Belote – Rules

Play Belote against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Belote is France's most popular card game. A turned-up card proposes the trump suit. Whoever accepts it must take more points with their partner than the opponents. Jack and nine of trumps are the strongest cards. King and queen of trumps earn extra points as “belote – rebelote”.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 32 French cards: 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen, king, ace in four suits.
• Ranking and points:

• Total: 152 card points plus 10 for the last trick (“dix de der”) = 162.
• Face up and face down: Hand cards concealed, the proposal card face up, tricks face down.
• Extra material: Pen and paper.

3. Preparation and start

1. Shuffle and cut: The dealer shuffles, the neighbour cuts.
2. Deal: Everyone gets 5 cards (3 + 2).
3. Proposal card: The next card is placed face up in the middle.
4. First bidding round: In turn, starting with the player after the dealer: “I take” (the card's suit becomes trumps) or “Pass”.
5. Second bidding round: If everyone passes, each player may name a different suit as trumps. If everyone passes again, redeal.
6. Completing the deal: The taker gets the proposal card plus 2 cards, everyone else 3. Now everyone has 8 cards.
7. Start: The player after the dealer leads.

Start example: Player 2 deals and the jack of hearts is turned up. Players 3 and 4 pass. Player 1 holds the nine of hearts and takes: hearts are trumps. He gets the jack of hearts and two more cards.

4. Goal and winning

• A deal: The taking team must score more points than the opponents (at least 82 of 162, declarations included).
• Dedans (lost): If they fail, the opponents get all 162 points plus all declarations.
• Capot: A team taking all 8 tricks scores 250 instead of 162.
• Game: The first team to reach 1000 points wins.

5. Play in detail

A trick.

1. The leader plays any card.
2. Follow suit if possible.
3. If you can't follow, you must trump – unless your partner is currently winning the trick.
4. Over-trumping: If a trump is already in the trick, you must play a higher trump if possible.
5. When trumps are led, follow with a trump and play higher if possible.
6. The highest trump wins, otherwise the highest card of the suit led. The winner leads next.

Declarations (at the first trick).

Sequences follow the order 7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A. Only the team with the highest declaration scores its declarations. Belote – rebelote always counts: say “belote” with the first and “rebelote” with the second of the two cards.

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

1. Declaration: Player 1 holds 8-9-10 of clubs – a tierce (20). The opponents have nothing, so his 20 count.
2. Player 3 leads the king of diamonds. Player 4 wins it with the ace of diamonds.
3. Player 1 has no diamonds. His partner Player 3 is not winning – Player 1 must trump and plays the 7 of hearts.
4. Player 2 has no diamonds either. He must trump and over-trump Player 1: queen of hearts.
5. Trick to Player 2: king 4 + ace 11 + seven 0 + queen 3 = 18 points. Player 2 leads next.

6. Scoring

• Recording: Two columns, “Us” and “Them”; points are often rounded to tens.
• End: As soon as a team reaches 1000 points.

7. Special rules and situations

• Tie (litige): If both teams have 81 points, the defenders score their 81; the takers' 81 go to the winner of the next deal.
• Equal declarations: The sequence with the higher card wins; trumps before non-trumps.
• Showing declarations: The winning declaration is shown at the second trick.
• Revoke: The team that made the mistake loses the deal (dedans).
• Everyone passes twice: Redeal.
• Common mistakes: not over-trumping; forgetting to announce belote; taking with weak trumps.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: Belote classique with a proposal card, game to 1000.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play Belote classique with the player opposite as your partner, anticlockwise. A game goes to 501, 1000 or 2000 points.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Take with jack or nine: Without one of the two top trumps, taking is risky.
2. Draw trumps: As taker, lead trumps early so the opponents lose theirs.
3. Cash aces: Lead non-trump aces early.
4. Support your partner: When they're winning, give them tens and aces.
5. Last trick: 10 points – keep a strong card.
6. Count declarations: They often decide whether a deal is dedans.
7. Keep count: At 82 points the deal is won.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 32 cards, 4 players in two teams.
2. 5 cards each; one card is turned up.
3. Round 1: take the card's suit or pass.
4. Round 2: choose another suit or pass.
5. The taker gets the card + 2, the others 3 each.
6. Follow suit, else trump (unless partner is winning).
7. Over-trump if possible.
8. Trumps: jack 20, nine 14; last trick 10.
9. Takers need more points than the opponents, otherwise dedans.
10. First to 1000 points wins.

11. Frequently asked questions

Must I trump when I can't follow suit?

Yes – unless your partner is currently winning the trick. Then you may discard any card.

What is belote – rebelote?

King and queen of trumps in one hand. Whoever plays them says “belote” and “rebelote” and scores 20 points.

What does “dedans” mean?

The taking team scored fewer points than the opponents. Then the opponents get all 162 points.

Who may declare?

Everyone. But only the team with the highest declaration scores its declarations.

Which direction is play?

Traditionally anticlockwise.

How long does a game take?

To 1000 points about an hour.

Origin & history

Belote emerged in France at the beginning of the 20th century from the Dutch Klaverjas circle; the name is often traced to a Monsieur Belot, but this is uncertain. According to surveys it is by far the most popular card game in France.