Belote

Historical

The belote appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. The origin of this play remains fuzzy: its name would come is of a certain F. Belot, which would have founded the first rules, well altered since, or of a deformation of beautiful asset . It could also come from beautiful within the meaning of “chart gaining” in certain areas. Beloter or belotter, belotor.

Rules of the game

Order of the charts

; Except asset

At least extremely with most extremely: Seven, Eight, Last nines, Servant, Lady, King, Ten, Ace.

; With the asset

At least extremely with most extremely: Seven, Eight, Lady, King, Ten, Ace, Last nines, Servant.

; With the (natural order) announces

At least extremely with most extremely: Seven, Eight, Last nines, Ten, Servant, Lady, King, Ace.

In a general way

Any chart of asset overrides the charts of other colors.
Any chart of the color of starts overrides the charts of other colors, except asset.

Constantly card deck , a player can require to consult the last Pli turned over but not the precedents.

Value of the charts

Once the 8 turns of the card deck carried out, a player of each team adds the points corresponding to the charts with the folds gained by his team. If this one gained the last fold, it adds 10 points on the whole obtained. It is about the rule of the ten of DER .

The total of the points of the play is of 162. If the sum of the two totals obtained is different from this number, it is proceeded to a new calculation of the points.

Except asset:

the Ace is worth 11 points
the Ten is worth 10 points
the King is worth 4 points
the Lady is worth 3 points
the Servant is worth 2 points
the Last nines, the Eight, the Seven are worth each one 0 points

With the asset:

the Servant is worth 20 points
the Last nines is worth 14 points
the Ace is worth 11 points
the Ten is worth 10 points
the King is worth 4 points
the Lady is worth 3 points
the Eight, the Seven are worth each one 0 points

Ordre of the atouts

Mix charts

There exist alternatives where the card deck is brewed only once before beginning the part but generally it can be brewed before each distribution and only the player to whom is with the turn to distribute has the right to make it if it wishes it.

Gives

One gives (distribution of the charts) and plays in the opposite direction of the needles of a watch.

The player located on the left of the player donor must carry out the cut play: he separates the play in two heaps, each one having to contain at least two charts.

At the time of the first part, a player is appointed to carry out the first gives . One can also draw a chart in the package and “smallest starts”. The following donor will be the player located on the right of the preceding donor.

After having gathered the play by reversing the order of cut , the donor distributes the charts while starting with its neighbor of right-hand side, in the following way:

Three charts (located on the top of the heap) are distributed hidden side to each player then two additional charts to them are distributed same manner (or the reverse 2 then 3).

After the first phase of distribution, the donor turns over the chart of the top of the heap not yet distributed. The color of the chart thus turned over is proposed like asset with the players. Each player, in the direction of the distribution while starting with the line of the donor , accepts or not the asset. If he does not want any he says: “I pass” . The first player who accepts the asset known as “I take” , recovers the turned over chart and one proceeds to the second phase of the distribution (the player having taken the chart receiving two charts, others three charts). If nobody accepts the chart, one proceeds to a second round where each one can choose any color of asset (it then recovers the turned over chart and one proceeds to the second phase of distribution). The player who passes one second time known as: “two” If no color of asset is chosen, the charts are gathered, the player who has just given cut the play and its neighbor of right-hand side begins the then gives following.

Each player thus has 8 charts in end of gives, that it can classify and consult with his own way (it holds them generally in range in his hand, in front of him) but without making them visible of the other players.

In the event of error in the gives (the players must check that they have 8 charts well), two choices exist according to the rules:

a new cut and a news gives are carried out by the same players without penalty.

One starts carries out it following (the donor changes) and the opposing team with that of the faulty donor receives 160 points.

Card deck

It is about the central part of the play, during which the players deposit their charts, at the time of 8 turns of play called raised folds or , she is common to all the types of belote .

The card deck once begins the given asset (either by the system of turns over, or by bidding ).

The player located on the right of the donor carries out the first starts , which means that it deposits one of the charts of his hand in the center of the play.

