Buraco
PARTNERSHIP RUMMY-FAMILY CARD GAME from Uruguay/Brazil (1940s). Uses TWO STANDARD 52-CARD DECKS + 4 JOKERS (108 cards). 2-6 players (best in 4-player partnerships) form MELDS (runs + sets of 3+ cards) + attempt to complete a CANASTA/BURACO (a 7-card meld). Distinct feature: DEAD HAND (morto) picked up when a partner goes out. Very popular in Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Portugal. Family of canasta.
What is Buraco?
BURACO (Portuguese for 'hole') is a PARTNERSHIP RUMMY-FAMILY CARD GAME originating in the RÍO DE LA PLATA REGION (Uruguay + Argentina) in the 1940s + heavily developed in BRAZIL where it remains a national favorite. In Italy it is called BURRACO + is enormously popular; in Israel + Turkey called BIRIBA. Related to CANASTA (Uruguay 1939) + shares the CANASTA/BURACO 7-card meld concept. GAMEPLAY: 2-6 players; classic form is 4-player partnerships. Uses 2 STANDARD 52-CARD DECKS + 4 JOKERS = 108 cards. Deal 11 cards each; 2 face-down MORTOS (dead hands) of 11 cards set aside. Players take turns: (1) draw from stock or discard pile (whole pile in some variants), (2) meld runs or sets, (3) discard. A meld of 7+ cards is a CANASTA/BURACO — LIMPO (clean) if without wild cards, SUJO (dirty) if with wilds. Once a player empties their hand, they PICK UP THE MORTO + continue. Round ends when a player goes out AFTER completing at least 1 canasta AND after picking up + emptying the morto. SCORING: melded cards score positive; unmelded cards in hand negative; canasta bonuses (limpo 200, sujo 100); going out bonus 100. First team to reach agreed target (usually 3000) wins.
Quick facts
Category
Card Games
Type
Team sport
Players
2–6
Duration
~60 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇺🇾 Uruguay
Estimated origin
1940s (Uruguay); rapid spread to Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Israel
Olympic
No
Popularity
major
How it works
Objective
Score points via melds + canastas; be first partnership to reach the target.
Rules
Basic rules
Deal 11 cards + set aside 2 mortos
Signature dead-hand mechanic.
Draw + meld + discard each turn
Standard rummy loop.
7-card meld = canasta/buraco (limpo or sujo)
Core scoring unit.
Empty hand → pick up morto + continue
Prevents premature endings.
Go out only after completing 1 canasta + morto phase
Anti-quick-out rule.
Scoring
Melded cards positive; hand cards negative; canasta + go-out bonuses; first to 3000 wins.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Limpo (clean 7-card canasta) | 200 bonus |
| Sujo (dirty 7-card canasta with wilds) | 100 bonus |
| Go-out bonus | 100 |
| Unmelded cards in hand | Negative |
Win condition · First partnership to agreed target (usually 3000) after a complete round.
Equipment
Two standard 52-card decks + 4 jokers (108 cards)
Standard buraco deck
Score pad
Partnership running score
Terminology
- Buraco
- 'Hole' — Portuguese; also = a canasta of 7 cards.
- Morto
- Dead hand of 11 cards taken when partner empties hand.
- Limpo
- Clean canasta (no wild cards).
- Sujo
- Dirty canasta (contains wild cards).
Where it is played
Frequently asked
Buraco vs Canasta — what's the difference?+
Both are partnership rummy games with 108 cards + canastas. BURACO adds the MORTO (dead hand you pick up after emptying yours) + slightly different meld/discard rules. Canasta is the older 1939 Uruguayan ancestor; Buraco is its most-played modern descendant, especially in Brazil + Italy.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Buraco— Wikipedia