How to Play Belot: A Fun and Challenging Card Game
If you are looking for a classic card game to play with your friends or family, you might want to try Belot. Belot is a trick-taking game that requires skill, strategy, and teamwork. It is played by four players in two teams, and the goal is to score more points than the other team by winning tricks and making declarations. Belot is very popular in France and other European countries, where it is considered the national card game. In this article, we will explain what Belot is, how to set it up, and how to play it. We will also cover some variations and tips to improve your game.
What is Belot?
The origin and history of Belot
Belot is a relatively young card game, as it appeared around 1900 in France. It is a close relative of Klaberjass (also known as bela) and Klaverjas, two older games that are played in many parts of the world. Belot is also related to Jass, Coinche, Tatteln, and Pilotta, which are similar games with different names and rules. Belot has many regional variations, but the most common version is the French one, which we will describe in this article.
belot
The basic rules and objectives of Belot
Belot is a 32-card game, using only the aces, kings, queens, jacks, tens, nines, eights, and sevens of each suit. The game is played by four players in two teams, sitting opposite each other. The players take turns playing cards from their hands, following the suit of the first card if possible. The player who plays the highest card of the same suit or the highest trump card wins the trick and leads the next one. The team that wins more tricks scores points for each card they won plus any declarations they made at the start of the round. A declaration is a combination of cards in the same suit or rank that has a certain value. The most common declarations are belote (a king and a queen of trumps), tierce (three consecutive cards of the same suit), quarte (four consecutive cards of the same suit), quinte (five consecutive cards of the same suit), and carré (four cards of the same rank). The first team to reach a target score of 501 or 1000 points wins the game.
How to Set Up Belot
The deck and the players
To play Belot, you need a standard 52-card deck and four players. First, remove all the twos, threes, fours, fives, and sixes from the deck, leaving only 32 cards. Then, choose one player to be your partner and sit across from them. The players on your left and right are your opponents. Next, decide who will be the first dealer by drawing cards from the deck. The player with the lowest card deals first.
The dealing and the bidding
The dealer shuffles the deck and lets the player on their right cut it. Then, they deal five cards to each player in two rounds: three cards in the first round and two cards in the second round. The dealer starts with the player on their right and goes counterclockwise. After dealing five cards to each player, they turn over the top card of the remaining deck and place it face-up on the table. This card determines the potential trump suit for the round.
Now, each player has a chance to bid for the contract or pass. The contract is an agreement between a player and their partner to win more points than their opponents by choosing a trump suit or playing without trumps. The bidding starts with the player on the left of the dealer and goes clockwise. Each player can either pass or bid one of the following options:
Take: The player accepts the face-up card as the trump suit and agrees to win more points than their opponents.
Other: The player rejects the face-up card as the trump suit and chooses another suit as the trump suit. They also agree to win more points than their opponents.
No trumps: The player rejects the face-up card as the trump suit and decides to play without any trumps. They also agree to win more points than their opponents.
All trumps: The player accepts the face-up card as the trump suit and decides to play with all four suits as trumps. They also agree to win more points than their opponents.
The bidding ends when either three players pass in a row or a player bids all trumps. The last player who bid becomes the taker and chooses the contract for the round. If all four players pass, the round is canceled and the next player deals.
After the bidding, the dealer gives three more cards to each player in two rounds: two cards in the first round and one card in the second round. Each player now has eight cards in their hand. The taker takes the face-up card into their hand and discards one card face-down on the table. This card is not part of the game and does not count for any points or declarations.
How to Play Belot
The gameplay and the scoring
The taker leads the first trick by playing any card from their hand. The other players follow in clockwise order, playing one card each. Each player must follow suit if they can, meaning they must play a card of the same suit as the first card of the trick. If they cannot follow suit, they must play a trump card if they have one. If they cannot play a trump card either, they can play any card they want. The trick is won by the highest trump card played, or by the highest card of the suit led if no trump cards were played. The winner of the trick takes all four cards and places them face-down in front of them. They also lead the next trick.
How to play Belot online
Belot rules and scoring
Best strategies for Belot
Belot tournaments and prizes
Belot vs Bridge Belote
History and origin of Belot
Belot card game tips and tricks
Where to find Belot players and partners
Belot online platforms and apps
Belot card game variations and modes
Belot etiquette and chat features
Belot card game reviews and ratings
How to win at Belot consistently
Belot card game challenges and achievements
Belot card game statistics and analysis
How to improve your Belot skills
Belot card game glossary and terms
Belot card game culture and community
Belot card game fun facts and trivia
Belot card game news and updates
How to teach Belot to beginners
Belot card game benefits and advantages
How to join a Belot club or team
Belot card game myths and misconceptions
How to stream or watch Belot games online
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The round continues until all eight tricks are played. Then, each team counts their points for the tricks and declarations they won. The points for each card are as follows:
CardPoints in Trump SuitPoints in Other Suits
Ace1111
Ten1010
King44
Queen33
Jack202
Nine140
Eight00
Seven00
Total16262
The points for each declaration are as follows:
DeclarationDescriptionPoints in Trump SuitPoints in Other Suits
Belo teA king and a queen of trumps20-
TierceThree consecutive cards of the same suit2020
QuarteFour consecutive cards of the same suit5050
QuinteFive or more consecutive cards of the same suit100100
CarréFour cards of the same rank-100 for jacks, 80 for nines, 60 for aces, 40 for kings, queens, tens, or sevens
The team that wins the last trick gets an extra 10 points. The total points for each team are added up and rounded to the nearest 10. The taker's team must score more points than the other team to win the contract. If they do, they get the points they scored plus any points left by the other team. If they don't, they lose the contract and the other team gets all the points in the round. For example, if the taker's team scores 82 points and the other team scores 80 points, the taker's team wins the contract and gets 162 points (82 + 80). If the taker's team scores 78 points and the other team scores 84 points, the taker's team loses the contract and the other team gets 162 points (78 + 84).
