Scopa (“to sweep” in Italian) is one of the most popular card games in Italy. Nearly everyone in Italy has played it at least once in their life, and in small towns it is still common to see people gathered around a table where four elderly are exchanging swear words and bantering over a heated game of Scopa.

The game of Scopa may be easy to learn, but it is difficult to master. Traditionally it is played with a deck of Neapolitan cards. There are for suits: Coppe (Cups), Ori or Denari (Golds or Coins), Spade (Swords) and Bastoni (Clubs), with face cards ranging from one (the ace) to seven and three figures cards: Knave (Fante in Italian, worth a value of 8), Knight (Cavallo in Italian, worth 9), and King (Re in Italian, worth 10).