The three other players deposit then in their turn, in the direction of distribution, one of the charts of their hand in the center of the play according to the rules of play corresponding to the color of asset of the final bidding (or of the asset chosen by the system of turns over).

The player having deposited the strongest chart (according to the order of the charts describes above) gains the fold at the end of the turn, it turns over it and deposits it with the top of those which him and its partner already gained, it can then carry out starts it following.

Case of figure

If the player has at least a chart of the color of starts, it must play one of these charts.
If the player does not have chart of the color of starts and that the strongest chart was deposited by its partner, he plays the chart of his choice. He has, by this skew, the possibility of carrying out a call to his partner or a trues (also called a piss ).

Cross

If the player does not have chart of the color of starts, that the strongest chart was not deposited by its partner and that it has charts of asset, it must play one of these charts of asset. It is said whereas it cut .
If the player plays asset and that it has in his play at least a chart of asset stronger than the strongest chart of asset already posed, it must play one of these charts. It is said that it is necessary to go up to the asset or surcouper .
If the player has neither of chart of the color of starts, nor of chart of asset, it plays the chart of its choice.
If the player does not have chart of the color of starts and that the strongest chart was deposited by its partner, it can however cross if it wishes it to save an asset and/or to take the hand (to make the fold and to have the initiative of starts following).

True

The rules can diverge among these various possibilities.

If it is not possible for him of surcouper, that which does not have the color can:

is only to play one weaker asset (what one also invites to piss with the asset ).
is it is authorized in more to true or make a call by playing another color without being obliged to piss in asset as long as its partner is Master of the fold.
Moreover, if its partner cut and holds it can piss with a weak asset even if it has some more extremely.

Example: Has does not have a spade and crosses with the Ten of asset. Its partner does not have a spade either but the 8 and the Ace of asset. He can:

*Se to true with another color or to make a call

*Pisser to the asset while getting rid of the 8 (because he prefers to keep a more interesting chart according to him although not in asset and/or to leave the hand to its partner…)

*Surcouper with its Ace (and to take the hand…)

Cap

A cap is succeeded by a team if it gains the 8 folds of gives. Value 252 items (250). However, according to certain rules, if it is the team which took which is put cap, one then counts simply an inside (160) for the opposing team.

Principal tactics of play

The asset

The color of the asset is the principal color of the belote, around which are built the “traditional” strategies. The team which share generally chooses the asset because it has strongest ( servant , nine ) and has some more than the opposing team; so she seeks to make fall the assets , so that the opposing team does not have any more. The team which share can then play her ace without being likely to be made cross.

The team which defends, as for it, seeks to keep her assets, and to make cut her adversaries, in order to make them lose their assets without investing some.

The choice of the asset

Since one has only 5 charts out of the 8 finales at the time of the choice of the asset, this one is done by taking account of a chance factor; however two cases are particular:

the player immediately after the donor can suppose that the charts which it will receive then will be same color as the chart proposed with the asset, by supposing that the charts belonged to the same fold with gives preceding (if that is carried out one sometimes says that one is under the gutter , under the chute , under pissed the , under turns or under the fountain ).
for this reason, and to be sure to avoid a cap , this player can take the chart of asset if this one is a servant . Sometimes some also make it to avoid a square of servants at the adversary when they do not have any in hand.

Calls

the calls are a paramount element with the belote because they consist in rendering comprehensible with its partner which master cards (able to gain a fold ) one A. It is appropriate to agree with the partner on the way of doing of the calls before playing.

long the : if a player has several master cards (for example As, Ten, King…) he can true Ace to render comprehensible that he has the Ten. He should not in no case to true himself of the Ten trues meaning that he does not have the Ace.

direct Call : a player trues himself for example of a small heart to show with his partner that it with the ace of heart or a main heart.

indirect Call : a player trues himself of a spade to show with his partner that it with the clover ace or of a heart to show with his partner that it with the ace of square and conversely.

indirect Call “cross” : heart/clover pricks/square.

