Ligurian:
# Zeughi de carte da tradiçion ligure

Ne dixe i studioxi che e carte en arrivæ inta penisoa italiaña da-o Levante do secolo XIV, pe mezo di trafeghi pe mâ, e che de chì se son spantegæ pe tutte e çiviltæ ponentiñe, fin a-e Americhe. Demoa antiga e nòbile, delongo apprexâ da tutte e classe soçiale, un solo masso de carte o ve permettià d’inandiâ de miggiæa de zeughi despægi, tutti co-a seu stöia e con unna seu mainea de mette a-a preuva e vòstre capaçitæ intellettuale e de conçentraçion.

Inte sto scito emmo vosciuo arrecheugge e regole de un numero de zeughi de carte liguri, compreiso dötrei che ean à reisego de scentâ do tutto.

## Famiggia di taròcchi

Tegnuo da ben ben de zugoei pe-o zeugo de carte o ciù nòbile e strategico, da-a seu invençion do secolo XV inte l’Italia do settentrion o zeugo di taròcchi o l’à viægiou pe tutta l’Euröpa, e o l’é arrivou fiña a-o Texas e a-a Groenlandia.

Pe di secoli, i taròcchi en stæti un di zeughi i ciù pratticæ in Liguria. Pe desgraçia, a-a giornâ d’ancheu i zugoei de sto antigo zeugo s’incontran delongo ciù de ræo. Squæxi scentæ sensa lasciâ de traccia, e regole di taròcchi liguri en stæte documentæ e sarvæ graçie a-o travaggio de di appascionæ che an arrecuggeito e testimonianse di pöchi zugoei arrestæ.

### Taròcchi à pessigo

Belliscimo zeugo de taròcchi ligure assæ particolâ, pin de vivessa e con unna profonditæ strategica ch’a s’attreuva de ræo inti zeughi pe doî.

### Gatti

2-4 zugoei

Verscion originäia do zeugo de taròcchi ligure. Se ghe zeuga inta quattro (à cobbie), inta trei ò inta doî (tutti da pe lê). Impæntou co-o zeugo de taròcchi de l’Italia do settentrion dito Mitigati , ma con de particolaritæ che ghe dan ciù tanta profonditæ strategica.

## Famiggia da sgobba

A sgobba o l’é un di zeughi italien ciù conosciui. Stæta inventâ fòscia à Napoli do secolo XVIII, a s’é spantegâ insemme a-e seu variante pe tutta l’Italia e à l’estranxeo ascì. I zeughi descriti chì de sotta en e variante tradiçionale pratticæ in Liguria, inte regioin vexiñe, e da-e communitæ ligure à l’estranxeo.

### Cirolla

Demoa ligure _par excellence_, a cirolla a l’entuxasma grendi e piccin. Inte sto zeugo façile da imprende, i capriçi da Fortuña ammerman e differense tra esperti e prinçipianti. O no l’é un zeugo che se ghe zeuga in scilençio: à cirolla se ciarla, se ciætezza, se rie, se se rattella.

### Cirollon

4 zugoei

Fræ grande da cirolla, pe zugâ a-o cirollon gh’é beseugno de un pittin ciù de conçentraçion e serietæ. Comme recompensa, attroviæ un zeugo ch’o ve daià a poscibilitæ de progettâ de strategie ciù complesse, ma co-o mæximo axillo da cirolla.

## Famiggia da biscambiggia

A _biscambiggia_, insemme a-e tante seu variante e a-a _briscola_, a vëgne da unna famiggia de zeughi franseixi estinti ch’a l’aiva tra i seu membri a _brisque_, a _brusquembille_ e o _briscan_. Arrivæ inta penisoa italiaña, sti zeughi an dæto origine à ben ben de variante. Chì de sotta descrivemmo e variante primmäie ligure.

### Biscambiggia

2, 3, 4, 6

Coxo ligure da briscola, a-a quæ o l’assomeggia ben ben. Zeugo assæ sencio, a-o ponto ch’o se porrieiva definî _banale_. A veitæ a l’é che a biscambiggia – dæto ch’a no domanda tròppa conçentraçion – o l’é o zeugo perfetto pe-i zugoei che veuan ciarlâ e demoâse sensa stâ à açervellâse.

### Mariagio

2 zugoei

Verscion ciù compricâ e strategica da biscambiggia inta doî. Spantegâ pe tutta a Liguria, ma a-a giornâ d’ancheu a l’é zugâ ciù che tutto into levante.

### Biscambiggia co-a ciammata

5 zugoei

Bella variante da biscambiggia assæ ciù strategica, pe çinque zugoei in doe squaddre. A-o comenso, a compoxiçion preçisa de squaddre a no l’é conosciua da-i zugoei. Chi o saià o traitô?

