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Burraco for two, a romantic and Machiavellian game: this is how it works

Burraco for two is different from the traditional one: particularly suitable for couples, it is relaxing but also strategic - All the moves and tricks to know to win

Burraco for two, a romantic and Machiavellian game: this is how it works

Burraco is now a kind of panacea, a panacea capable of solving many moments of social life. For example, an evening with friends, a rainy Saturday afternoon, a day on the beach that is too sunny. The challenge clears the mind of bad thoughts and immerses players in an almost always pleasant relationship life. It usually takes a lot of work to complete a four-player table, yet two are enough to play one of the most beautiful versions of the Burraco game. If we want to season the meeting with a romantic touch, we can imagine a couple, a sunset, a table, a cold drink and a deck of cards. Especially on holiday it is an excellent mix. It's true that summer is coming to an end, but even for the long winter evenings it's worth learning the most beautiful Burraco for two in the world, a partially different game from the classic Burraco. In this version, in fact, it is necessary to add another 11 cards each to be disposed of to the 11+11 distribution cards and the two wells. How does it work? In each hand the dealer, after distributing the cards and before revealing one on the table to start the discard pile, must place another 11 cards in a row, face up, next to each player. From the first hand, therefore, we are dealing with 66 cards in play: 11 for each player, 11+11 pozzetti, 11+11 cards in a row, uncovered. The distribution and placement of the latter is from top to bottom, one at a time, alternating for one and the other player.

At the end of this operation the dealer turns over the 67th card to start the discard pile and start the game. The 11+11 additional cards must be disposed of one at a time and thanks to the presence of two compatible cards in the player's hands or they must be linked to games opened by the player himself. There is no possible migration of cards between opponents' ranks. For example: if I have two 3s in my hand or only one 3 and a wild card (jolly or pinella) I can take the last card in my row which is a 3 and open a game. From that moment I can add to that open game any 3 I draw or have in my hand (as usual) and any 3 I meet in my row. Remembering, of course, to dispose of only one card at a time. So I can't take the 3s before having joined them in the row, disposing of the cards that precede them. Also, if there are two consecutive 3s in my row, but I don't have any 3s in my hand and I don't have any open games to tie them to, I can't use them. That is to say: I cannot take a wild card in my hand and add first one 3 from the row and then the other. I must already have two compatible cards in my hand (two 3s or a 3 and a wild card) or an open game suitable for hosting one or more 3s. There are no other ways. The theoretical description is much more complicated than the practice. However, we must be careful with this step and remember that the cards in the row must be taken one at a time, one after the other.

Some rules of the game are the same as those of the traditional burraco: it can be opened whenever you want; you have to try to take the pozzetto by opening games and tying the 11 cards of the fan and those that are drawn and collected; you can take the pozzetto directly or with discard; to close it is necessary to have taken the cockpit and made at least one dirty burraco, but this is not enough. A very important difference is given by the fact that you cannot close without first having also disposed of the 11 cards in your row. Here then we begin to understand how strategic and Machiavellian this type of Burraco is. In fact, right from the start of the game you have to keep an eye on those 11 additional cards on the table, to choose which games to favor. Particular attention should also be paid to waste. In fact, a player with an advantage can be put in great difficulty by not finding cards compatible with those in his row. In short, seeing is believing, it's a beautiful and non-trivial game. Luck is important, but a skilled player has many arrows in his bow even in the absence of wild cards. The game generally lasts an hour, the right time for an aperitif, after which there is still room for a nice dinner and a long evening.

20 thoughts on "Burraco for two, a romantic and Machiavellian game: this is how it works"

    1. maria teresa scorzoni Edit

      Hi Dario, the short answer to your question is no, the exposed cards are taken one at a time and one after the other. So you can take the Jack only if you have in your hand, in addition to the Queen, also another card that binds. In your example you must have the 10 of spades or the king of spades (except for the fact, in this second case, that you will not be able to bind the one of the exposed cards). Alternatively you can obtain the same result with the wild card. Put down: Q, joker (or pinella) and bind the J and then the K. You can never put down the Q alone and bind the J and K. The essence is that the exposed card must close a sequence (or a combination) of at least three cards, two of which must already be in your fan. Two exposed cards and only one in your hand are not usable

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  1. Good morning. I would like to know if the uncovered cards can be combined with the cards already in hand both in sequence and in combination? For example if I have a 4 and a 6 in my hand can I take the first card of the uncovered well if it is a 5 and form the relative sequence?

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    1. maria teresa scorzoni Edit

      Hi Claudio, the answer to your question is yes, the game is exactly as you say. To take the cards face up, one at a time and in the order in which they are arranged, you need to have at least two cards in your hand that are linked to them, either in combinations or in sequences. If I have a 6 of hearts and a 4 of hearts I can certainly take the first card of the eleven face up if this is a 5 of hearts

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    1. maria teresa scorzoni Edit

      Hi Nadia, in this game to close the hand you need to use up everything you have available, that is, the 11 cards in a row and the cards in the fan, you also need to have taken the well and made at least one burraco. If the challenge reaches the point that only two cards remain in the talon, the game stops and you cannot draw, nor collect the discard pile. Players count positively the cards of their open games and the burraco or burracos eventually made; the negative points are represented by the cards in hand, the cards still present in your row and the well eventually not taken or not played.

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    1. Dear Nadia, yes, the sequence is what you say: first you draw and then you can possibly take the card face up. The drawn card can remain in the fan or be discarded, while the card taken from the 11 face-ups must necessarily be played and can never be discarded. Good game!

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  2. Good morning,
    I would kindly like to know if the opponent closes and the others remain in addition to the cards on the ground, how should the latter be counted?
    100 pt each or the value of the cards?

    THANK YOU

    Reply
    1. Dear Gabri, if the opponent closes, the untaken well will be paid one hundred points, while the cards must be paid based on their value, both those in the fan and those on the ground

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  3. I wanted an explanation I was taught that the card discarded by the player as the last shot must be played immediately and not kept it is played at leisure when you want it is so?

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