negative Call : a player trues himself for example of a small heart to show with his partner whom it has nothing interesting in heart (and to preserve all the interesting charts his (or its) long (S) at the other colors.

the indirect call is preferable with the direct call because it makes it possible to get rid of the charts which one does not want: thus to true itself of one 7 of square makes it possible to make double hit while getting rid of an useless chart and by showing that one with the ace of heart. It also makes it possible to be able to make a call in the event of dry ace, i.e. when the only chart of a color which one has is the ace. It also makes it possible to avoid stripping itself of a chart of its long, sometimes essential to make a success of the cap.

the indirect call “cross” , more random, is a complement with the indirect call usable as for example if the partner to the ace of spade and the clover ace. If clover is played, it will understand that cannot be a call to spade and thus that one with the ace of heart.

the calls can be used to indicate a master card other that the ace: for example if the ace of square fell previously and that one trues oneself of a heart (indirect call), that can mean that one has the ten of square (or the king if the ten also fell, etc).

Dead ends

Ten of DER

The last fold (last lifting) is an important fold because in addition to that it is worth ten additional points there are often charts being worth of the points which are played there such as ten even of the aces that everyone wanted to keep until the end to hope to make a fold, or that some did not dare to take the risk to charge (sometimes with the aveuglette): it is thus not rare that one “ten of DER” makes 20,30 or 40 points and it is consequently advised if one there will keep one with few assets until the end of them to try to make this fold.

Deduct points

With the belote (as with the coinche) it is important always to look at the score because that influences the decisions to take; thus one will prevent there going too light to the risk to be inside if the teams are close to the victory.

Methods

To gain the gives, the team which is left (i.e. which chose the asset) must add up more points than the opposing team (by counting the possible points of the belote and the advertisements of each team): its total must thus exceed 81 (91 thus with the belote ).

If it gained gives it, the team which is left adds the made points to this gives to its total points. It marks 90 additional points in the event of cap . The opposing team makes in the same way.
If it lost gives it, the team which is left does not mark any point (except belote ). The opposing team marks 162 (160) points, as well as the points of the advertisements of the losing team if it there of A.

Deduct with paper-pencil

The scores can be registered on a sheet of paper or a note-book and are sometimes counted except for the point.

Deduct with pawns

The points can be also marked with Pions out of wood or plastic, being worth 10 points, 50 points and 100 points. The turns (the crossing of the semi-part is 500 points) can be marked with a different pawn, for example a round pawn larger than the others or a pawn “500”. That makes it possible to avoid the accumulation of pawns on the carpet. It is a player appointed before the beginning of the part which is charged to hold “the bank”.

That it is on paper or with pawns the scores are generally rounded with the multiples of 10 except in the event of litigation and in fine of part (see low).

Examples:

64 becomes 60
99 becomes 100
105 becomes 110

Particular case

If the team has adds up for example 105,106 or 107 points, it marks 110 points and the team B which adds up 57,56 or 55 points thus marks 60 and not 50 points . It is frequent to see teams thus losing 10 points at the time of the calculation: “the team has made 86 and marks 90 points, therefore the team B mark 70 points”… Error! the team B makes 76 and marks 80 points.

the scores ending in 5,6 or 7 thus require to round the totals of the 2 teams to higher ten.

Litigation

Whatever the way of counting the scores, when each team marks 81 points (or an equal number of points if play with advertisements, for example 116-116) there is litigation : the team which did not take mark her points (80 or 120 according to the example) and the remaining points are given concerned and will be gained with carries out following “in no-claims bonus” by the winner team of gives. In this case it seems logical that the team which took does not mark her belote if she had one of them:

the team AC there goes and makes 71 points + 20 of belote is 91 points and team data base makes 91 points: there is litigation. AC marks 0 points and data bases 90. 90 points are given concerned.

End of the part

A part is generally played in 1001 points or 1010 points if the scores are rounded with ten.

If the two teams exceed this score at the time of the same part, the team which reaches the largest total gains the part.

