Ronda variants and the history of the game
By The Atlas Carta teamUpdated on
Play Ronda online
A family of capturing games
In capturing games — “fishing games” to card-game specialists — you play a card to take face-up cards from the middle. The idea is very old and has produced many games around the Mediterranean and far beyond. Ronda is a branch with three distinctive features: capturing by equal value extended by the run, chain plays against the previous player, and declarations of pairs and three of a kind.
| Game | Deck | How you capture | Notable bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ronda | 40-card Spanish | Same value + the run going up | Chain (B'wahed 1, B'khemsa 5, B'3echra 10), Missa, declarations |
| Escoba | 40-card Spanish | Cards adding up to 15 with the card played | “Escoba” for clearing the table |
| Scopa | 40-card Italian | Same value, or cards adding up to the card played | “Scopa” for clearing the table |
| Caída | 40-card Spanish | Same value | Capturing the card your opponent just played; hand declarations |
| Cuarenta | 40 cards (52-card deck minus 8, 9, 10) | Same value + the run going up | “Caída” and “limpia”; game to 40 points |
| Casino | 52 cards | Same value or sums; building | Points for cards, spades and certain cards |
Detailed descriptions of these games vary between sources; the most widely cited English reference is Pagat, which lists Ronda among its fishing games.
Where does Ronda come from?
Ronda is a traditional game played for generations around the Mediterranean and across the Arab world, wherever Spanish cards are in circulation. There is no original “official” written rulebook: the game has been passed on orally, which explains the variety of names and house rules. In Spain you will also hear “Ronda” and “Rondín”, while an old game called “Ronda y Báciga” is something else entirely.
The game shares its name with its basic declaration, the Ronda (a pair). Today it is played around kitchen tables and on phones alike, by players all over the world.
Common variants
These are the differences you will meet most often from one table to another. None of them is “wrong”: before a game with friends, just agree on the rules.
The two-player start
Many players deal 3 cards each and turn 4 cards face up in the middle at the start of the round. In the Atlas Carta app, the table starts empty and each player receives 4 cards per deal, over five deals.
Three-player Ronda
Some tables play three-handed, every player for themselves. The app offers 1 vs 1 and 2 vs 2.
Cumulative chain points
At some tables every step of the chain scores: B'wahed 1, then B'khemsa another 5, then B'3echra another 10. In the app the gain is single: only the last player in the chain scores 1, 5 or 10.
Tringa, Tringla, Rondín; Missa, Mesa
Three of a kind is called Tringa, Tringla or, in Spanish, Rondín; clearing the table is Missa, Mesa or “mesa limpia”. The rules are the same, only the words change: find every spelling in the Ronda glossary.
The target score: 31, 41 or 51 points, and 9a3a
Most people play to 41 points, but the target is up to each table. For a short game many play to 31 points; for a longer evening, to 51 points. The scoring does not change: only the finishing line moves. Other tables apply an end-of-game rule called “9a3a”, whose details vary. The app plays to 33 points, stopping the moment the target is reached, and does not use 9a3a.
The rules used in Atlas Carta, and why
So that an online game plays the same way for everyone, the app applies a single rule set, described in the Ronda rules:
- empty table at the start and a 4-3-3 deal with four players (five deals of 4 cards with two);
- a single chain gain (1, 5 or 10) for the last player in the chain, who collects the pile;
- Missa worth +1, combinable with a chain play, except on the dealer’s very last card;
- optional declarations after each deal: the best one takes all the others;
- a bonus of 1 point per card above 20, and victory at 33, even mid-round.
A single rule set prevents arguments: everyone knows in advance what scores points.
Play Ronda online
Frequently asked questions
Which games are similar to Ronda?
Escoba, Scopa, Caída, Cuarenta and Casino: all capturing games where you take cards from the middle of the table.
Are Ronda and Rondín the same game?
Depending on the place, “Rondín” refers either to three of a kind (the Tringa) or to a version of Ronda. The capturing and declaration principles are the same.
Which Ronda variant is the right one?
None is better than another: what matters is that every player follows the same one. The Atlas Carta app applies a single rule set, described in its rules guide.
Read also
Other games on Atlas
- ToutiTrick-taking and bidding card game (bids from 70 to 230) for 4 players in 2 teams, played with a 40-card Spanish deck; the first team to 600 points wins.
- RummyRummy game with two 52-card decks and jokers: you lay down runs (Suivi, e.g. 7♥ 8♥ 9♥) and sets (Tria, e.g. 9♠ 9♥ 9♦). Simple, Rummy 51 and Rummy 71 modes, 1 vs 1 or 2 vs 2.
- BeloteTrick-taking game with trumps and declarations, for 4 players in 2 teams of 2. Moroccan variant with 32 Spanish cards to 1,000 points, or French variant with 32 French-suited cards to 1,000 points.
Play Ronda online
On iOS and Android, play all four games online and invite your friends to a private table.