Belote is a popular card game played with a 32-card deck (from 7 to Ace). This game is deeply rooted in tradition and requires strategy, teamwork, and good card memory.
Objective of the Game
The goal is to collect as many points as possible by winning "hands" (tricks) and declaring card combinations (melds). The game ends when a team reaches a certain number of points (usually 1001).
Basic Rules
- The game is played in teams of two players (4 players in total). Partners sit opposite each other.
- Each player receives 8 cards. Dealing occurs in two phases (3+2+3 cards).
- One suit is designated as the trump through a bidding process. The trump suit beats all other suits.
- Players must follow the suit led (the first card played in the trick).
- If a player doesn't have the led suit, they must play a trump (to "ruff"). If they don't have a trump either, they can play any card (but that card cannot win the trick).
- If a trump is played (either led or ruffed), the next player playing a trump must play a higher trump than the previous one (to "overruff"), if they have one. If they don't have a higher one, they can play a lower trump.
Card Values and Hierarchy
One of the most important things in Belote is understanding that cards have different values and hierarchies depending on whether they are in the trump suit or a regular (non-trump) suit.
Trump Suit
In the trump suit, the Jack and the Nine are the strongest cards. They carry the most points and alter the standard hierarchy.
| Card | Points | Strength (from strongest) |
|---|---|---|
| Jack (J) | 20 | 1 (Strongest) |
| Nine (9) | 14 | 2 |
| Ace (A) | 11 | 3 |
| Ten (10) | 10 | 4 |
| King (K) | 4 | 5 |
| Queen (Q) | 3 | 6 |
| Eight (8) | 0 | 7 |
| Seven (7) | 0 | 8 (Weakest) |
Non-Trump (Regular Suit)
In regular suits, the Ace and the Ten are the strongest, while the Jack and the Nine have their standard (lower) value.
| Card | Points | Strength (from strongest) |
|---|---|---|
| Ace (A) | 11 | 1 (Strongest) |
| Ten (10) | 10 | 2 |
| King (K) | 4 | 3 |
| Queen (Q) | 3 | 4 |
| Jack (J) | 2 | 5 |
| Nine (9) | 0 | 6 |
| Eight (8) | 0 | 7 |
| Seven (7) | 0 | 8 (Weakest) |
Note: The last trick (the final hand) in each round awards an additional 10 points (known as "Dix de der"). The total number of points from cards and the last trick is always 162.
Declarations (Melds)
Before the first card is played, players can declare card combinations they hold in their hand for extra points:
- Belote (20 points): King and Queen in the trump suit. It is declared at the moment the first of these two cards is played.
- Tierce (20 points): Three consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 7, 8, 9).
- Quarte (50 points): Four consecutive cards of the same suit.
- Quinte (100 points): Five or more consecutive cards of the same suit.
- Carré (100 points): Four identical cards (Tens, Queens, Kings, Aces).
- Carré of Nines (150 points): Four Nines.
- Carré of Jacks (200 points): Four Jacks.
Only the team with the strongest declaration (except for Belote) gets the points from the declarations. A longer sequence is stronger than a shorter one. If they are the same length, the sequence starting with a higher card is stronger. If they are identical, a trump sequence is stronger.
Scoring and "Going Down"
Points are counted according to the value of the cards in the won tricks, plus the points from declared combinations.
Important rule: The team that determined the trump suit (the team that "took" the bid) must score more points than the opposing team (including declarations). If they fail to do so, they "go down" (or are "inside"). In that case, all their points from that round (including their declarations) are awarded to the opposing team.