Of no round the calculation of the points to ten lower or higher but at the end of the part one can decide to count except for the point (for example 113 instead of 110), the team at the head of one or more points having gained. In the same way, if a team which has 870 points marks 127 points, it adds up 997 and it misses 4 points to finish: one gives additional is carried out.

On the other hand if the totals remain rigorously identical one gives additional is carried out to decide between them.

One cannot gain while being cap: if a team which has 990 points with the belote but which it is cap (and which one admits that it marks this belote), it marks 20 points and adds up 1010 points but did not gain even if the opposing team adds up a score lower than 1010 points even lower than 1001 points: one gives additional is carried out.

Two schools

With the belote (and the Coinche), there are the partisans of the play “without advertisements” (except the belote which is “the base” of the play) and those which play with advertisements. An advertisement is a combination of charts which one has in hand following the gives and which gives right a no-claims bonus of points. The advertisements are used to be good or to take the adversary.

To play with advertisements brings the unforeseen one and animation in the play and can influence the tactical choices: one can thus decide to go there “light” because one has an advertisement whose points will compensate (theoretically…) with the deficiency of folds. The obligation to show its advertisement also makes it possible to see part of the play of the adversary.

Choice can be sometimes made not “announce its advertisement” (for example a third in against with the asset) in order not to reveal its play with the adversary…

Belote/Rebelote

Everyone is of agreement to count the belote. the belote is an advertisement made up of the Lady and of the King of asset, it is worth 20 points. She is announced at the time of the play of the first of these charts (one says: “Belote! ”), then second (one says: “Rebelote! ”). It is lost if it is not announced.

Third, fifty, hundred, square

The same chart can be useful for several advertisements: thus the 10 of a third 9-10-Servant can also belong to a square of 10; a Lady and a King can at the same time belong to a belote, a third and a square, etc a square of servants in against met automatically inside the team which leaves since it will not be able to make a score higher than 200 nor make a cap.

; The third

the third is an advertisement made up of three of the same charts color which are followed in the natural order (i.e. Seven, Eight, Last nines, Ten, Valet, Dame, King, As). She is worth 20 points.

a third with the Ace (Lady, King, Ace) is commonly called “major third”.

; The fifty (or fourth)

the fifty is an advertisement made up of four of the same charts color which are followed in the natural order, it is worth 50 points.

; The hundred (or fifth)

the hundred is an advertisement made up of five of the same charts color which are followed in the natural order, it is worth 100 points.

|valign=" top" | ; The square

the square is an advertisement made up of four identical charts.

the square Servants is worth 200 points.

the square of Last nine is worth 150 points.

the square of Ace, of Ten, Kings, Ladies (usually called brothel ), are worth each one 100 points.

the square of Eight and Seven are not worth any point, but have the characteristic to cancel the advertisements (see methods).

Methods

To allow to enter them, each player must enumerate the advertisements (except belote ) of which it lays out as soon as its turn comes during the first raised . By convention one admits that the charts should be shown constituting this advertisement without one having to ask it. This advertisement is shown by the player with the three other players as soon as the fifth chart was posed on the carpet (i.e. after the first lifting) and even if is not with him to play. In the event of refusal its advertisement is cancelled.

To each gives, only the team which has the strongest advertisement enters her advertisements.

a announces is stronger than another if it is worth more points.
a announces is stronger than another of the same advertisement value if it is higher (for example one 50 with the King (Ten-Servant-Lady-King) is stronger than one 50 to the Ten (Sept-Huit-Neuf-Dix).
a announces is stronger than another of the same advertisement value and of the same height if first is with the asset (for example a third to the 9 of asset overrides a third to the 9 of another color).
Two advertisements of the same value and of the same height and not in asset (for example 2 thirds with the Lady) is cancelled but nevertheless shown both with the fifth chart posed on the carpet. Nobody marks points of advertisements (except the belote which remains obviously valid).
a announces of a square of Seven or of Eight allows to cancel the advertisements of all the players for this gives (including its partner).

