Escoba (Escoba de 15)
How to play Escoba (Escoba de 15)
Escoba — short for Escoba de quince ("the broom of fifteen") — is one of the best-loved card games of Spain and Argentina, and a close cousin of the Italian Scopa. It is a fishing game: you "sweep" cards off the table by making them add up to fifteen. It is quick to learn, lovely on a phone, and you play here against a bot — or online against another person in real time.
Play Escoba online with a friend
Choose to play online and you'll be matched with a real opponent, or share a private invite link to play with a friend in the browser — no account and no app needed. The server deals the cards, enforces the rules and keeps both players in sync in real time.
The cards
Escoba uses a 40-card Spanish deck — Ace through 7, then the three court cards. Each card has a capture value: Ace 1, the pips 2–7 at face value, Sota (Jack) 8, Caballo (Queen) 9, Rey (King) 10. The "oros" (coins) suit is shown here as diamonds, and the 7 of oros is the prized card. Four cards start face up on the table; you and the bot each hold three.
Capturing
On your turn you play one card. You may take any group of table cards that, together with the card you play, add up to exactly 15. For example, play a 6 and scoop up a 9 (Caballo); or play a Rey (10) and take a 2 and a 3. You can also simply lay your card on the table without capturing — useful to deny your opponent. Whatever you do not capture stays on the table for later. When your hands run out, three more cards are dealt to each player until the deck is gone.
The escoba
If your capture clears the entire table, that is an escoba ("sweep") and scores an extra point — except on the very last play of the round. The last player to capture sweeps up any cards left on the table when the round ends.
Scoring
After each round you score: most cards (1 point), most oros (1), the 7 of oros (1), and the best primera (1, counting your highest card in each suit on a special scale where 7 is worth most). Add one point for every escoba you swept. The first player to 15 points wins the game.
Strategy
Watch the running total of the table: when the cards on it already add up to 15 on their own, the next player can sweep them for an escoba — so avoid handing one over, and grab one when it is offered. The 7 of oros and the sevens are worth chasing for the primera. Hold a card back to answer a dangerous table. Tap a card in your hand, then tap the table cards you want to capture; a "Lay it" button appears when you would rather not capture. N starts a new game.