How to keep score in Chinchón

In Chinchón, points are bad. At the end of each hand you score the cards you couldn't match, and closing with everything matched takes 10 off. Go over 100 and you're out. The last player in wins, unless someone makes a chinchón first.

At a glance

• Players: 2 to 4, or up to 8 with two decks

• Who wins: The last player in, or a chinchón

• Cards: A Spanish deck of 40 or 48, 7 each

• To close: 5 points or fewer unmatched

What the cards in your hand cost

Chinchón is a Spanish cousin of Gin Rummy. When someone closes, everyone lays down their sets and runs. Then each player adds up the cards they couldn't match and writes that on the anotador, the score sheet.

The 40-card deck goes straight from 7 to the sota, so the face cards carry on the count: 8, 9 and 10. With 48 cards the 8s and 9s are in, and the face cards count the number printed on them.

Closing (cortar)

You can close on your turn, once everyone has had a turn, when the cards you can't match add up to 5 or less. Some tables allow only 3 or less, and some let you close with any one card left over.

Close with all seven cards in sets and runs and you score −10 (menos diez), which takes 10 off your total. Close with a card left over and you score that card, like everyone else.

Chinchón, the instant win

A chinchón is all seven cards in a run of one suit, like 1 to 7 of cups. Close with one and you win the whole game at once, whatever the scores.

With jokers (comodines) in the deck, a run of seven that uses a joker isn't a true chinchón. Some tables take 25 or 50 off the player's score for it instead.

Out over 100, and reenganche

Keep a running total. Go over 100 and you're out. The others play on, and the last player left wins. Some tables play to 70 for a shorter game.

With reenganche (re-entry), a player who's out can buy back in with the same score as the highest player still in, usually by paying into the pot again. Agree beforehand how many times it's allowed.

A scoring example

Three players, three hands. Ana and Cleo each closed with every card matched.

Ana closed hand 1 and Cleo hand 3 with nothing left over, so each took 10 off. Ben closed hand 2 with a 3 he couldn't match, and scored it. Cleo leads, and nobody is near 100 yet.

Keep score in Tallynight

Chinchón is set up for you: rounds, lowest score wins, to 100. After each hand, type everyone's points on one keypad, with a minus sign for a −10 close. The table keeps the totals and who's in front.

Tallynight offers to end the game when someone reaches 100. If your table only puts a player out once they go over 100, carry on and play the next hand. With three or more players, carry on: type 0 for anyone who's out. For reenganche, bring the player down to their new score with a minus number in the next hand.

• Minus signs for a −10 close

• Offers to end the game at the target

• Tap any hand to fix it

• Play to 70 for a shorter game, and keep it as a favourite

• Get Tallynight on the App Store: free, no ads.

• Print a Chinchón score sheet if you'd rather keep score on paper.

Questions

What is menos diez in Chinchón?

Closing with all seven cards in sets and runs. You score −10 for the hand, which takes 10 off your total.

How many points can you close with in Chinchón?

5 or less in unmatched cards at most tables. Some allow only 3, and some let you close with any one card left over.

What happens when you get a chinchón?

A run of seven cards in one suit wins the game straight away, whatever the scores. A run that uses a joker isn't a true chinchón.

How many points to lose in Chinchón?

Go over 100 and you're out of the game. Some tables play to 70. The last player still in wins.

What is reenganche in Chinchón?

Re-entry: a player who's out buys back in with the same score as the highest player still playing. Agree beforehand how many times you can do it.

How much are the face cards worth in Chinchón?

With a 40-card Spanish deck the sota is 8, the caballo 9 and the rey 10. With 48 cards they count 10, 11 and 12.

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