Belote
The classic French card game, two against two.
Four players, two teams, 32 cards. A card is turned up, you take it or pass, then you fight trick by trick to score more than half the points. Easy to pick up, belote rewards memory and a good understanding with your partner.
- Players
- 4
- Game length
- about 20 min
Rules
Objective
Two teams of two play with a 32-card deck. The team that takes must score more points than its opponents in the deal. A game is usually played to 1000 points.
Dealing and taking
Each player receives 5 cards, then one card is turned face up. In turn, each player may take that card, making its suit trump, or pass.
If nobody takes, a second round lets players choose a different trump suit. If everyone passes again, the cards are redealt. Once someone takes, they receive the turned-up card and the deal is completed to 8 cards each.
Playing the cards
You must follow the suit led. If you cannot, you must trump, unless your partner is currently winning the trick. When trumps are played, you must beat the highest trump on the table if you can.
The trick goes to the highest card of the suit led, or to the highest trump if it was trumped. The winner leads the next trick.
Card values
In trumps: Jack 20, 9 14, Ace 11, 10 10, King 4, Queen 3, 8 and 7 0.
Outside trumps: Ace 11, 10 10, King 4, Queen 3, Jack 2, 9, 8 and 7 0.
The last trick is worth 10 extra points, for 162 points per deal.
Belote, capot and going down
A player holding the King and Queen of trumps announces “belote” then “rebelote” as they play them: 20 points for the team.
If the taker does not outscore the defenders, the defenders score all 162 points. A team that wins every trick makes a “capot” and scores 252 points.