All players arrange themselves around the playing field. When playing in a team, players should be opposite each other. One player is chosen as the banker.

Initial setup of the game

Each player receives three cards. The dealer deals them one card at a time in a counter-clockwise direction, starting with the player to their right. During this dealing, the dealer also places four cards face up on the table. The table may be dealt before the cards are dealt, immediately after the cards are dealt but before they are dealt to the next player, or after all three cards have been dealt to all players.

Since a sweep is not possible in a game where the initial table card includes three or four kings, such a deal is considered invalid. The cards are reshuffled and the dealer deals again.

The player to the dealer's right begins play. That player has two choices: either place a card on the table or play a card to capture one or more cards. Capture is made by matching a card in the player's hand with a card of the same value on the table, or if this is not possible, by matching a card in the player's hand with the sum of two or more cards on the table to make the table. In both cases, the card in the player's hand and the captured card are removed and placed face down in a pile in front of the player. These cards are now unavailable until the score is calculated at the end of the turn. If by capturing, all cards are removed from the table, then this is called a scopa and an additional score is awarded at the end of the turn.