Accounting of the advertisements

When it enters its advertisements, a team:

on the whole adds the sum of the points corresponding to the advertisements of its two players of points of the folds which it gained;
also adds these points to its total score, except if it had left and that it makes finally less points than the opposing team, which marks these points then;
the belote is separately, and is always marked by the team which announces it, except at the time of alternatives where if the players “are taken” their adversaries also take their belote to them if they had one of them.

Alternatives

Others

Just like traditional dishes, if the basic principles are commonly accepted the belote were worked by the soil and there is plethora of alternatives which can change from one area to another, from one commune to another even of a “Bistrot” with the other; it is advisable to agree at the beginning of part on the precise rules.

the points are counted rounded with a margin of 5, or are counted at the point;
the points marked by the opposing team during a fall are of 240;
if the two teams exceed the score to be reached to finish the part at the same time, the team which gained the last gives gains the part;
if an adversary already cut a fold, and that the player cannot surcouper , it is authorized to true itself (instead of playing a weaker asset);
It does not have there advertisements (except the belote)
a cap team marks her advertisements nevertheless but cannot put the other team nor to even gain inside on the blow (see “fine part”). In this case of figure everyone marks its points and the part continues. A cap team can even mark more points than the team which goes there!
one does not hope the advertisements (belote included/understood) to know if one gives is dropped or not (it is said whereas the advertisements are not used to take );
one does not hope the advertisements (belote not included/understood) to know if one gives is dropped or not (it is said whereas the advertisements are not used to take );
one can cancel the part if one has strictly less than eleven points in his play and any asset;
the square of Aces is worth 110 and the square from new 140 (10 times the value of the chart to the asset);
the square of Eight cancels the others advertisements;
the Seven square cancels gives it;
the natural order to determine the advertisements is Seven, Eight, Last nines, Valet, Dame, King, Ten, As;
the same chart cannot be used for two different advertisements (excluded belote);
at the time of the distribution, if no asset is selected with the second round, the donor is forced to choose an asset (alternative called the cow );
after the distribution, if one of the players has less than eleven points, the turn is cancelled;
after the choice of the asset, if one of the players has less than eleven points and no asset, the turn is cancelled;
one can distribute all the charts, and proceed then to biddings to determine the asset. This alternative is called Coinche , or bridgée belote or countered ;
after a taker (with the first or the second turn), the other players can “go up in the color” by respecting the order: clover , square , heart , spade , without asset , any asset .

Alternative with 3 players

In this type of play, the person who chose the asset plays against the two other players. The rules remain the same ones, but one removes play the charts 7 and 8 so that all the charts are distributed, in 3 times 8 charts. Another alternative consists in withdrawing only two 7 and distributing 3 times 10 charts. The cap is very rare in the alternatives with 3.

after the choice of the color, each player with the possibility of changing the play into one “without” or a “whole” (the “whole” being most). “Without” cancels all the assets, the made “whole” of all the charts of the assets; all the rules are preserved for these two types. The belote takes then the modern name of belote , influenced by the Coinche.
if the turned over chart is a servant, the first player must make the play in the color of the servant (or one “without” or a “whole”)

Alternative with 2 players (known as " découverte")

In the alternative with two players (known as " découverte"), each player lays out 16 charts divided into two groups: charts of hand (6), and charts of table (12). The charts of table are laid out in two horizontal lines of five chart (a line by player) separated by enough space to allow the card deck.

Give:

Charts of hand: alternatively three and two while starting with the adversary;
Charts of table: alternatively , two horizontal lines of five charts hidden sides while starting with the line of the adversary;
Like 1;
Like 2 but faces visible , superimposed with the lines of hidden sides distributed into 2.

The charts on table located nearest to each player belong to this one and are played exactly as if they belonged to his hand (the difference is that each player is informed of the visible charts of his adversary). When one of the charts of visible table face is played, one reveals the chart hidden side which was under the visible chart. A chart hidden side cannot be looked at before the chart which recovers it is played.

