Piedras, points and amarracos in Mus

In Mus (a Spanish card game), points are counted in piedras (stones), also called tantos (points), and every five piedras make an amarraco (a five-point counter). Games are usually played to 40 piedras, equivalent to eight amarracos; whoever reaches that total first wins the game.

Where the names come from

Players used to count literally with small stones, chickpeas or beans. Each player would take the ones they had won and pass them to their partner. Today, many tables still use counters or plastic ‘amarracos’, although scores can also be recorded on paper.

How to keep score

• Each pair has a shared pile of piedras in the centre.
• One player in each pair ‘pays’ and the other collects; the player collecting passes amarracos to their partner.
• Count the amarracos and any loose piedras to check the score.

How much is each round worth?

A round without a bet is worth one piedra (the ‘paso’, or pass). A standard bet is worth two. Then there are pares (pairs) and juego (game), which award extra piedras depending on your hand. If you get confused, we have a complete guide to Mus. And if someone calls an órdago (an all-or-nothing bet), forget counting: the whole game is at stake in one go.