Get the full experience in CardRules+
300+ games with text-to-speech, game night planner, quick reference cards, and offline access.
Download on Google Play- Use a 32-card deck (7 through Ace in each suit).
- Deal 8 cards to each of 4 players in partnerships.
- Determine trump suit through a bidding round.
- Follow suit if possible; must trump if you cannot follow.
- Must overtrump if able when trumping.
- Highest trump wins, or highest card of led suit.
- Announce 'Belote/Rebelote' when playing King and Queen of trump.
- Trump Jack: 20 pts, Trump Nine: 14 pts, Ace: 11 pts, Ten: 10 pts.
- 162 total points available (including 10 for last trick).
- Contract team must outscore opponents or opponents get all points.
- Winning all 8 tricks (Capot): 90 bonus points.
Rules
Belote is France's most popular card game, a trick-taking game for four players in partnerships. Using a 32-card deck with a unique card ranking system, it combines bidding, declarations, and precise trick play into an engrossing team experience.
Objective
Working with your partner, score more points than the opposing team by winning tricks containing valuable cards and declaring special card combinations.
Setup
- Players: 4 players in two partnerships, seated across from each other.
- Deck: 32-card deck (7 through Ace in each suit).
- Deal: Each player receives 8 cards, dealt in batches (typically 3-2-3 or 3-3-2).
- Trump Selection: The top card of the remaining stock is turned face-up. Players bid to accept this suit as trump or pass. If all pass, a second round allows naming any other suit.
Card Rankings and Values
- In Trump Suit: Jack (20 pts) > Nine (14 pts) > Ace (11 pts) > Ten (10 pts) > King (4 pts) > Queen (3 pts) > Eight (0) > Seven (0).
- In Non-Trump Suits: Ace (11 pts) > Ten (10 pts) > King (4 pts) > Queen (3 pts) > Jack (2 pts) > Nine (0) > Eight (0) > Seven (0).
- Total Points Available: 162 (including 10 bonus for winning last trick).
Gameplay
- Leading: The player right of the dealer leads the first trick.
- Following Suit: You must follow suit if possible. If you cannot follow, you must trump if possible (and must overtrump if able). If you cannot do either, play any card.
- Declarations: At the start of play, teams may declare specific combinations (sequences of 3+, four of a kind) for bonus points.
- Belote and Rebelote: Holding the King and Queen of trump earns 20 bonus points. Announce 'Belote' when playing the first and 'Rebelote' when playing the second.
Scoring
- Contract Team: The team that accepted trump must score more than the opponents. If they fail, the opponents receive all points from the round.
- Last Trick Bonus: The team winning the final trick receives 10 bonus points.
- Capot: Winning all 8 tricks earns a bonus of 90 points (252 total).
Tips and Strategies
- The trump Jack and Nine are enormously powerful — having both almost guarantees a successful contract.
- Signal to your partner by leading suits where you hold strength.
- Do not accept trump without at least two strong trump cards and some side Aces.
Tips & Strategy
The trump Jack (worth 20) and trump Nine (worth 14) are the key cards. Holding both gives your team 34 points in trump alone, making it very difficult to lose the contract.
Partnership communication through card play is essential. Leading a low card in a suit signals weakness, while leading an Ace shows strength and invites your partner to play their high cards.
Trivia & Fun Facts
Belote is so popular in France that dedicated Belote cafés and tournaments exist throughout the country. An estimated 20 million French people play it regularly.
In Belote, what is the special term for declaring that you hold both the King and Queen of the trump suit?
History & Culture
Belote arrived in France in the early 20th century, likely derived from the Dutch game Klaverjas or the German Klaberjass. It quickly became France's most popular card game.
Belote is a cornerstone of French social life, played in homes, cafés, and clubs across the country. It is considered an essential part of French leisure culture.
Variations & House Rules
Coinche (Belote Coinchée) adds a more complex bidding system where players can challenge and double bids. Belote Contrée is another popular bidding variant.
For beginners, start without declarations and add them once the basic trick-taking is mastered. Play to 1000 or 1500 points for varying game lengths.
