How to Play Belote: Rules of the French Card Game
Belote is a French card game for four players in two teams of partners sitting across from each other, played with 32 cards (7 to Ace). After the deal, one card is turned up and players decide who takes its suit as trump. You play 8 tricks: follow suit, trump when you can't, and over-trump an opponent if you can. Cards are worth points (the Jack of trumps 20, the 9 of trumps 14), 162 in a deal. The taking team must score more than the defenders, or they go dedans and the defenders get everything.
Players and cards
Belote uses a 32-card deck: 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace in each suit. Four players form two teams, partners sitting across the table. Play goes round to the right (counter-clockwise), as in France.
The deal and the turned card
The dealer gives each player 5 cards (3 then 2) and turns the next card face up in the middle. This card proposes a trump suit.
Taking trumps (the bidding)
- First round: starting with the player on the dealer's right, each player either takes (accepts the turned card's suit as trump) or passes.
- Second round: if everyone passed, each player may name another suit as trump, or pass again.
- If all four pass twice, the cards are gathered and the next player deals.
The player who takes gets the turned card plus 2 more; everyone else gets 3 more. Now everyone has 8 cards. The taker's team are the takers, the other team the defenders.
Card order and points
| Card | In trumps | In other suits |
|---|---|---|
| Jack | 20 (highest) | 2 |
| 9 | 14 | 0 |
| Ace | 11 | 11 (highest) |
| 10 | 10 | 10 |
| King | 4 | 4 |
| Queen | 3 | 3 |
| 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | 0 | 0 |
All the cards add up to 152 points, and the last trick earns 10 more (dix de der): 162 points in every deal.
Playing the tricks
The player on the dealer's right leads the first trick. The rules of play:
- Follow suit if you can.
- When trumps are led, you must play a higher trump than the best one on the table if you can.
- Can't follow? You must trump, unless your partner is winning the trick (then you may play anything).
- If an opponent has already trumped, you must over-trump if you can; if you can't, you must still play a trump (under-trump).
- With no card of the suit and no trumps, play anything.
The trick is won by the highest trump, or if none was played, the highest card of the suit led.
Belote and rebelote
If you hold the King and Queen of trumps, you score 20 points. Say "belote" as you play the first of the two, and "rebelote" with the second. On GameLake this is called for you.
Scoring a deal: made, dedans or capot
- The takers make it if they score more than the defenders (belote included). Each team then scores its own points.
- Dedans: if the takers score less, the defenders get all 162 points and every annonce (belote-rebelote stays with whoever held it).
- Litige: a tie. The defenders score their points, and the takers' points go to whoever wins the next deal.
- Capot: a team that takes all 8 tricks scores 252 instead of 162.
The first team to 1,000 points at the end of a deal wins (GameLake also offers 500 and 1,500). Counting is explained step by step in how to count points in Belote.
Annonces (optional)
Many tables add annonces: bonus points for sequences and four of a kind in your hand, declared with your first card. A tierce (3 in a row) is 20, a cinquante (4) 50, a cent (5) 100; four Jacks 200, four 9s 150, and four Aces, 10s, Kings or Queens 100. Only the team with the best annonce scores theirs. They're off by default on GameLake, as in most online rooms.
Ready to play? Belote on GameLake pairs you with Hops the frog, with Teach me to suggest whether to take and which card to play.
Frequently asked questions
How many cards are used in Belote?
32: the 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of each suit. Each player gets 8.
What is the highest card in Belote?
The Jack of trumps (20 points), then the 9 of trumps (14). In other suits the Ace is highest.
How many points are there in a Belote deal?
162: 152 in the cards plus 10 for the last trick. A capot (all 8 tricks) is worth 252.
What does dedans mean in Belote?
The taking team scored fewer points than the defenders, so the defenders score all 162 points of the deal.
Do you have to trump in Belote?
Yes, when you can't follow suit, unless your partner is already winning the trick.
What is belote-rebelote?
Holding the King and Queen of trumps. It's worth 20 points, announced as you play each card.