Bura Combinations: Bura, Moscow and How to Build Strong Sets
In Bura there are two instant wins. Three trumps in your hand is a "Bura", and three aces in your hand is "Moscow". Both end the game at once. They are rare, so most games are decided by tricks and the race to 31 points.
- Game
- Bura, 36 cards, 3 cards in hand
- Instant wins
- Bura (three trumps), Moscow (three aces)
- Normal win
- First player to 31 points
- Total points in the deck
- 120
On this page
The two winning combinations
- Bura: all three cards in your hand are trumps. Any ranks count.
- Moscow: all three cards in your hand are aces. Any suits count.
A hand with a combination wins the game at once. You do not need to play it out and you do not need 31 points. See Bura for the full rules, and the glossary for Bura hand and Moscow.
When the game checks for a combination
The check happens in two moments: right after the deal, and after every refill of cards. The hand must be full, that is 3 cards. You never have to announce anything, the game does it for you.
If more than one hand qualifies at the same moment, the game checks Bura before Moscow, in seat order starting from the player who leads.
Combinations are rare. For one player right after the deal, three trumps come up in well under one deal in a hundred, and three aces come up even less often. Do not plan your play around them.
Card points and card order
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Ace | 11 |
| Ten | 10 |
| King | 4 |
| Queen | 3 |
| Jack | 2 |
| 9, 8, 7, 6 | 0 |
From weakest to strongest the order is 6, 7, 8, 9, jack, queen, king, ten, ace. The ten ranks above the king. All the points in the deck add up to 120, so 31 is a bit more than a quarter of them.
Which sets you can lead and how beating works
When you lead, you put down 1, 2 or 3 cards, all of one suit. You cannot lead more than three cards, or more than the number of cards in the smallest hand.
Every other player answers with the same number of cards. They can beat or discard. To beat, each of their cards must beat a different card of the set that is winning right now. A card beats another card of the same suit if it is higher, and any trump beats a non-trump card. A trump can only be beaten by a higher trump.
Beating is never required. If you cannot or do not want to beat, you discard the same number of cards, face down, of any suit. The strongest set takes the trick, all its cards and their points, and leads next.
What a strong set looks like
A strong set is one that is hard to beat and worth many points. Look at these examples. The trump suit is hearts.
| Set you lead | Points on the table | How it can be answered |
|---|---|---|
| As, 10s, Ks | 25 | Only by three trumps. A hand of three trumps is a Bura and would have won already, so with full hands this set cannot be beaten |
| As, 10s | 21 | By any two trumps, for example 6h and 7h. Then your opponent takes 21 points for two low cards |
| Ks, 9s | 4 | By As and 10s, or by two trumps. It costs little if you lose it |
The trump ace can never be beaten, so a single Ah always takes the trick. Do not spend it on a trick with no points. Sets of one suit give you more choice, so a hand with two or three cards of one suit is more flexible than a hand of three different suits.
The 31-point race
Points count only for tricks you take. The moment your score reaches 31 or more, you win. You can only reach 31 by taking a trick, so the game ends right after a trick.
Your opponents' scores are hidden until the end, so keep your own count and watch which aces and tens have been played. If you have 25 points, you need 6 more: an ace, a ten, or a king with a queen is enough.
Worked example
Your lead
Opponent beats with
Bura hand after a refill
You lead Ks and 9s. Your opponent holds As, 10s and 6c. They beat with As over Ks and 10s over 9s, and they take 4 + 0 + 11 + 10 = 25 points.
Now imagine they hold 6c, 7c and 8c instead. They cannot beat, so they discard 6c and 7c face down. You take all four cards and 4 points, and you lead again.
Later you draw a card and your hand becomes 6h, Qh and Kh. All three are trumps, so the game finds a Bura and you win at once.
Common mistakes
- Planning the whole game around Bura or Moscow. They are rare.
- Leading an ace and a ten of a side suit when the opponent may hold low trumps, as in the table above.
- Discarding an ace or a ten. Face-down cards go to whoever takes the trick, with their points.
- Spending a trump to take a trick with no points in it.
- Forgetting that the ten ranks above the king.
This advice does not decide every game. Luck of the deal is a large part of Bura.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Bura in Bura?
A Bura is a hand of three trumps, and it wins the game at once. It is checked after the deal and after every refill, when your hand is full.
What is Moscow in Bura?
Moscow is a hand of three aces, and it also wins the game at once. The suits of the aces do not matter.
Does the ten rank above the king in Bura?
Yes, the order is 6, 7, 8, 9, jack, queen, king, ten, ace. A ten is also worth 10 points, and a king only 4.
How many cards can I lead in Bura?
You can lead one, two or three cards, all of the same suit. Each opponent then answers with the same number of cards.
How many points do I need to win in Bura?
You need 31 points or more, taken in tricks. The whole deck holds 120 points.