If the taker's team wins all eight tricks, they score a capot (or sweep) and get 250 points if they played with trumps or 200 points if they played without trumps. The other team gets no points in this case.
The variations and the strategies of Belot
Belot is a game that has many variations and nuances that can make it more interesting and challenging. Some of the most common variations are:
Coinche: A variant where players can raise or challenge the contract by saying "coinche" or "surcoinche". Coinche means that the player thinks that the taker's team will not win the contract, and doubles the points at stake. Surcoinche means that the player thinks that the coincher is wrong, and quadruples the points at stake. Coinche and surcoinche can only be said before the first card is played.
Bridge-Belote: A variant where players can bid more precisely by specifying a number of tricks and a trump suit or no trumps. For example, a bid of "80 hearts" means that the player agrees to win at least 80 points with hearts as trumps. The bids must be higher than the previous ones in terms of points or rank of suit. The rank of suits is spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs, no trumps, all trumps.
Bulgarian Belot: A variant where players can make declarations with non-consecutive cards of the same suit or rank, such as three aces or three sevens. These declarations are worth less than tierces or carrés, but can still add some points to your score.
Turkish Belot: A variant where players can exchange cards with their partners before playing. The taker can exchange three cards with their partner, and each of their opponents can exchange two cards with their partner. This way, players can improve their hands and coordinate their strategies.
Belot is also a game that requires skill and strategy to play well. Some of the basic tips to improve your game are:
Bid wisely: Don't bid too high or too low, depending on your hand and your partner's signals. Try to estimate how many points you can score with your cards and declarations, and how many tricks you can win with your trumps or high cards.
Play smartly: Don't waste your trumps or high cards on tricks that you can't win or don't need to win. Try to follow suit if you can, unless you have a good reason to play a trump or a different suit. Try to remember which cards have been played and which ones are still in your opponents' hands.
Communicate effectively: Don't give away too much information to your opponents by your bids or your plays. Try to signal your partner about your cards and your intentions by using subtle clues, such as playing certain cards in certain orders or making certain declarations.
Adapt flexibly: Don't stick to one plan or strategy throughout the game. Be ready to change your tactics or your trump suit depending on the situation and the cards you have. Be flexible and creative in your plays and your declarations.
Conclusion
Belot is a fun and challenging card game that can provide hours of entertainment and excitement. It is a game that combines luck and skill, and that requires teamwork and communication. It is also a game that has many variations and possibilities, so you can always find new ways to play it and enjoy it. If you want to learn more about Belot, you can check out some online resources or join some online communities where you can play with other players. You can also practice your skills by playing with a computer or a friend. Belot is a game that is easy to learn but hard to master, so don't be discouraged if you lose at first. Just keep playing and improving, and you will soon discover the joys of Belot.
FAQs
What is the difference between Belot and Bridge?
Belot and Bridge are both trick-taking games that are played by four players in two teams, but they have some significant differences. Bridge uses a 52-card deck, while Belot uses a 32-card deck. Bridge has more complex bidding and scoring systems, while Belot has simpler ones. Bridge also has more conventions and rules, while Belot has more variations and flexibility.
What is the best trump suit in Belot?
The best trump suit in Belot depends on your hand and your partner's hand. Generally, you want to choose a trump suit that has many high cards, such as jacks, nines, aces, or tens. You also want to choose a trump suit that matches your declarations, such as belote or tierce. However, you also have to consider what your opponents might have, and what they might bid. Sometimes, it might be better to choose a different trump suit or no trumps at all.
How do you signal your partner in Belot?
There are many ways to signal your partner in Belot, but they are not always obvious or reliable. Some of the common signals are:
Playing a high card of a suit to show interest or strength in that suit.
Playing a low card of a suit to show disinterest or weakness in that suit.
Playing a card of the same rank as the previous card to show agreement or support.
Playing a card of the same suit as the previous card to show preference or request.
Making a declaration to show the cards you have or the points you can score.
However, you have to be careful not to give away too much information to your opponents by your signals, or to misinterpret your partner's signals. You also have to adapt your signals depending on the contract and the situation.
How do you count cards in Belot?
Counting cards in Belot is a skill that can help you improve your game and anticipate your opponents' moves. Counting cards means keeping track of which cards have been played and which ones are still in the game. You can use different methods to count cards, such as memorizing them, writing them down, or using mnemonics. The most important cards to count are the trumps, the high cards, and the declarations. By counting cards, you can estimate how many points each team has, what cards each player has, and what cards are left in the deck.
Where can I play Belot online?
There are many websites and apps where you can play Belot online with other players or with a computer. Some of the most popular ones are:
[Belote.com]: A website where you can play Belot for free with thousands of players from around the world. You can also chat with other players, join tournaments, and earn rewards.
[VIP Belote]: An app where you can play Belot on your mobile device with other players or with a computer. You can also customize your avatar, join clubs, and participate in events.
[Belote Multiplayer]: An app where you can play Belot on your mobile device with other players or with a computer. You can also challenge your friends, join leagues, and collect bonuses.
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