Burraco Rules: Melds, Wild Cards, the Pile and Going Out
Burraco is played with 108 cards (two decks and four jokers). Each player gets 13 cards and a pozzetto of 11. On your turn you draw or take the discard pile, may meld, and must discard. Melds are sets of one rank or runs of one suit, at least 3 cards with at most one wild (jokers and 2s). You may go out only after taking your pozzetto and with a burraco (7+ cards) on the table.
The deal
Shuffle both decks with the four jokers together. Deal 13 cards to each player, then two separate piles of 11 cards (the pozzetti). Turn one card face up to start the discard pile. The rest forms the deck. The player who did not deal starts.
A turn
- Draw one card from the deck, or take the entire discard pile.
- Meld as much as you like, or nothing.
- Discard exactly one card (unless that was your last card and you go out).
If the deck runs out and the top discard cannot be used, the hand ends and is scored.
Valid melds
A 2 in its own place in a run of its own suit is a normal card.
| Meld | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Set | 3 or more cards of the same rank, any suits | 7♠ 7♥ 7♦ |
| Run | 3 or more cards of the same suit in order; ace low (A-2-3) or high (Q-K-A), not both | 8♣ 9♣ 10♣ J♣ |
| Wild card | A joker or a 2 can fill in for any card; only one per meld | 9♥ 10♥ 2♠ Q♥ |
You may add cards to your own melds at any time during your turn. You cannot add to your opponent's melds. A run can grow up to 14 cards.
Taking the discard pile
You may take the whole pile only if its top card can be used immediately: added to a meld you already have, or melded together with two cards from your hand. You must make that meld during the same turn. If the top card is a wild card, it must still land in a legal meld.
A big pile is worth a lot of cards, but taking it leaves your opponent a fresh start on the discard. Check how many cards you gain before you grab it.
Burracos
A meld of 7 or more cards is a burraco. Without any wild card it is a clean burraco, with one it is a dirty burraco. See Burraco scoring for the bonuses.
The pozzetto
Each side has one pozzetto. The first time your hand becomes empty (by melding or by discarding your last card), you pick it up and play on. If a hand ends and you never took your pozzetto, you lose 100 points.
Going out
To end the hand you must have taken your pozzetto and have at least one burraco on the table. Lay down or discard your last card to go out. Until you have a burraco you cannot empty your hand: the game will not let you meld or discard in a way that leaves you with no card to throw.
When the hand ends everyone scores their melds, adds bonuses and subtracts the cards left in hand. The first to reach the goal (2005, or 1005 in a quick game) wins. Try it against Hops in Burraco.
Frequently asked questions
How many cards are in a Burraco deck?
108: two standard 52-card decks plus four jokers.
Can a meld contain two wild cards?
No. Each meld may hold at most one joker or 2 acting as a wild card.
Can I add cards to my opponent's melds?
No. In this version you only add to your own melds.
Can the ace be both low and high in one run?
No. A run may use the ace low (A-2-3) or high (Q-K-A), but it cannot wrap around the king.
When does a hand end?
When a player goes out with a burraco and the pozzetto taken, or when the deck is empty and the top discard cannot be used.