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.

Example 1: a number-card Sur

The pool contains only 4♣. You play 7♥. Because 7 + 4 = 11, you take both cards. The pool is empty, you did not play a Jack, and this happened during deals 1–5: the move earns one Sur. If the opponent has a pending Sur, cancel that instead; otherwise, keep a Sur worth 5 points at round end.

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.

Example 2: a Jack clear earns no Sur

The pool contains 4♣ and 7♥. You play J♦ and take all three cards. A Jack captures every non-King and non-Queen pool card, but even when it clears the pool, it earns no Sur under PlayPasur's rules. The captured Jack still counts for its normal 1 point when you score the round.

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

Example 3: the same clear on deal six earns no Sur

The cards and capture are identical to example 1: 7♥ takes 4♣. This time it is the sixth deal, so you take the cards but receive no Sur. The exception covers every turn of the final deal, not just the last card played. A two-player round contains six deals of four cards per player.

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

Example 4: a King or Queen can earn a Sur

The pool contains only K♣. During deals 1–5, you play K♥, legally match the King, and empty the pool: one Sur, subject to cancellation. A Queen taking the only Queen works the same way. The condition is a non-Jack capture, not a number-card capture.

If the pool instead contains K♣ and Q♦, playing K♥ leaves Q♦ behind and earns no Sur. A King captures one King; it does not clear other ranks.

How Sur cancellation works

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

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.

Try making captures in the interactive tutorial, or use the printable scorecard to record net Sur points at your next game around the table.