## Atri zeughi

I zeughi in deuvia in Liguria (ancheu ò in antigo) no finiscian con quelli de sta lista. Tra i ciù importanti no ancon descriti inte sto scito voemmo arregordâ:

A _belòtta_, spantegâ pe tutto o levante ligure. A l’é arrivâ in Liguria da-a Fransa, donde o l’é o zeugo naçionale (o nomme originäio franseise o l’é _belote_). A dita Dal Negro a fa un masso zeneise da 32 carte apòsta pe sto zeugo.

O _picchetto_, un atro zeugo franseise (_piquet_).

O _gòffo_, un zeugo d’azzardo fòscia d’invençion zeneise. Coscì comme a _primmea_, o se peu consciderâ un messiavo do poker.

O _treisette_, zeugo spantegou pe tutta a penisoa italiaña, co-e seu tante variante comme o _ciammatrei_.

English translation:
# Traditional Ligurian card games

Scholars tell us that cards arrived on the Italian peninsula from the Middle East in the 14th century, via maritime trade, and that from there they spread throughout western civilisations, all the way to the Americas. In this ancient and noble pastime, long enjoyed by all social classes, a single pack of cards will allow you to try your hand at thousands of different games, each with its own history and its own way of testing your intellectual and concentration skills.

On this website we have collected the rules of a number of Ligurian card games, including some that were at risk of disappearing completely.

## Tarot family

Considered by many players to be the most noble and strategic card game, since its invention in 15th century northern Italy, the tarot game has travelled throughout Europe, and has even reached Texas and Greenland.

For centuries, tarot was one of the most popular games in Liguria. Unfortunately, nowadays, players of this ancient game are encountered more and more rarely. After almost disappearing without trace, the rules of the Ligurian tarot have been documented and rescued thanks to the work of enthusiasts who have recorded the accounts of the few remaining players.

### “Pinch” Tarot

A very distinctive Ligurian tarot game, extremely lively and with a strategic depth rarely found in two-handed card games.

### Gatti

2-4 players

Original version of the Ligurian tarot game. It is played four-handed (in pairs), three-handed or two-handed (every player for themselves). It is related to the northern Italian tarot game known as Mitigati , but with peculiarities that give it greater strategic depth.

## Scopa family

Scopa is one of the best known Italian games. Possibly invented in Naples in the 18th century, it has spread along with its variants throughout Italy, as well as abroad. The games described below are the traditional variants practised in Liguria, in neighbouring regions, and by Ligurian communities abroad.

### Cirulla

Quintessential Ligurian pastime. Cirulla is a favourite amongst children and adults alike. In this easy-to-learn game, Fortune’s whims reduce the disparity between experts and beginners. It is not a game to be played in silence: in cirulla people chat, gossip, laugh and argue.

### Cirullone

4 players

Cirulla’s big brother. To play cirullone you will require a little more concentration and seriousness. As a reward, you will find a game that allows for more complex strategies, but with the same cheerfulness as cirulla.

## Biscambiggia family

_Biscambiggia_, along with its many variants and _briscola_, descends from an extinct French game family that counted among its members _brisque_, _brusquembille_ and _briscan_. When they arrived on the Italian peninsula, these games gave rise to many variants. Below we describe the main Ligurian variants.

### Biscambiggia

2, 3, 4, 6

The Ligurian cousin of briscola, to which it closely resembles. A rather simple game, to the point that one could call it _banal_. The truth is that biscambiggia – since it does not require too much concentration – is the perfect game for those who want to chat and have fun without racking their brains.

### Mariagio

2 players

A more complicated and strategic version of standard two-handed biscambiggia. Widespread throughout Liguria, but nowadays played mainly in the eastern part of the region.

### Auction Biscambiggia

5 players

A much more strategic variant of biscambiggia, for five players in two teams. At the outset, the precise composition of the teams is unknown to the players. Who amongst you is going to be the traitor?

## Other Games

The games played in Liguria (today or in the past) do not end with those on this list. Amongst the most important ones not yet included here we would like to mention:

_Belòtta_, widespread throughout Eastern Liguria. It arrived in Liguria from France, where it is the national game (under the original French name of _belote_). The Dal Negro company produces a 32-card Genoese-type deck specifically for this game.

_Picchetto_, another French game (_piquet_).

_Gòffo_, a gambling game, perhaps of Genoese invention. Like _primiera_, it can be considered an ancestor of poker.

_Tressette_, a game spread throughout the Italian peninsula, with its many variants such as _ciammatrei_.