Belote “of counter”

The belote of counter is a French alternative of the original play. She is played with 2 to 6 players, always with 32 charts, and there is not, strictly speaking partnership. Contrary to the traditional belote, this alternative introduces a system of Enchère S: each player estimates the number of points which he thinks of being able to make according to the play that he received. That which carries the bidding to highest takes the hand and chooses the asset, which will be the color of the first chart played for all the duration of the turn. Once the started turn, the traditional rules of the belote apply: obligation to provide, obligation to cross, etc On the other hand, the advertisements - with the traditional direction of the belote - are not counted (belote and rebelote, third, “10 of der'” and others).

In a traditional part, one distributes 5 charts to each one: less there are players at the beginning, or less it remains about it in string and more it is difficult to carry out high scores and to estimate the value of the play of the adversary. It is of course possible of Bluff er to push the adversaries to assemble their biddings too high to make them lose the turn.

The advertisements are done on a fixed scale. The player having taken the hand must make exactly or more than the number of points which he announced. Each gained turn reduces its sheet from score, which generally counts 6 or 12 points at the beginning. The objective is to arrive at zero the first to leave the play, the last player remaining loses the part then. Any advertisement below 51 points is worth 1, between 51 and 70,2, between 71 and 90,3, etc If the player who took the hand does not fill his contract, they are all the different ones which reduces their score according to the starting advertisement. All the players present thus are temporarily brought together to make lose the turn with that which took the hand.

The sheet of score can be appeared as a sheet on which one defers the assessment of the turns. More often, one uses as many Dé S that there are players: one places from there a front each one. They present face 6 at the beginning of part and one turns the die according to the result to arrive at zero. The die of the outgoing player is withdrawn and the others remain in string. For a final score in 12 points, one makes two “turns” of die.

Many alternatives exist, and can, with goodwill players present, to apply during only one and even part. One can for example carry out a traditional card trick, with 5 charts each one, then to distribute only 4,3,2 or only one chart to increase the difficulty. It is also possible to turn over one or two charts of the play of each adversary, in order to make it possible all more precisely to estimate the number of points which the turn can report. One can also each one show his charts with the others without seeing them oneself: one exploits then only the value of the play of the adversaries, without having of another indication that the biddings launched by the latter.

There exists also an alternative called the “Lyons one”, in which one adds a “dog”. The players raise then on the value of their play, of that of the others and of the dog. The player who gains the starting bidding can start directly with his play, without taking the dog: this one is then lost and nobody can overbid. If, on the other hand, the dog interests it, it takes the charts which supplement its play as well as possible and replaces them. According to what it rejected, the other players can then overbid in order to recover in their turn one or two of the charts thus replaced. This alternative has as a characteristic often to push the rather high starting biddings, the adversaries ending up guessing without sorrow which would take which color like asset to begin the turn.

Glossary

the “ jouery ” means the way of playing and of apprehending subtleties.
a 21 means to have the Ace and the Ten of the same color in its play, is 2 master cards. More rarely one will say “the 25” (Ace, Ten, King). A player having one 21 can do one starts or take with the 10 and not with the Ace to render comprehensible with his partner whom it has also the Ace.
the 34 is the Servant of asset + the Fourteen (nine of asset which is worth fourteen points).
the 45 is the Servant of asset + Fourteen + the Ace.
the 55 is the Servant of asset + Fourteen + the Ace + the 10.
" charger" that consists in putting a strong chart (often have or one 10) on a fold gained by the partner, or a fold which one hopes for (when one is in second position) that the partner will gain. In this case one " charge with the aveuglette"

Random links:

Belote

Historical

Rules of the game

Order of the charts

Value of the charts

Mix charts

Gives

Card deck

Case of figure

Cross

True

Cap

Principal tactics of play

The asset

The choice of the asset

Calls

Dead ends

Ten of DER

Deduct points

Methods

Deduct with paper-pencil

Deduct with pawns

Particular case

Litigation

End of the part

Advertisements

Two schools

Belote/Rebelote

Third, fifty, hundred, square

Methods

Accounting of the advertisements

Alternatives

Others

Alternative with 3 players

Alternative with 2 players (known as " découverte")

Belote “of counter”

Glossary