How to Play Chkobba à trois
Chkobba à trois is the Tunisian three-player version of the fishing family of card games. If you like simple tricks and clever captures, this guide will help you get started — and you can find more card guides at Playmore.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Game name | Chkobba à trois |
| Players | 3 |
| Family | Tunisian / fishing (Scopa family) |
| Deck | 40 French-suited cards (a reduced setup made from one normal 52-card deck) |
| Beginner focus | Three-player Tunisian ruleset (local variants exist) |
What you are trying to do
Your aim is to capture cards from the table by playing cards from your hand. Captured cards earn points later, according to the version you play. The basic idea is to take useful cards away from the table while leaving bad choices for your opponents.
What you need and how to set up
You need three players and a 40-card French-suited deck. Make this from a normal 52-card deck by removing the extra low ranks so you have forty cards (many players remove 8s, 9s, and 10s). Sit so everyone can reach the table area.
Shuffle well. The dealer deals a small hand to each player and places several cards face up on the table to start the pool of capture targets. Exact hand sizes and how many cards start on the table change by local rules, so check the authoritative regional rules for the precise numbers you’ll use.
How to play
- Turn order: Players take turns in a fixed direction. On your turn you must play one card from your hand onto the table.
- Making a capture: When you play a card you may take one or more cards from the table that match in rank or that combine to a qualifying value with your played card. Local rules decide which combinations or matching methods count, so confirm them before you start.
- Trailing: If you cannot or choose not to capture, you leave your played card on the table to add to the pool.
- Clearing the table: In many versions, if your play clears all face-up cards you score a special bonus (often called a sweep). Whether and how that bonus scores is version-dependent.
- Refilling hands: When players have used their hands, the dealer deals another set from the remaining deck until the deck is exhausted. Continue playing with each new hand until the deck and hands are finished.
- Capture piles: Keep captured cards face down in front of you. These are what you count for scoring at the end of the round.
How a round or game ends
A round ends when the deck and players’ hands are all finished and no more plays are possible. Players then score using the cards they captured. Exact scoring categories (for example, most cards, certain high-value cards, sweeps or specific suits) vary between local Tunisian rules and other Scopa-family variants. Games are often played to a target point total across several rounds. Be sure your group agrees which official/regional rule set you’ll use before you begin.
Beginner tips
- Watch the table. Plan captures so you don’t leave a simple sweep for the next player.
- Count high-value suits or special scoring cards as they appear. Tracking them helps you guess what opponents hold.
- Use a trailing card to block opponents when you can’t capture. A neutral card can be better than an easy capture for someone else.
- Practice clearing the table — many beginner games turn on the extra bonus for sweeps.
- Agree your exact deal sizes and scoring before you play; different Tunisian groups use slightly different rules.
FAQ
Do I need a special deck?
No. Chkobba à trois uses a 40-card French-suited deck made from one normal 52-card deck by removing certain ranks to leave forty cards.
Can I capture more than one card at once?
Yes. Fishing games let you take one or more table cards in a single play when they match or combine correctly with your played card. The exact matching/combing rules are version-dependent.
How do I learn the exact scoring and deal sizes?
Scoring, hand sizes, and sweep bonuses vary by region. Check the authoritative regional rule set before you play so everyone uses the same version.