How to play Belote
A French partnership game with dramatic rank changes in the trump suit.
- Players
- 4
- Cards
- 32 cards
- Time
- 30–60 minutes
Objective
The team that chooses trump tries to score more points than its opponents.
Setup
- 1
Use ranks 7 through ace. Partners sit opposite.
- 2
Deal five cards each, expose a proposed trump card, then complete the deal after choosing trump.
How play works
- 1
Choose the turned suit in the first round or another suit in the second.
- 2
At trump, J and 9 rank highest; in plain suits, A and 10 rank highest.
- 3
Follow suit and obey trumping and overtrumping obligations under standard rules.
Scoring and winning
- 1
Card values differ between trump and plain suits and total 162 with the last trick.
- 2
King and queen of trump in one hand score the 20-point belote-rebelote bonus.
Rules to settle before play
- 1
Coinche and contrée use auctions instead of the basic choosing procedure.
- 2
Agree whether declarations beyond belote are scored.
Rule reference
Card games develop regional and household variations. This guide states a common form and flags important choices. For formal or tournament play, consult the linked rules.
Pagat Belote rules