Chkobba

Chkobba, Tunisia's card gameSweep the table.

Chkobba, the game of the cafés of Tunis, now online and free. Play one against one or two against two, against real players or with your friends.

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  • Nothing to download
  • Ranked games and seasons
  • English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Italian
I · The deal

Forty cards.

Ace to 7, then the face cards, in all four suits. Three cards in your hand, four face up on the table.

II · Capture

One card, one sum.

Your card takes its twin from the table, or several cards that add up to it. Here, the 7 of clubs takes 1 + 6.

III · Chkobba

An empty table.

Take everything left in one go: that's a chkobba, and a point. The 7 of diamonds takes 3 + 4.

IV · Count

Five points.

At the end of a round, one point each for the most cards, the most diamonds, the bermila (the most 7s), the 7 of diamonds, and every chkobba.

V · The KO

Seven to nil.

You win at 11 points one against one, at 21 two against two. But 7 points or more against 0 at the end of a round ends it: a win by KO.

A game of the mind.

You learn the rules in five minutes. Playing well takes years.

♦︎

Remember

Only forty cards. Good players know how many 7s are gone, and whether the 7 of diamonds is still in play.

♣︎

Count

A 7 takes a 7, but also 3 + 4 or 2 + 5. See every sum on the table and pick the one that pays.

♥︎

Give nothing away

Leaving a total your opponent can take in one go hands them a chkobba. Every card you lay down also defends.

♠︎

Play as a pair

Two against two, you read your partner's game without a word, set up their captures and keep the diamonds.

A game played on three continents

Chkobba comes from the Italian scopa, "the broom". The same sweep is played under other names, from Tunis to Naples, from Madrid to Buenos Aires.

TunisiaChkobbaشكبةThe country's most popular card game, in cafés and at home.
AlgeriaChkoubaThe same captures and the same chkobba, under a close name.
FranceChkobbaBrought by Tunisian and North African families, it has spread widely.
ItalyScopaOne of the country's three great card games, with briscola and tressette.
Libya, SomaliaScopaArrived with the Italian presence in the 20th century.
SpainEscoba"Escoba" also means broom. The cards you capture must add up to 15.
ArgentinaEscobaBrought by Spanish and Italian immigrants.
BrazilEscovaVery popular in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Sources: Pagat, Pagat (Scopa), Wikipedia (Scopa), Wikipedia (Escoba).

The points of a round.

At the end of each round, each of these points goes to the side that wins it. On a tie, nobody scores it.

+1CardsThe most cards captured.
+1DiamondsThe most diamonds.
+1BermilaThe most 7s; on a tie, the most 6s.
+17 of diamondsWhoever captured it.
+1Every chkobbaOne point per cleared table.

Win at 11 points one against one, at 21 two against two. Win by KO: 7 points or more against 0 at the end of a round.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I play Chkobba online for free?

On chkoba.com, right in your browser: free games one against one or two against two, against real players or with friends, in English, French, Arabic, Spanish and Italian.

What is the difference between Chkobba and scopa?

The captures and the goal are the same: clear the table to score a point. Chkobba is played with a 40-card French deck (diamonds, hearts, spades, clubs) and scores the bermila and the 7 of diamonds, where scopa scores the primiera and the seven of coins.

Is Chkobba a game of luck or strategy?

The deal brings some luck, but over a game strategy wins: remembering the cards played, counting captures, never leaving a chkobba and, two against two, playing for your partner.

Can I play Chkobba on my phone?

Yes, chkoba.com works in your phone's browser. Android and iPhone apps are coming soon.

How can I propose a partnership to Chkobba?

Artists, creators and brands can propose background music, sound or visual effects, and card or table skins by writing to chkobbaapp@gmail.com.

Your sound, your style, in every game.

Chkobba welcomes partners who make the game richer:

  • Musicians and artists : background music for lobbies and games.
  • Effect creators : sounds, capture animations and chkobba special effects.
  • Brands (cars, fashion, sport, drinks…): card, table and frame skins in your colours.

Write to us:

chkobbaapp@gmail.com

A few lines about your project, with a link to your work or your brand.