Buraco rules: how to play International Buraco, scoring and buracos

Buraco is a card game that combines strategy, skill and planning. The goal is to build sequences, create buracos and score points, while trying to close the game before your opponents.

There are several versions of buraco played in different countries. In this guide, we focus on the international buraco rules, including the cards, dealing, sequences, wild cards, pots, buracos, closing conditions and scoring.

How many cards are dealt in buraco?

International buraco is played with two French decks including four jokers, for a total of 108 cards.

Each player receives 11 cards at the beginning of the game. The remaining cards form the stock, placed face down on the table.

The first card from the stock is turned face up to start the discard pile.

During the game, players can either draw a card from the stock or take the discard pile according to the rules of the game.

When a player takes the discard pile, they take the entire pile rather than choosing a single card.

Each turn ends with the discard of one card.

If there is only one card in the discard pile and a player takes it, they cannot discard that same card during the same turn.

When a player runs out of cards, they receive another hand of 11 cards from the pot.

How does a turn work in buraco?

Each turn follows a simple structure:

1. Draw a card from the stock or take the discard pile.
2. Play cards to form or extend sequences.
3. Discard one card to end the turn.

The discard ends the player's turn.

When taking the discard pile, remember that the entire pile is taken, not just the most recent card. If the pile contains only one card, that same card cannot be discarded again during the same turn.

How do you form sequences in buraco?

International buraco is based on sequences of at least three consecutive cards of the same suit.

For example:

3♦ 4♦ 5♦

is a valid sequence.

You can add cards to a sequence already played by you or your partner when playing in pairs, as long as the sequence continues according to the rules.

You cannot take a card from one sequence and move it to another sequence.

A wild card can, however, be moved within a sequence when the rules allow it.

How long can a buraco sequence be?

A sequence becomes a buraco when it contains at least seven cards.

A buraco can contain up to 14 cards, including a wild card.

The sequence can run through the full order:

A – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – J – Q – K – A

The ace can therefore appear at the beginning, at the end, or at both ends of a complete 14-card sequence.

What are the wild cards in buraco?

International buraco uses 12 wild cards:

• 4 jokers
• 8 twos

The 2s are also known as pinellas when they are used as wild cards.

A wild card can represent another card that is missing from a sequence.

For example, a joker or a 2 can be used to complete a sequence when the required card is missing.

However, a 2 used in its natural position — after an ace or before a 3 — is not being used as a wild card.

A sequence cannot contain both a joker and a 2 being used as wild cards at the same time.

Can a wild card be moved within a sequence?

Yes. A wild card can be moved within a sequence when another card allows the sequence to be rearranged according to the rules.

This can be particularly important when trying to turn a dirty buraco into a clean one.

A 2 that was initially being used as a wild card can also become a natural 2 when the card that it was replacing is played in the appropriate position.

What is a buraco?

A buraco is a sequence of at least seven cards of the same suit.

There are several types of buraco in international buraco, each with a different value:

• Clean buraco
• Dirty buraco
• Royal buraco
• Semi-royal buraco

The type of buraco you create can have a significant impact on your final score.

What is a clean buraco?

A clean buraco is a sequence of at least seven cards of the same suit without using a wild card.

A clean buraco is worth 200 points.

A clean buraco can become dirty if a wild card is added to the sequence later.

There is one situation in which a dirty buraco can become clean again: when a 2 that was being used as a wild card is moved into its natural position below the 3, using the card that originally replaced it.

Having at least one clean buraco is also a requirement for closing the game.

What is a dirty buraco?

A dirty buraco is a sequence of at least seven cards of the same suit that contains a wild card.

The wild card can be either a joker or a 2 being used as a wild card.

A dirty buraco is worth 100 points.

Unlike a clean buraco, a dirty buraco does not satisfy the clean-buraco requirement for closing the game.

What is a royal buraco?

A royal buraco is a complete sequence from ace to ace of the same suit, without using a wild card.

A royal buraco contains all 14 cards of the suit:

A – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – J – Q – K – A

A royal buraco is worth 1,000 points.

