Basic Rules of Belote
Objective of the Game
The objective of Belote is to score points by winning tricks with higher-ranking cards. The game is played in teams of two, with partners sitting opposite each other. Each round, players attempt to fulfill a contract by winning tricks that contain valuable cards, particularly those of the trump suit. Belote is a trick-taking game with a unique scoring system that rewards strategic play and teamwork.
Deck and Card Ranks
Belote uses a 32-card deck consisting of Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks, 10s, 9s, 8s, and 7s in four suits: Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades. The ranking of the cards differs depending on whether they are in the trump suit or not. In the trump suit, Jacks are the highest, followed by 9, Ace, 10, King, Queen, 8, and 7. In non-trump suits, the ranking is Ace, 10, King, Queen, Jack, 9, 8, and 7.
The Game Flow
Belote begins with each player receiving five cards, dealt clockwise. Players then bid to select the trump suit, which will determine the highest-ranking suit for the round. The player who chooses the trump suit must ensure their team wins more than half the points available. After a suit is declared as trump, players are dealt the remaining three cards.
Players take turns leading one card to each trick, and the other players must follow suit if possible. If a player cannot follow suit, they must play a trump if one is available. The highest card in the lead suit wins the trick unless a trump card has been played, in which case the highest trump card wins.
The Belote Declaration
- When a player has the King and Queen of the trump suit, they can declare "Belote" and "Re-Belote" as they play each card, earning bonus points for their team.
Scoring Points
Points in Belote are awarded based on the value of cards in each trick, with trump cards holding higher values. Each card has a specific point value, with the highest values assigned to the trump suit. The team that fulfills the contract by reaching the required points wins the round. If the team that chose the trump suit fails to fulfill the contract, the opposing team scores all the points for that round.
Winning the Game
The game continues for multiple rounds, and each team accumulates points. A typical game ends when a team reaches a set score, such as 1,000 points. The team with the highest score at the end of the game is declared the winner.
Special Rules
Some additional rules may apply, such as bonuses for achieving certain conditions or penalties for certain mistakes. These variations add complexity and depth to the game, making each round unique and competitive.
