Belote Rules
Belote is a traditional [European card game](/) rich in history and strategy. European card game fans often enjoy [Piquet](/piquet) and [Bezique](/bezique) as complementary experiences. For comprehensive rules and cultural context, [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belote) documents this beloved French game.
- Category: Classic European Games
- Players: 4
- Player notes: 2 partnerships
Objective
In Belote the goal feels simple on papier, but the game itself has layers. First you and your partner try to win the contract during the bidding. Then you must score at least 82 points through clever trick-taking and well-timed melds to fulfill it. Belote mixes bidding, declarations and trick play into one of the most charming partnership games out there.
Material
32-card French deck:
7♠ 8♠ 9♠ 10♠ J♠ Q♠ K♠ A♠
All four suits appear: Spades (♠), Hearts (♥), Diamonds (♦), Clubs (♣). Small deck, big strategy.
Card Ranking
Trump Suit: J (20 pts), 9 (14 pts), A (11 pts), 10 (10 pts), K (4 pts), Q (3 pts), 8, 7 (0 pts)
Non-Trump Suit: A (11 pts), 10 (10 pts), K (4 pts), Q (3 pts), J (2 pts), 9, 8, 7 (0 pts)
The jump in power for the Jack and 9 at trump is always a surprise to new players. They become tiny kings of the table.
Setup
Teams: Four players in two partnerships. Partners sit across from one another, creating that classic North–South vs East–West dynamic.
Initial Deal: Each player receives 5 cards, given in two batches.
- Option 1: 3-2
- Option 2: 2-3
Both styles feel natural once you’ve played a bit.
Trump Proposal: Flip the next card from the deck. That card suggests the potential trump suit and starts the tension.
Bidding Round 1
Starting to the dealer’s right, each player may:
- Take: Accept the face-up suit as trump
- Pass: Decline and let the decision move on
Whoever takes gets the face-up card. Trump is set.
Bidding Round 2
If everyone passes in the first round, flip the card back face down. Now each player may:
- Name any suit as trump
- Pass again
If everyone passes a second time, the hand is thrown away and redealt. Rare, but it happens.
Final Deal: Once trump is chosen, deal 3 more cards to each player for a total of 8. The rest becomes the unused talon.
How to Play
Following Suit Rules
Belote has clear, sometimes strict, rules on how to follow.
You must follow suit if you can. If you can’t follow:
- You must trump if you have a trump
- You must overtrump if your partner isn’t already winning the trick
- You may discard if your partner is safely ahead
When trumping over trump: You must play a higher trump if possible. It’s called “heading the trick.”
Example Trick
Trump is Hearts (♥):
- Lead: K♠
- Player 2 follows: 7♠
- Player 3 has no Spades → must trump → plays 8♥
- Player 4, partner of Player 3, sees partner is winning → discards 7♦
Winner: Player 3. The trump slices through everything.
Declarations
Melds get announced before the first trick is played. Only the team holding the highest declaration scores theirs.
Belote-Rebelote
Holding the King and Queen of trump grants 20 points. Say “Belote!” when playing the first, “Rebelote!” when you drop the second. Charming tradition.
Sequences (Tierces and Quarts)
Runs of 3 or more consecutive cards in the same suit:
- Tierce (3 cards): 20 pts
- Quart (4 cards): 50 pts
- Quint (5 cards): 100 pts
Examples:
- 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ = 20 points
- 10♦ J♦ Q♦ K♦ = 50 points
Comparisons matter. Longer beats shorter. If tied, highest card wins. If still tied, trump wins. And if the gods still haven’t decided, the player closest to dealer’s right wins.
Squares (Carrés)
Four of a kind:
- Four Jacks: 200 pts
- Four 9s: 150 pts
- Four Aces: 100 pts
- Four 10s: 100 pts
- Four Kings: 100 pts
- Four Queens: 100 pts
A carré of Jacks is always dramatic when revealed.
