweep made during play. Play continues over several hands to an agreed target, commonly 21 points.