Rubamazzo rules: how to play, capture cards and steal piles

Quick rubamazzo rules reference

Players: 2 to 10
Deck: 40 cards
Cards per player: 3
Cards on the table: 4 face up
Objective: collect more cards than your opponents
Capture: match the value of a card on the table or capture a combination with the same total value
Pile: captured cards are kept in a face-up pile
Stealing: match the exposed card on an opponent's pile to take the entire pile
Deal: another 3 cards are dealt when players have used their hands
Winner: the player with the most cards at the end

Objective of the game

The objective of rubamazzo is to finish with more cards than the other players.

Players collect cards by capturing cards from the table and by stealing opponents' piles.

Unlike games where the value of individual cards determines the final score, rubamazzo is based on the total number of cards collected. Every card you manage to keep therefore contributes to your final result.

The deck

Rubamazzo uses a traditional 40-card Italian deck.

The deck contains four suits and ten cards in each suit: ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, jack, knight and king.

For combinations, the cards have the following values:

Dealing the cards

The dealer gives three cards to each player.

Four additional cards are then placed face up on the table.

The remaining cards stay in the deck and are used for subsequent deals.

When all players have played their three cards, another three cards are dealt to each player. This process continues until the deck has been exhausted.

How a turn works

On your turn, you play one card from your hand.

There are several possible outcomes.

Capture a matching card

If a card on the table has the same value as the card you played, you can capture it.

For example, if you play a 5 and there is a 5 on the table, you capture that card.

Capture a combination

You can also capture several cards from the table if their combined values equal the value of the card you played.

For example, a card worth 10 can capture:

• 6 + 4
• 3 + 5 + 2
• knight + ace

This makes it important to look at all the available combinations before playing your card.

A matching card takes priority

If a card on the table has the same value as the card you played, you must capture that matching card rather than choosing a different combination with the same total value.

This rule prevents players from freely choosing between a direct match and a combination.

Building your pile

After making a capture, the cards you have taken are added to your personal pile.

The card that you played to make the capture remains face up on top of the pile.

This exposed card determines whether another player can steal your pile.

For that reason, the top card of your pile is strategically important throughout the game.

How to steal an opponent's pile

Stealing is the mechanic that gives rubamazzo its name.

Suppose the exposed card on an opponent's pile is a 6.

If you have another 6 in your hand, you can play it and steal the entire pile.

All the cards in that pile become yours.

The card you played becomes the new exposed card on top of your pile.

That means your newly acquired pile can immediately become a target for another player holding a card of the same value.

Chain stealing

Because every stolen pile has a new exposed card, piles can move repeatedly between players.

For example:

1. Player A builds a large pile.
2. Player B matches its exposed card and steals the pile.
3. Player C has the same value and steals it from Player B.
4. Player A or another player may later steal it again.

This possibility makes memory particularly useful. Remembering which values have already been played can help you identify when a large pile is vulnerable.

Capturing from the table versus stealing a pile

A turn can involve a choice between taking cards from the table and stealing an opponent's pile, depending on the cards available.

The most valuable move is not necessarily the one that captures the most cards immediately.

A large pile can be worth taking, but once it is yours, its exposed card may make the entire pile vulnerable to another player.

The position of the top card therefore matters almost as much as the number of cards in the pile.

When there is no capture

If the card you play cannot capture a card or combination from the table and cannot be used to steal an opponent's pile, it remains face up on the table.

That card then becomes available for future captures.

Every card placed on the table can therefore create a new opportunity for the next player.

End of the game and scoring

The game continues through successive deals until all the cards have been played.

At the end, the cards collected by each player are counted.

The player with the highest total number of cards wins.

There is no separate points system based on particular cards. The number of cards in your final pile is your score.

Strategy tips for rubamazzo

Watch the exposed cards

Always check the top card of every opponent's pile. A large pile with an easily matched exposed card may be an immediate opportunity to gain many cards.

Remember the values already played

Rubamazzo rewards memory. If you know that several cards of a particular value have already appeared, you can better estimate whether an opponent can steal your pile.

Think about the card you leave exposed

Capturing cards is only part of the move. The card you put on top of your pile can determine whether another player can steal everything from you.

Look for combinations

Before playing a card, scan the table for possible combinations. A card worth 10, for example, may be able to capture several smaller cards at once.

Protect a valuable pile

A large pile is useful only if you can keep it. If its exposed card is easy for an opponent to match, think carefully about whether the move leaves you vulnerable.

Watch the other players' hands

The cards players have already used give you information about what they may still hold. This becomes increasingly useful as the deck gets smaller.

Common rubamazzo rules questions

Can you capture several cards at once?

Yes. If the combined values of several cards on the table equal the value of the card you play, you can capture that combination.

Can you choose a combination when an identical card is on the table?

No. If a card of the same value as the card you played is available on the table, that matching card must be captured instead of a combination.

Can you steal an entire pile?

Yes. If your card has the same value as the card exposed on top of an opponent's pile, you can steal the entire pile.

Can a stolen pile be stolen again?

Yes. The card used to steal the pile becomes the new exposed card, so another player with the same value can steal the pile again.

Does the suit matter?

No. Captures and steals are based on card value, not suit.

How is the winner determined?

When all the cards have been played, each player's cards are counted. The player with the most cards wins.

Play rubamazzo online

Rubamazzo is simple to learn but becomes much more interesting once you start tracking the cards and thinking about what you leave exposed.

Capture cards from the table, build your pile, watch your opponents and look for the right moment to steal.

Play rubamazzo online on GiochiPiù and discover one of Italy's most distinctive traditional card games.