What is a semi-royal buraco?

A semi-royal buraco is a complete sequence from ace to king of the same suit, without using a wild card.

A semi-royal buraco is worth 500 points.

Royal and semi-royal buracos are specific to international buraco and are not part of the Italian burraco rules described in our comparison guide.

When do you take the pot in buraco?

When a player runs out of cards, they take a new hand of 11 cards from the pot.

Taking the pot is an important part of the game because the player or team must have taken the pot before they can close.

There are two different situations.

If a player runs out of cards without discarding, they can continue playing immediately with the new cards from the pot during the same turn.

If the player finishes their cards by making a discard, they take the pot but must wait until their next turn before playing those cards.

When can you close the game in buraco?

To close the game, a player must meet several conditions.

They must:

• have made at least one clean buraco.
• have taken the pot.
• get rid of all their remaining cards.
• finish with a valid final discard.

The final discarded card cannot be a joker or a 2 used as a wild card.

The player also cannot use the card just taken from a discard pile containing only that single card as the final discard.

Closing the game awards 100 points.

How is buraco scored?

The score is calculated at the end of the hand.

Players receive positive points for the cards and buracos they have created, as well as for closing the game.

Cards remaining in a player's hand count as negative points.

The standard values are:

If a player or team has not taken the pot, an additional 100 points are deducted.

Cards left in the hand when another player closes are also counted as negative points using their normal values.

What is the objective of buraco?

The main objective is to accumulate more points than your opponents by building sequences and buracos.

Creating longer sequences and clean buracos is particularly valuable because these can produce higher scores.

However, scoring points is not the only consideration. You also need to manage your hand, use wild cards carefully, observe the cards your opponents are taking and discarding, and plan how to reach the pot and close the game.

Buraco strategy: how to improve your game

There is no single strategy that guarantees a win, but several principles can help you make better decisions.

Build sequences strategically

Look for cards of the same suit that can be connected into sequences. Avoid breaking useful sequences unnecessarily, especially when you are close to creating a buraco.

Use wild cards carefully

Jokers and 2s are extremely versatile and can help complete important sequences.

Using them too early, however, may limit your options later in the hand. Consider whether a wild card can help you create a clean or higher-value buraco before using it.

Watch the discard pile

Pay attention to the cards your opponents take and discard.

Their choices can reveal which suits or sequences they are trying to build. Avoid giving opponents cards that are likely to complete their combinations.

Plan when to take the pot

Reaching the pot at the right moment can give you a strong advantage.

Remember that finishing your cards without a discard allows you to use the new hand immediately, while finishing with a discard means you must wait until your next turn.

Play as a team

When playing in pairs, your partner's cards and sequences are part of the overall strategy.

Pay attention to the cards they play and the sequences they are building. Your decisions can help your partner complete a buraco or prepare for the final close.

Think about the closing move

Closing requires more than simply getting rid of your cards.

You need at least one clean buraco, must have taken the pot and need a valid card for the final discard. Planning these conditions in advance can prevent you from reaching the end of your hand without being able to close.

What is closed Buraco?

Closed buraco, also known as buraco fechado, is a more restrictive version of the game.

The main difference concerns the discard pile.

In closed buraco, you can take the discard pile only when you are going to use the most recently discarded card in a combination during the same turn. If you do, you take the entire discard pile.

Only the most recently discarded card is visible. The other cards remain hidden, so remembering which cards have already been discarded becomes an important part of the strategy.

Closed buraco also allows groups of cards with the same value, such as three queens, in addition to the sequences used in international buraco.

What is closed STBL Buraco?

Closed STBL buraco, also known as Buraco fechado STBL, is an even more restrictive version.

Only sequences in ascending or descending order are allowed.

As in closed buraco, the discard pile can only be taken when the most recently discarded and visible card can be used in a combination during the same turn.

This makes memory, planning and careful observation particularly important.

International buraco vs Italian burraco

International buraco and Italian burraco share the same basic idea of building sequences and buracos, but their rules differ in several important ways.

