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SHOLLY'S STRATEGY CORNER: Scopa King Edition 7/7/11 10:53 PM
This is a special edition of the Strategy Corner for those of you who don't quite get Scopa King, the new card game. Let's start with a brief description of the game and the scoring:
Scopa King is played with a 40 card deck, four suits (of which Coins is especially relevant) of 10 cards each. Each suit has cards 1 through 7, plus a knave (which counts as an 8), a knight (9), and a king (10). The game is started with you and the computer each receiving three cards, with four dealt to the board. You take turns playing your cards, and when both hands have been emptied, three more cards are dealt to each player. This continues until the deck is exhausted and all cards have been played.
The objective is to capture as many cards as you can, especially of the Coin suit, with extra emphasis on the King and 7 of Coins. You do this by matching a card in your hand to a card or combination of cards on the board of the same value. The only restriction is that you can't take a combination with a particular card if there's a single matching card on the board as well. For example, if there's a 5 on the board as well as a 2 and a 3 and you wish to play a 5 from your hand, you must take the single 5 instead of the 2 and 3. Oh--and if you're unable to take any cards, you must put one on the board.
If you leave no cards on the board after your play, you've made a Scopa, which is worth 1000 points. There is no penalty if the computer Scopas, but you obviously won't be able to take any cards on your next turn.
When the entire deck is dealt out, the last player to capture any cards gets all cards remaining on the board after the last card is played. (This does not count as a Scopa.) The game is then scored.
Scoring is as follows:
You receive 1000 points for each of the following:
-Capturing 21 or more cards (in other words, more than the computer)
-Capturing six or more cards of the Coin suit (again, more than the computer)
-Capturing the King or 7 of Coins (2000 if you get them both)
-Having a higher "Primiera" total (explained below)
-Each Scopa you make
To figure out your Primiera score, the highest-scoring card on the Primiera table you've taken in each suit is counted, and these four values are added together. I could put the entire table in here, but I won't--the important thing to know is that the best cards for this purpose are sevens (highest), sixes and Aces (ones). If you take three sevens, you're almost certain to collect the 1000 for Primiera.
I won't go too much into strategy here, as that's what the comment section is for. However, I will say this: the 7 of Coins is the most valuable card in the deck, so capture it whenever you can! Not only is it worth 1000 in its own right and helps toward the 1000 for Coins, but it's a big step toward collecting the 1000 for Primiera as well.
That's all for now. I'll take your questions below. Take care and good luck!
Scopa King is played with a 40 card deck, four suits (of which Coins is especially relevant) of 10 cards each. Each suit has cards 1 through 7, plus a knave (which counts as an 8), a knight (9), and a king (10). The game is started with you and the computer each receiving three cards, with four dealt to the board. You take turns playing your cards, and when both hands have been emptied, three more cards are dealt to each player. This continues until the deck is exhausted and all cards have been played.
The objective is to capture as many cards as you can, especially of the Coin suit, with extra emphasis on the King and 7 of Coins. You do this by matching a card in your hand to a card or combination of cards on the board of the same value. The only restriction is that you can't take a combination with a particular card if there's a single matching card on the board as well. For example, if there's a 5 on the board as well as a 2 and a 3 and you wish to play a 5 from your hand, you must take the single 5 instead of the 2 and 3. Oh--and if you're unable to take any cards, you must put one on the board.
If you leave no cards on the board after your play, you've made a Scopa, which is worth 1000 points. There is no penalty if the computer Scopas, but you obviously won't be able to take any cards on your next turn.
When the entire deck is dealt out, the last player to capture any cards gets all cards remaining on the board after the last card is played. (This does not count as a Scopa.) The game is then scored.
Scoring is as follows:
You receive 1000 points for each of the following:
-Capturing 21 or more cards (in other words, more than the computer)
-Capturing six or more cards of the Coin suit (again, more than the computer)
-Capturing the King or 7 of Coins (2000 if you get them both)
-Having a higher "Primiera" total (explained below)
-Each Scopa you make
To figure out your Primiera score, the highest-scoring card on the Primiera table you've taken in each suit is counted, and these four values are added together. I could put the entire table in here, but I won't--the important thing to know is that the best cards for this purpose are sevens (highest), sixes and Aces (ones). If you take three sevens, you're almost certain to collect the 1000 for Primiera.
I won't go too much into strategy here, as that's what the comment section is for. However, I will say this: the 7 of Coins is the most valuable card in the deck, so capture it whenever you can! Not only is it worth 1000 in its own right and helps toward the 1000 for Coins, but it's a big step toward collecting the 1000 for Primiera as well.
That's all for now. I'll take your questions below. Take care and good luck!
How do you deselect if you made a choice that is not acceptablez/
Yes I agree. I think it's better to capture as many cards as possible. Love your hard work on here : )
When you could take a high combo with one high card, but had to settle for the same card of different suit: Have you tried a discard of one of your others? SOMETIMES it pays off - forces a different discard or capture by your opponent, and can set the Scopas up...
This could work, and there are times when it's the right thing to do. However, I wouldn't normally recommend it--far too often, if you refuse to take a card when you can, you'll find the computer taking it before you get to play again. It's better to get something than nothing.
This has been really helpfull along with the training games. I was lost trying to play without it. Do the royal face cards add up higher for Primiera? Thanks Sholly! Susan in MNxxx
The Kings have a very small Primiera value (10, if I remember correctly), and the Knaves and Knights have no value at all. Don't worry about them for your Primiera total--focus on 7s, 6s and Aces, as they're worth 21, 18, and 16 respectively.
IT WOULD BE EASIER IF WE KNEW WHAT THE King.Knight, Knave AND THE REST OF THE STRANGE CARDS WERE! I'M USED TO HEARTS DIMIONDS SPADES AND CLUBS. LOL
The kings all have crowns, and the knights are all on horses.
Huh?
ok, that's one question I don't know the answer to. You got me there :P