Belote Rules: The Complete Guide

Belote is a popular French card game that has been around for approximately 70 years, with roots in Jewish communities' Clobyosh (also known as Bela) and the Dutch game Klaverjassen. This guide covers the rules for the 4-player version of Belote, the most interesting form of the game.

Game Overview

Belote is a point-trick taking game designed for 2, 3, or 4 players. The game is best played with a 32-card deck (A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7).

Objective

The primary goal in Belote is to score points by taking tricks during the game. The team that reaches 1000 points first wins the game.

Setup

1. Players form two teams of two partners, with partners sitting opposite each other.
2. The game never involves shuffling the deck. The player before the dealer in rotation (i.e., the player to the dealer's left) cuts the pack.
3. The dealer gives a set of three cards to each player, followed by another set of two cards, and turns the next card face up.
4. The player after the dealer in rotation (the player to the dealer's right) can either choose the turn-up card suit as a trump or pass. If this player passes, the next player can take or pass, and so on around the table. If all 4 players pass, each in turn has a second chance to take, choosing a trump suit other than that of the face-up card. If all players pass twice, the cards are collected together, and the next player in rotation deals.
5. Once a player takes, the bidding ends. The taker is given the turn-up card (whether it is a trump or not) and the deal resumes: each player except the taker is dealt a further packet of three cards, and the taker is dealt only two.

How to Play

1. The player to the dealer's right leads a card after the deal. Subsequent players must follow suit if they can.
2. If the card led is trump, subsequent players must not only follow suit but also play a trump card that beats all previous cards if they can — and this applies no matter which player is holding the trick at that stage, partner included.
3. If a player is unable to follow to a non-trump suit, and an opponent is currently winning the trick, they must trump if they can, otherwise they may discard any card. If their partner is currently winning the trick, they are free to either trump or discard any card.
4. Overtrumping and undertrumping occur when a player is the third or the fourth to play, and is unable to follow a non-trump suit, and the opponent just before them has trumped. In this case, they must overtrump if they can. If they have trumps but are unable to overtrump, they must still play a trump, although they do not benefit from doing so (termed "undertrumping" or "pisser" in French Belote jargon).
5. If the fourth player is unable to follow suit to a plain suit lead which their partner has already trumped, and their partner is winning the trick (because the third player either discarded or undertrumped), the fourth player may either discard (even if they hold trump) or overtrump. If they are unable to overtrump, having no sufficiently high trumps, they may either discard or undertrump.
6. The player who wins the trick has the lead to the next one. The last trick counts 10 points for the team who wins it.

Scoring and End of Game

1. The tricks taken by each team are added to the team's scoring declarations.
2. If the team who "took" wins at least as many points as the other team, the taking team has made its contract, and both teams add their scores into their column. If the taker's team's points are less than those of the opponents, the takers are "dedans" (inside), and the opponents score 162 points plus the losing team's declarations, if any, plus their own declarations.
3. If the team who took wins all the tricks, that team scores 100 points instead of the Dix de Der, giving a total of 252 points plus declarations. This situation is called "Capot" in French (étere capot for the victims, mettre capot for the winners). The team which took no tricks forfeits their own declarations other than Belote-Rebelote, if any. In some exceptional cases, it turns out that the team who took wins no tricks at all. Despite the likely derision in this case, the other team wins only the regular 252 points, plus all the declarations of both teams.
4. The winning team is the first to reach a total of 1000 points. If both sides reach 1000 points on the same hand, the game is drawn.

Common Variants

1. Some people play the whole game clockwise, rather than anticlockwise.
2. Some play that the dealer is free to either follow the dealing scheme described above or deal the sets of 2 cards first.
3. Etiquette: nowadays most players will make their declarations and show them as soon as possible.

A Bit of History

Belote has roots in Jewish communities' Clobyosh and the Dutch game Klaverjassen. Its precise origin and inventor, however, remain unclear.

Where to Get the Game

Embark on a thrilling card game experience with the french belote card game!

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

1. Failing to understand the importance of trump suits and following them correctly.
2. Not declaring scoring declarations in a timely manner.
3. Misunderstanding the concept of "Capot" and its implications.

FAQ

1. What is the objective of Belote?

   • The primary goal in Belote is to score points by taking tricks during the game, with the team that reaches 1000 points first winning the game.

2. How many players can play Belote?

   • Belote can be played with 2, 3, or 4 players.

3. What cards are required to play Belote?

   • Belote is played with a 32-card deck (A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7).

4. What is the concept of "Capot" in Belote?

   • "Capot" is a situation in which the team that took wins every trick. That team scores 100 points instead of the 10-point Dix de Der, for a total of 252 points plus declarations.

5. Can I play Belote clockwise instead of anticlockwise?

   • Yes, some people play the whole game clockwise, rather than anticlockwise.

6. Can I deal the cards differently in Belote?

   • Yes, some players play that the dealer is free to either follow the dealing scheme described in the rules or deal the sets of 2 cards first.

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