What Is a Sur in Pasur? Sweep Rules, Points and Examples

A Sur is a Pasur capture that clears every card from the pool with a card other than a Jack. It is worth 5 points, except on the sixth and final deal of a round. If the opponent later scores a Sur, it cancels one of yours before either side receives Sur points.

The three conditions for a Sur

A capture is a Sur only when all three statements are true:

1. The played card makes a legal capture.
2. The capture leaves no cards in the pool.
3. The played card is not a Jack, and the round is not on its final deal.

Leaving even one King or Queen behind means the pool is not empty and the capture is not a Sur.

A simple Sur example

The pool contains only the 4 of Clubs. You play a 7. Because 7 + 4 = 11, you capture the 4 and your played 7. The pool is now empty, the capture did not use a Jack, and it is not the final deal: you score one Sur, worth 5 points.

A multi-card capture can also score a Sur. If the pool contains an Ace, a 2, and a 3, playing a 5 captures all three because 5 + 1 + 2 + 3 = 11. If no other pool cards remain, that is a Sur.

Why a Jack sweep is not a Sur

A Jack captures every non-King and non-Queen card in the pool. Even when that action clears the table, it does not count as a Sur under the standard rules. The Jack already has exceptional capturing power, so the 5-point sweep bonus is reserved for number-card captures.

If Kings or Queens remain after a Jack, the pool is not empty anyway.

Why the final deal cannot produce a Sur

A two-player Pasur round uses six deals. The standard rules do not award a Sur during the sixth deal. The restriction prevents the forced cleanup at the end of the deck from creating an extra sweep bonus.

Cards remaining after the final play go to the player who made the most recent capture. That cleanup is not a Sur.

How Sur cancellation works

Pasur scores net Surs rather than giving both players independent bonuses.

Your Surs	Opponent Surs	Your net Surs	Your Sur points
1	0	1	5
2	0	2	10
2	1	1	5
1	1	0	0
1	2	0	0

In the final row, the opponent carries one net Sur and receives 5 points. Only one side can finish a round with net Sur points.

Should you always take a Sur?

If a legal move produces a real 5-point Sur, it is usually the strongest immediate choice. Still check the match situation and what the capture costs:

• Does another capture secure Haft Khaj, the 7-point clubs bonus?
• Would the Sur give up the 10 of Diamonds or 2 of Clubs?
• Is it the final deal, when the clear earns no Sur?
• Does your table use a different house rule?

PlayPasur follows the standard rule: no Jack Surs and no Surs on the final deal.

Sur checklist

Before recording 5 points, ask:

• Did the move legally capture?
• Is the pool completely empty?
• Was the played card something other than a Jack?
• Did it happen before the sixth deal?
• How many Surs has the opponent scored?

If all four play conditions pass, record the Sur and then subtract the opponent's Surs when scoring the round.

See the complete Pasur rules for related edge cases and the Pasur scoring guide for the full end-of-round calculation.