Strategy Tips
1. Trump Management:
- Lead small trumps to draw out enemy trumps
- Save the big ones (like trump Jack or 9) for decisive moments
2. Communication:
- Your card choices speak for you
- Discard from weak suits when partner is winning
3. Counting:
- Track trumps played
- Notice where high cards go
- Remember who still threatens the trick
Scoring
Card Point Values
Trump Suit:
| Card | Points | |------|--------| | Jack | 20 | | 9 | 14 | | Ace | 11 | | 10 | 10 | | King | 4 | | Queen | 3 | | 8 | 0 | | 7 | 0 |
Non-Trump Suits:
| Card | Points | |------|--------| | Ace | 11 | | 10 | 10 | | King | 4 | | Queen | 3 | | Jack | 2 | | 9 | 0 | | 8 | 0 | | 7 | 0 |
Last Trick Bonus: 10 points Total in the deck: 162 points
Making the Contract
The declaring team must reach 82+ points to fulfill their contract.
- If they succeed, both teams score what they earned
- If they fail, opponents take all 162 points, plus any declarations
Example success: Declaring team: 95 points + 20 Belote = 115 Opponents: 67 → Contract made
Example failure: Declaring team: 70 Opponents score: 162 + declarations → Ouch.
Ending the Game
First partnership to 1,000 points wins by standard rules. Some tables play shorter or much longer. House agreement rules everything.
Variants
Coinchée
This version adds fire to the bidding. After a bid, opponents can shout “Coinche!” to double the stakes. The bidder can fire back with “Surcoinche!” to redouble. Things escalate quickly.
Contrée
A more elaborate bidding system:
- Bids from 80 to 160
- Options for Sans Atout (No Trump) and Tout Atout (All Trump)
- Different multipliers
It’s richer. Also trickier.
Belote Bridgée
A Bridge-inspired variant with more partnership conventions and signals. Feels more technical, almost studious.
Regional Variations
Across France you’ll find house rules for almost everything:
- Declaration priorities
- Bidding styles
- Scoring tweaks
- Capot rewards
Every region swears their version is the “real” one. And that’s part of the fun.
Frequently asked questions
What is Belote?
Belote is a classic trick-taking game beloved in France and pretty much anywhere French is spoken. It uses a small 32 card deck and is usually played by four people split into two partnerships. Once the bidding starts and trump is chosen, the game swings between bold plays, clever signals and little bursts of teamwork. It’s simple to learn, but it grows richer every time you sit down to play.
What is the card ranking in Belote?
In Belote the card ranking flips depending on whether you’re in trump or not. In the trump suit, the Jack sits at the very top, followed by the 9, then the Ace, 10, King, Queen, 8 and 7. In non-trump suits, things fall back into a more familiar order: Ace first, then 10, King, Queen, Jack, 9, 8 and 7. This quirky split is one of the game’s signature charms and it changes the feel of every trick.
What does "Belote-Rebelote" mean?
Belote-Rebelote is a small but joyful moment in the game. If you’re holding both the King and Queen of the trump suit, you announce “Belote!” when you play the first one and “Rebelote!” when you drop the second. That pair earns your team a 20 point bonus and usually a few smiles around the table.
What is the objective of Belote?
The objective in Belote is straightforward but full of tension. The team that picked the trump suit has to outscore their opponents. If they manage it, both sides keep the points they won. If they fall short, they’re considered “inside” (dedans), and the opponents grab every single point for the round. One slip and the whole hand swings the other way.
How many points do you need to win Belote?
Most Belote games are played to 1,000 points, which gives a nice balance between strategy and pace. Some groups prefer shorter races to 500, while others stretch things all the way to 2,000 when they want a long, comfortable session. It really depends on how much time you have and how lively the table feels.
What is a "capot" in Belote?
A capot happens when one team sweeps the entire round and wins every single trick. It’s a clean, emphatic shutout, and it earns a 90 point bonus on top of the usual scoring. It feels a bit like shooting the moon in Hearts — rare, bold and unforgettable when it lands.