Escoba — free online Card game
The Spanish "broom" game: add up to 15 with the table cards and sweep it clean for an escoba.
Escoba (escoba de 15) is free to play in your browser with the 40-card Spanish deck. On your turn you play one card and take any table cards that add up to 15 together with it — the jack (sota) counts 8, the knight (caballo) 9 and the king (rey) 10. Clear the whole table and you score an escoba, the "broom" the game is named after. When the hands run out three more cards are dealt, and the last player to take collects what is left on the table. After each deal you score a point for every escoba, for most cards, most coins (oros), the 7 of coins and most sevens; the first side to 21 wins. Tap your card and the table cards you want, or let the game pick the take for you when there is only one. Play one against one or two against two with a computer partner, at three levels. No download, no sign-up.
Quick start
- Press Start and choose 1 vs 1 or 2 vs 2.
- Tap a card in your hand. If it can take table cards, tap the ones you want until the sum shows 15, then press TAKE.
- If you cannot (or do not want to) take, press PLAY TO TABLE to leave the card there.
- Clear the table for an escoba. After each deal the points are added up; first to 21 wins.
How to play Escoba
- Escoba uses the 40-card Spanish deck. For adding up, cards 1 to 7 count as printed, the jack (sota) 8, the knight (caballo) 9 and the king (rey) 10.
- Four cards are dealt face up to the table and three to each player. If the four table cards already make 15 (or 30), the dealer takes them as one (or two) escobas.
- On your turn play one card. You may take any group of table cards that adds up to 15 together with it; otherwise the card stays on the table.
- Taking every card on the table is an escoba and is worth a point.
- When everyone's hand is empty, three more cards each are dealt from the deck — the table is not refilled. When the deck is used up, the last player to take a trick collects whatever is left on the table.
- Each deal scores: 1 point per escoba, 1 for most cards, 1 for most coins (oros), 1 for the 7 of coins and 1 for most sevens. Ties score nothing. The first side to reach 21 wins.
Points of a deal
- Escoba1 each
- Every time you clear the table.
- Cards1
- Most cards taken (more than 20 in a two-sided game).
- Coins (oros)1
- Most cards of the coins suit (6 or more of the 10).
- 7 of coins (siete de velo)1
- The single most important card of the game.
- Sevens1
- Most sevens (3 or 4 of them).
Controls
- Tap a hand card, then table cards; TAKE when the sum is 15
- When only one take is possible it is selected for you
- PLAY TO TABLE leaves your selected card on the table
- Enter or Space lets the computer make a sensible move for you; Esc clears your selection
Tips
- Watch the total left on the table: if it is 5 to 14, your opponent can sweep it with a single card.
- Leaving more than 15 on the table makes an escoba impossible on the next turn.
- Grab sevens and the 7 of coins whenever you can — they decide two of the points.
- Keep count of the coins: once a side has six, that point is settled.
Frequently asked questions
Must I take if I can?
No. In this version you may always choose to leave your card on the table instead.
Does the last sweep of the deal count as an escoba?
Yes, if a played card clears the table it is an escoba. The cards collected at the very end are not.
Is it the same game as Italian Scopa?
They are cousins: Scopa takes cards that equal your card, Escoba takes cards that make 15 with it.
Is Escoba free?
Yes, completely free in your browser, with no download and no account.