Maghreb · Fishing · Head to head
Chkobba: rules and how to play
شكبّة
Chkobba is Tunisia's favourite café game, a fishing game close to Italian Scopa. You take cards from the table by value or by sum, and every time you clear the table you score a chkobba. The seven of diamonds, the haya, is the card everyone wants.
At a glance
- Players
- 2 (or 4 in partners)
- Deck
- 40 cards: no 8, 9 or 10
- Goal
- First to 11 points (or 21)
- A game
- A few rounds
01
How to play in one minute
- Use 40 cards: ace 1, 2 to 7, queen 8, jack 9, king 10. Deal three each and four face up on the table.
- Play a card. If a table card has the same value, you must take one of them.
- If none does, you must take a set of table cards adding up to your card, if there is one.
- Take every card on the table and you score a chkobba (+1).
- At the end of the round, score carta, dinari, haya and bermila. The first to 11 wins.
02
The rules
The deal
40 cards: a standard deck without the 8s, 9s and 10s. Three cards each and four face up on the table. When all hands are empty, three more each until the deck runs out. If three of the four table cards share a rank, they go back and the table is dealt again.
Capturing
Play a card. If a table card has the same value you must take exactly one of them (you choose which). If none does, you must take a set of table cards adding up to your card if there is one (you choose the set). If nothing can be taken, your card stays on the table. Taking every card on the table is a chkobba (+1).
Scoring
At the end of the round the last player to capture takes what is left, with no chkobba. Then 1 point each for:
- Every chkobba
- Carta: 21 cards or more
- Dinari: 6 diamonds or more
- Haya: the seven of diamonds
- Bermila: most sevens; if sevens tie, most sixes; if those tie too, nobody
You play a king (10) on a table of 3, 7 and a queen: there is no king, so you must take the 3 and the 7.
03
Tips from the table
- The haya is a point on its own. Never leave the seven of diamonds where your opponent can take it.
- Sevens win the bermila: capture them early, and sixes too in case of a tie.
- Count diamonds as they fall. Six or more is the dinari point.
- Leave the table at a total your opponent can't match, so they can't sweep it.
Qahwa · قهوة
Play it in Qahwa
Switch the house rules before you deal:
- Play to 11 or 21
- Redeal the table when three of its four cards share a rank
- A chkobba on the very last card counts
04
Questions
What is a chkobba?
Taking every card on the table with one capture. It scores a point, and a good round can hold several.
What is the haya in Chkobba?
The seven of diamonds. Capturing it is worth a point by itself, which is why it is the card everyone watches.
What is the difference between Chkobba and Scopa?
They come from the same family. Chkobba is the Tunisian game, played with a standard deck without 8s, 9s and 10s and scored on carta, dinari, haya and bermila. Qahwa has both, plus Scopone.
Play it free: Chkobba
Free on Android. iPhone coming soon.