Briscola Rules — AllGameRules

Briscola: A Classic Italian Trick-Taking Card Game

Game Overview

Originating from Italy, Briscola is a popular trick-taking card game that can be played by 2, 3, 4, or 6 players. The game requires a deck of Italian 40-card deck or a standard international 52-card deck without Jokers, eights, nines, and tens.

Objective

The objective of Briscola is to score at least 61 points to win the game. Games often end in a draw when both players or teams reach the same point total of 60, and Briscola is usually played to the best of three or five games.

Setup

One player shuffles the deck and deals three cards to each player — the hand size is the same whether you play with two, three, four or six players. The remaining cards are placed face down as a draw pile, and the dealer takes one more card (the seventh in the two-player game, the thirteenth with four players) and places it face up next to that pile. Its suit becomes the Briscola suit — the trump suit — for the whole game. In the four-player and six-player partnership versions, partners sit facing each other and play passes counter-clockwise; with six players the twos are removed, leaving a 36-card pack.

How to Play

In two-player Briscola, the non-dealer (Player A) starts by leading one of their cards. Player B plays a card, and the trick is won based on these rules:

If Player B plays a card of the same suit as the card led by Player A, the trick goes to whoever played the higher card; the winner takes both cards and puts them face down in a pile near them. The ranking, from highest to lowest, is ace, three, king, queen, jack, 7, 6, 5, 4, 2.
If Player B plays a card of a different suit, and neither card is a Briscola, Player A wins the trick — even if B's card was of higher rank.
If Player B plays a card of a different suit that is a Briscola, they win the trick. If both players play a Briscola, rule 1 applies and the higher trump wins.

There is no obligation to follow suit or to trump: the second player is free to play any card in hand. After each trick, each player draws a card from the draw pile. The winner of the trick draws first, followed by the loser. The player who won the trick then leads to the next one. Once the draw pile is exhausted, the loser of that trick takes the face-up Briscola card, and play continues without drawing until every card has been played.

Scoring and End of Game

At the end of the game, each player counts the points of the cards they won in tricks. Aces are worth 11 points, Threes are worth 10 points, Kings are worth 4 points, Queens are worth 3 points, Jacks are worth 2 points, and the remaining cards have no point value. The player or team with the most points wins, or if both reach 60 points, it is a draw.

Common Variants

Some players follow the rule that if the Briscola card turned up is an Ace or a Three, the card is put back in the middle of the deck and another card is turned up. Others play that the winner is the first player to reach 120 points, which would require two deals, one by each player.

A Bit of History

Briscola has a rich history and is played not only in Italy but also in coastal regions of Slovenia and Croatia under the name Bri kula.

Where to Get the Game Briscola card game on Amazon

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

Not understanding the Briscola suit: The Briscola suit is the trump suit, and it is crucial to remember which suit was turned up as the Briscola card.
Failing to follow suit: There is no obligation to follow the suit led by the first player, but players should be aware of the potential consequences of not doing so.
Not communicating (if allowed): In partnership versions of the game, players may be allowed to communicate with each other. Failing to do so when allowed can result in missed opportunities.

FAQ

Can Briscola be played with a standard 52-card deck? Yes, a standard 52-card deck can be used for Briscola: remove the Jokers, the eights, the nines and the tens to obtain the 40-card Italian pack. The twos stay in — they are the lowest cards of the ranking.
How is Briscola played with more than two players? Briscola can be played with 3, 4, or 6 players. With four or six, players form fixed partnerships sitting opposite each other, play passes counter-clockwise, and the player to the dealer's right leads first; the highest Briscola wins the trick, or the highest card of the suit led if no trump is played. There is also a special five-player version, Briscola Chiamata.
Can players communicate during the game? In some groups, communication between partners is allowed during the game, either by conversation or visual signals.
What is the significance of the Briscola suit? The Briscola suit is the trump suit, meaning it always takes all other cards, regardless of their rank.
How are visual signals used in Briscola? Visual signals can be used to indicate the possession of certain high cards of the Briscola suit. One possible system includes stretching the lips over the teeth for an Ace, distorting the mouth to one side for a Three, and showing the tip of the tongue for a Queen or Knight.