TallynightHow to keep score in Azul
Azul is scored at the end of every round, as tiles move to your wall. A tile on its own scores 1. A tile that joins others scores the whole row and the whole column it joins. Tiles on your floor line cost points. When someone completes a row, the game ends with bonuses: 2 a row, 7 a column and 10 a colour.
- Players
- 2 to 4
- Who wins
- Highest score after the bonuses
- Game end
- After the round in which someone completes a row of 5
- Tie-breaker
- Most complete rows
Points for each tile on your wall
At the end of a round, move one tile from each full pattern line to your wall, top line first, and score each tile as it lands.
| The tile you place | Points |
|---|---|
| Touches no other tile | 1 |
| Joins tiles across only | 1 for each tile in that unbroken row, itself included |
| Joins tiles up or down only | 1 for each tile in that unbroken column, itself included |
| Joins tiles both ways | The row count plus the column count, so it counts itself twice |
Only tiles in an unbroken line count. A gap on the wall stops the count.
The floor line
Tiles you can't place, or choose not to, drop to your floor line from left to right. After the wall tiling, each one costs the points printed above its space:
- Spaces 1 and 2: −1 each
- Spaces 3, 4 and 5: −2 each
- Spaces 6 and 7: −3 each
A full floor line costs 14. If you took the first player marker, it counts as a tile there. Tiles past the seventh space cost nothing more, and your score never goes below 0.
End-of-game bonuses
The game ends after the wall tiling of the round in which at least one player completes a horizontal row of five. Score that round as normal, then add:
- 2 for each complete horizontal row
- 7 for each complete vertical column
- 10 for each colour with all 5 of its tiles on your wall
The highest score wins. A tie goes to the tied player with more complete rows, and if that's tied too, they share the win.
The grey side and other Azul games
On the grey side of the player boards you choose where each tile goes in its row, as long as no colour repeats in any row or column. Scoring is the same.
Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra, Summer Pavilion and Queen's Garden score in their own ways. This page covers the original Azul.
What people often get wrong
- A tile in a cross counts itself twice. Once for its row and once for its column.
- Unfinished pattern lines score nothing. Their tiles stay put for the next round.
- The first player marker costs points. It takes the leftmost free floor space, like a tile.
- Bonuses wait for the end. Rows, columns and colours only score after the last round.
A scoring example
The last round of a two-player game, and the bonuses. Ben completed his second row of five this round, so the game ends after this wall tiling.
| Ana | Ben | |
|---|---|---|
| Score before the last round | 48 | 55 |
| Last round: tiles placed | 16 | 12 |
| Last round: floor line | −2 | −4 |
| Complete rows, 2 each | 2 | 4 |
| Complete columns, 7 each | 14 | 0 |
| Colours of five, 10 each | 10 | 0 |
| Total | 88 | 67 |
Ana's best tile was a red in row 3 that filled a gap with 4 tiles across and 4 up and down: 5 for the row plus 5 for the column, 10 points. Her other three tiles scored 6.
Ben finished two rows and led before the bonuses, but Ana's bonuses came to 26 and his to 4.
Keep score for Azul in Tallynight
Azul isn't one of Tallynight's built-in games, but it takes a minute to set up. Choose Something else, then under How you score pick Running score, and under Who wins pick Highest. Tap Add to favourites so it's ready next time, then Start game.
Add each tile's points with + as it lands on the wall, and take off the floor line with −. Azul scores never go below 0, so don't take off more than a player has. After the last round, add the bonuses and tap End game. Rather have a line for each round? Pick Rounds instead and type everyone's round on one keypad.
- No markers to knock off the score track
- Tap + for tiles and − for the floor
- Undo, and a log of every score to fix a mistake
- A winner card at the end, and with Tallynight Pro, a Family Hall of Fame of wins and streaks
A Azul score sheet to print
Playing on paper tonight? Print a free Azul score sheet, or save it as a PDF.
Questions
How do you score points in Azul?
Each tile scores as it moves to your wall. On its own it's 1. Next to other tiles it scores the whole unbroken row it joins, plus the whole column if it joins tiles up or down as well.
What are the floor line penalties in Azul?
−1, −1, −2, −2, −2, −3 and −3, from left to right. A full floor costs 14, and the first player marker counts as a tile.
What are the end-of-game bonuses in Azul?
2 for each complete horizontal row, 7 for each complete vertical column and 10 for each colour with all 5 tiles on your wall.
Can your score go negative in Azul?
No. Floor penalties can take you down to 0, but never below.
When does Azul end?
After the round in which at least one player completes a horizontal row of five. Finish that round's wall tiling, then add the bonuses.
Who wins a tie in Azul?
The tied player with more complete horizontal rows. If that's tied too, they share the win.