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Download on Google Play- Use a standard 52-card deck.
- Deal 4 cards to each of 2-4 players; place 4 cards face-up on the table.
- Redeal 4 cards each round until the deck runs out.
- Play one card from your hand to the table.
- Capture a table card matching your card's value, or multiple cards summing to it.
- Clearing all table cards earns a sur (sweep).
- 1 point each for most cards, most clubs, ten of diamonds, and two of clubs.
- Each sur (sweep) earns 1 additional point.
Rules
Pasur is a traditional Iranian card game of capture and calculation, played with a standard deck. Players capture table cards by matching values, with special emphasis on collecting certain cards and making sweeps, which are called 'sur' in Farsi.
Objective
Capture cards from the table by matching their combined or individual values with a card from your hand. Score points by collecting the most cards, earning sweeps, and securing specific high-value cards.
Setup
- Players: 2 to 4 players.
- Deck: Standard 52-card deck.
- Deal: Each player receives 4 cards. Four cards are placed face-up on the table.
- Redealing: After each round of play, players are dealt another 4 cards until the deck runs out.
Gameplay
- Play a card: On your turn, play one card from your hand to the table.
- Capture by matching: If your card matches the value of a single table card, capture it. Number cards match their face value; Jacks are 11, Queens are 12, Kings are 13.
- Capture by summing: You may also capture multiple table cards whose values sum to your played card's value.
- Sur (sweep): If your capture clears all cards from the table, you earn a sur, worth extra points.
- No capture: If you cannot capture anything, your card remains on the table.
Scoring
- Most cards: The player who captured the most cards earns a point.
- Club cards: The player with the most clubs earns a point.
- Ten of diamonds: Capturing this card is worth a point.
- Two of clubs: Capturing this card is worth a point.
- Each sur: Every sweep earns one point.
Tips and Strategies
- Avoid leaving table values that sum to a common total, as this gives opponents easy captures.
- Prioritize capturing the ten of diamonds and two of clubs early when possible.
- Set up surs by leaving the table nearly empty, then clearing it with a calculated play.
Tips & Strategy
Table management is the core skill. Avoid leaving easy sums for your opponents, and set yourself up for sweeps by playing cards that reduce the table to favorable states.
Experienced Pasur players think several moves ahead, placing cards on the table that are difficult for opponents to capture while setting up their own future sweeps.
Trivia & Fun Facts
Pasur is sometimes called the Iranian cousin of Scopa because both games reward sweeping the table clean, despite developing independently in different regions.
In Pasur, what does the term 'sur' refer to?
History & Culture
Pasur has been played in Iran for generations and belongs to the same family of capture games as Italian Scopa. The name means 'sur' (sweep) with the prefix 'pa' indicating the action.
Pasur is one of the most traditional card games in Iran, passed down through generations and commonly played at family gatherings and social events.
Variations & House Rules
Some variants adjust which specific cards earn bonus points. In certain regions, the jack has special capturing powers beyond its face value.
Add house rules for bonus points on additional special cards. Some groups play multiple rounds to a cumulative target score for a longer experience.
