Bela – Rules

Play Bela against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Bela is the most popular card game in Croatia and neighbouring countries and belongs to the Belote family. After six cards trumps are chosen, then two more cards are added. Jack and nine of trumps are the strongest cards. Sequences and sets (“zvanja”) score extra points.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 32 cards: 7, 8, 9, 10, jack (dečko), queen (baba), king (kralj), ace in four suits (hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs – or hearts, bells, leaves, acorns).
• Ranking and points:

• Total: 152 card points plus 10 for the last trick = 162.
• Face up and face down: Hands concealed, each player's two talon cards face down, tricks face down.

3. Preparation and start

1. Deal: Everyone gets 6 cards and 2 face-down cards (talon).
2. Choosing trumps: Starting after the dealer, each may name a suit or say “dalje” (pass). If all pass, the dealer must choose.
3. Picking up the talon: Now everyone picks up their 2 talon cards – everyone has 8 cards.
4. Declaring zvanja: Sequences and four-of-a-kinds are declared before the first trick.
5. Start: The player after the dealer leads.

Start example: Player 2 deals. Among Player 1's six cards are the jack and nine of hearts, so he chooses hearts as trumps. Then he picks up his two talon cards.

4. Goal and winning

• A deal: The team that chose trumps needs more than half of all points (cards, last trick, zvanja, bela).
• Pad (fallen): If they fail, the opponents get all points.
• Štiglja: Taking all tricks scores a 90-point bonus.
• Game: The first team to 1001 points wins.

5. Play in detail

A trick.

1. The leader plays any card.
2. Follow suit and head the trick (play higher) if possible.
3. If you can't follow, you must trump – and over-trump if a trump is already there.
4. Only with neither suit nor trumps may you discard anything.
5. The highest trump wins, otherwise the highest card of the suit led.

Zvanja (declarations).

Only the team with the highest declaration scores its zvanja; bela always counts.

Example with Players 1 to 4. Hearts are trumps; Players 1 and 4 against Players 2 and 3. Order: Player 3, 1, 2, 4.

1. Zvanja: Player 1 holds 9-10-jack-queen of spades: 50 points. Player 3 has a three-card sequence (20) – Player 1's declaration is higher.
2. Player 3 leads the ace of diamonds. Player 1 has no diamonds and must trump: 7 of hearts.
3. Player 2 has diamonds and must follow: 8 of diamonds. Player 4 has no diamonds and must over-trump: queen of hearts.
4. Trick to Player 4 (Player 1's team): ace 11 + 7 0 + 8 0 + queen 3 = 14 points.

6. Scoring

• Recording: Two columns, “mi” (we) and “vi” (you).
• End: First team to 1001 points.

7. Special rules and situations

• Forced choice: If everyone passes, the dealer must choose trumps.
• Equal zvanja: The sequence with the higher card wins; if equal, the player closer to the leader.
• Announcing bela: When playing the second of the two cards.
• Tie in a deal: If both teams have exactly half, the choosing team has fallen (variant: the points are held over to the next deal).
• Common mistakes: not heading the trick; forgetting to over-trump; declaring zvanja too late.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: four players, 6 + 2 cards, game to 1001.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play with the player opposite as your partner to 1001, 701 or 501 points; if everyone passes, the dealer must choose.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Jack and nine: With both in one suit, choosing trumps is almost always worth it.
2. Think of the talon: Two unknown cards may still improve your hand.
3. Declare zvanja: A four-card sequence brings 50 points – often as much as several tricks.
4. Support your partner: When your partner is winning, give them aces and tens.
5. Draw trumps: As the choosing team, lead trumps early.
6. Last trick: 10 points – keep a trump.
7. Don't fall: With weak cards, say “dalje”.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 32 cards, two teams, anticlockwise.
2. 6 cards each + 2 face-down talon cards.
3. Choose trumps or “dalje”; the dealer chooses last if needed.
4. Pick up the talon: everyone has 8 cards.
5. Declare zvanja; only the highest side counts.
6. Follow and head, else trump and over-trump.
7. Jack 20, nine 14 in trumps; last trick 10.
8. The choosing team needs more than half, otherwise pad.
9. Bela 20, štiglja 90.
10. First team to 1001 wins.

11. Frequently asked questions

What if nobody wants to choose trumps?

Then the dealer must name a suit.

Must I head the trick?

Yes. When you can follow suit, you must play higher if possible.

What is bela?

King and queen of trumps. They score 20 points.

What does “pad” mean?

The choosing team didn't take more than half of the points – all points go to the opponents.

What is a štiglja?

All tricks to one team – a 90-point bonus.

How long does a game take?

To 1001 points about 60 to 90 minutes.

Origin & history

Bela is the Croatian form of belot and is regarded as Croatia's card game: people play it in cafés, with family and in tournaments. Like Belote and Klaverjassen it belongs to the jass family, in which the jack and nine of trumps are the highest cards. Typically Croatian are the zvanja (declarations), the bela and the “štiglja” for all tricks.