The most obvious difference is that international buraco does not allow groups of cards with the same value and different suits. Italian burraco does.

The types of buraco are also different.

International buraco includes:

• Clean buraco
• Dirty buraco
• Royal buraco
• Semi-royal buraco

Italian burraco also has a semi-clean buraco, which is not used in international buraco.

The closing rules are another important difference. In international buraco, the player or team must have created at least one clean buraco before closing.

Italian burraco is more flexible because a player or team can close after creating at least a dirty buraco.

Understanding these differences is important if you play both versions, because the same strategy does not always work in both games.

Buraco vs canasta: what is the difference?

Buraco and canasta are related rummy-style card games with several similarities, but their rules are different.

Buraco uses two French decks and players start with 11 cards. The canasta rules described in our guide use three decks, with each player starting with 15 cards.

Another major difference is the type of combinations allowed.

In buraco, players build sequences of cards of the same suit. Canasta is based on groups of cards with the same value and does not allow sequences.

The special cards and closing conditions are also different.

If you already know canasta, do not assume that the same strategy will work in buraco.

Where can I play buraco online?

Once you know the basic rules, you can put your strategy to the test by playing buraco online for free.

Play directly from your browser, challenge other players and practice building sequences, creating buracos and planning your way to the final close.

Play Buraco online for free on GiochiPiù.

Frequently asked questions about buraco rules

How many cards do you start with in buraco?

Each player starts with 11 cards. Two additional hands of 11 cards are prepared as the pots.

How many cards are in a buraco deck?

Buraco uses two French decks including four jokers, for a total of 108 cards.

How many players can play buraco?

Buraco can be played with different numbers of players, including individual and pair games. The international buraco rules covered in this guide support games with 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 players, depending on the game format.

What is a buraco?

A buraco is a sequence of at least seven cards of the same suit. International buraco includes clean, dirty, royal and semi-royal buracos.

How many cards do you need to make a buraco?

You need at least seven cards to create a buraco.

What is a clean buraco?

A clean buraco is a sequence of at least seven cards of the same suit without using a wild card. It is worth 200 points.

What is a dirty buraco?

A dirty buraco is a sequence of at least seven cards containing a joker or a 2 used as a wild card. It is worth 100 points.

What is a royal buraco?

A royal buraco is a complete sequence from ace to ace of the same suit, without a wild card. It is worth 1,000 points.

What is a semi-royal buraco?

A semi-royal buraco is a complete sequence from ace to king of the same suit, without a wild card. It is worth 500 points.

What are the wild cards in buraco?

The wild cards are the four jokers and the eight 2s, for a total of 12 wild cards.

What are pinellas in buraco?

The 2s are called pinellas when they are used as wild cards. They can represent another missing card in a sequence.

How many points is a joker worth in buraco?

A joker is worth 30 points.

How many points is a 2 worth in buraco?

A 2 is worth 20 points.

How many points is an ace worth in buraco?

An ace is worth 15 points.

How many points is a clean buraco worth?

A clean buraco is worth 200 points.

How many points is a dirty buraco worth?

A dirty buraco is worth 100 points.

How many points is a royal buraco worth?

A royal buraco is worth 1,000 points.

How many points is a semi-royal buraco worth?

A semi-royal buraco is worth 500 points.

How many points is closing worth in buraco?

Closing the game is worth 100 points.

Do you need a clean buraco to close in international buraco?

Yes. In international buraco, you must have made at least one clean buraco before you can close the game.

Can you close buraco with a joker or a 2?

No. The final discard cannot be a joker or a 2 being used as a wild card.

What happens when you run out of cards in buraco?

When you run out of cards, you take an additional hand of 11 cards from the pot. If you finish without discarding, you can play the new cards immediately. If you finish by discarding, you must wait until your next turn.

What is the difference between international buraco and Italian burraco?

International buraco is based on sequences of the same suit and includes royal and semi-royal buracos. Italian burraco also allows groups of cards with the same value and has a semi-clean buraco. The requirements for closing are also different.