Rules of Buraco

Buraco is a card game for 2 players or 4 players who play in pairs. The goal is to form straights of the same colour or sets of three or more cards of the same value, in order to accumulate more points than the opponents.

Aim of the game

The goal of the game can be to win a single game or to reach a total of 2000 or 3000 points, according to what the players have previously agreed upon.

Playing cards

Buraco is played with two English decks, including the Jokers (except in the Open mode).

Number of players

Buraco is a card game for two players or couples.

Distribution of the cards

11 cardsare distributed to each player, and two groups of 11 cards each, known as "pots" or "the dead", are set aside. The remaining cards are used to form the draw deck.

Gameplay

The first player starts by drawing a card from the deck, then tries to form combinations of at least 3 cards to place in their playing area. You can make as many combinations as you want. (Note: In the WTCC Open and Closed modes, it is only allowed to form straights.)

At the end, the player must discard a card from their hand, placing it face up in the centre of the table.

Each player during their turn has the option to draw a card from the deck or keep all the cards accumulated in the discard pile to form their combinations (it is mandatory to take all of them if this option is chosen). In addition to forming new combinations, the player can add cards to the combinations already existing in the game.

Jokers

Deuces and jokers act as wild cards and can be used in any combination of cards (Note: In the Open mode, Jokers are not used). Only one wild card can be used per combination. There can be 2 deuces, as long as one works as a joker and the other as a card of its normal value.

A wild card can be replaced by the card that it represents. The joker will move on the straight adjusting its value under the following conditions:

• If the 2nd joker is of the same colour as the combination and can replace a 2, it ceases to function as a joker and takes the place of the 2.
• If this is not possible, the joker will remain at the right end of the straight (where the highest cards are).
• If this is not possible, the joker will remain on the far left (where the lowest cards are).
• If the straight is complete (from Ace to Ace), the joker cannot be replaced.

The Dead

Two piles of 11 cards each have been placed on one side of the table, traditionally called "the dead". When a player runs out of cards, they take one of these piles. In each match, each pair of players can only use one of "the dead" piles.

If the deck runs out of cards and there are any "dead" left on the table, those are integrated into the deck.

Canastas

A canasta is formed by grouping a combination of 7 or more cards. There are different types of canastas, depending on how they are formed:

• Dirty Canasta: Is formed with the help of a wild card.
• Clean Canasta: Is formed without using any wild card.
• Royal Canasta: It is a clean canasta that goes from Ace to King (the Ace is placed behind the King by its highest value).
• Ace to Ace Canasta (except in the Dirty Open mode): It is a clean canasta that goes from Ace to Ace.

Note: A dirty canasta can become a clean one if the 2 acting as a joker is moved to the position of the 2. If there is a Joker in the combination, it can never become a clean canasta.

Batting

A player "bats” when he runs out of cards in their hand. There are different forms of "batting”:

• Direct: The player places their last card in their playing area, can take "the dead" and continue forming combinations in the same move.
• Indirect: The player places their last card on the pile and cannot use "the dead" until the next round.
• Final: The player places their last card without being able to take "the dead", and already has at least one canasta in their playing area. This move ends the game.

Note: In the Dirty Open mode, to "bat" or close, it is necessary to discard a card onto the pile.

Value of the plays

The distribution of points is as follows:

• From 3 to 7: 5 points
• 2 (wild card): 10 points (20 points in the Dirty Open mode).
• From 8 to King: 10 points
• Ace: 15 points
• Joker: 20 points (30 points in the Dirty Open mode).
• Final Beat: 100 points
• Dirty Canasta: 100 points
• Clean Canasta: 200 points
• Royal Canasta: 500 points
• Ace to Ace Canasta: 1000 points

In addition, the following penalties apply:

• Not picking up "the dead" subtracts 100 points.
• Picking up "the dead" and not using it subtracts 100 points (except in Dirty Open).
• The points of the remaining cards in the hand are also subtracted.

Who wins

The game ends when one player or a pair of players reaches the required number of points to win. In case of a tie, the winner will be the player or the pair who started the game.

Game Modes

Open

• Jokers are not used.
• Only straights are allowed; no sets of three can be formed.
• To close, it is necessary to have a clean canasta.
• Straight from Ace to Ace is allowed and awards 1000 points.
• Deuces add up to 10 points.
• It can be closed by discarding a card or adding it to a combination.
• Open pile.

Dirty Open

• With Jokers.
• Straights and sets of three are allowed (except sets of three made of deuces).
• It can be closed with a dirty canasta.
• No straight from Ace to Ace is allowed; Ace, 2, ..., Q, K, 2/Joker is allowed.
• The Deuces add 20 points and the Jokers 30 points.
• It is necessary to close by discarding a card.
• Open pile.

Closed

• With Jokers.
• Straights and sets of three are allowed.
• It takes a clean canasta to close the game.
• Straight from Ace to Ace is allowed and awards 1000 points.
• The Deuces are 10 points and the Jokers 20 points.
• It can be closed by discarding a card or adding it to a combination.
• Closed pile; to draw cards from the pile, it is mandatory to play the last of them immediately.

Closed WTCC

• With Jokers.
• Only straights are allowed; no sets of three can be formed.
• It takes a clean canasta to close the game.
• Straight from Ace to Ace is allowed and awards 1000 points.
• The Deuces are 10 points and the Jokers 20 points.
• It can be closed by discarding a card or adding it to a combination.
• Closed pile; to draw cards from the pile, it is mandatory to play the last of them immediately.

Closed Dirty

• With Jokers.
• Straights and sets of three are allowed.
• It can be closed with a dirty canasta.
• Straight from Ace to Ace is allowed and awards 1000 points.
• The Deuces are 10 points and the Jokers 20 points.
• It can be closed by discarding a card or adding it to a combination.
• Closed pile; to draw cards from the pile, it is mandatory to play the last of them immediately.

Buraco is a game that requires both skill and strategy. Don't wait any longer and start enjoying the fun and entertainment it has to offer!