How to Play Escoba
Escoba ("broom") is Spain's fishing game, also loved in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. The magic number is fifteen: your card plus the table cards you take must add up to it.
The deck
40 cards: ace, 2 to 7, jack, queen, king in each suit. Values: ace 1, 2–7 face value, jack 8, queen 9, king 10. Diamonds play the part of the Spanish coins.
Play
- Three cards each, four face up on the table. The non-dealer plays first; the dealer changes every round.
- Play a card. If it makes fifteen with any set of table cards, you must take such a set (your choice if there are several); the cards go face down to your pile.
- Otherwise the card stays on the table.
- Clearing the table is an escoba: 1 point (not on the last card of the round).
- When both hands are empty, three more each are dealt until the deck is gone. Whatever is left at the end goes to the last player who took.
Scoring
| Points | |
|---|---|
| Most cards | 1 |
| Most diamonds | 1 |
| Seven of diamonds | 1 |
| Most sevens | 1 |
| Each escoba | 1 |
Ties score nothing. First to 15 after a round wins; a tie at 15 or more plays another round.
Playing on kawu
Tap a card to play it. If it can take in more than one way, tap the table cards you want and then the card again. Hint shows the hard computer's play.
Next: Escoba strategy.
Frequently asked questions
Why diamonds instead of coins?
Spanish decks have coins, cups, swords and clubs. kawu uses a standard deck, so diamonds stand in for coins (oros): the coins point and the siete de oros are the seven of diamonds.
Can I take several combinations at once?
No. One play takes one set of cards that makes fifteen with your card. If several sets are possible, you choose which.
Is Escoba the same as Scopa?
Close cousins. Scopa takes a card of equal value or a sum equal to your card; Escoba always takes cards that add up to fifteen with yours. Scoring is similar but Escoba counts sevens instead of primiera.
Last updated 2026-10-21