Belote

Résumé express

A trick-taking game for 4 players in 2 teams of 2 (partners sitting across), using 32 cards. Each deal sets a trump suit: the team that “takes” commits to scoring more points than the other. The trump jack and trump 9 become the strongest cards. Every deal is worth 162 points (last-trick bonus included); the first team to 501 points wins.

Mise en place

• 32 cards: 7 up to ace in all 4 suits.
• 2 teams of 2, partners sitting across from each other.
• The dealer gives 5 cards to each player (3 + 2), then flips one card face up: the trump proposal.
• First bidding round: in turn, each player either takes the flipped card (its suit becomes trump) or passes.
• Second round: if everyone passed, each player may pick a different suit as trump, or pass. If nobody takes, redeal.
• The taker picks up the flipped card; hands are completed to 8 cards each.

Card ranking and values:

Tour de jeu

• The player to the dealer’s right leads; after that, the trick winner leads.
• You must follow suit whenever you can.
• If you can’t follow: you must trump… unless your partner is currently winning the trick.
• On a trump lead, you must overtrump (play a higher trump) if you can.
• Belote-rebelote: holding both the trump king and queen is worth 20 points — say “belote” then “rebelote” as you play them. These 20 points can never be taken from you.

Fin de partie

• When the deal ends, count: each team adds up its tricks, and the last trick is worth 10 extra (dix de der). Total: 162.
• Contract made (takers strictly ahead of the defense): each team scores its actual points.
• Down (dedans): the defense scores all 162 points; the takers only keep their belote, if any.
• Capot (all the tricks): 252 points for the team that pulls it off.
• The game is played to 501 points.

FAQ

81 each — who scores? That’s the “litige”. Traditional rules hold the taker’s 81 points in escrow for the next deal; the app applies the simple variant: a tie counts as down, the defense scores 162.

Does the belote count toward making the contract? Yes. The 20 points are added to the holding team’s total when comparing takers and defense — and they are kept even on a failed contract.

Can I win my partner’s trick? Yes, nothing forbids taking a trick your partner was winning — sometimes you need the lead.

Must I trump when my partner is winning? No. If your partner holds the trick, you may discard anything.

Variantes

• Play to 1000: for longer evenings (configurable target coming later).
• Full declarations (tierce, fifty, hundred…): not scored by the app in v1 — only belote-rebelote is handled.
• The app follows the classic 162-point count, without house-rule bonuses.