Belote — free online Card game
France's favourite card game: take the turned card, the jack and nine of trumps rule, belote-rebelote and dix de der.
Belote is free to play in your browser: the classic French card game for four, you and a computer partner against two computer rivals, with a 32-card deck. After five cards each a card is turned up: take it to make its suit trumps, pass, or in the second round name another suit. The taker gets the turned card and everyone is dealt up to eight. In trumps the jack (20) and the nine (14) are the strongest cards, ahead of the ace and the ten. You must follow suit; if you can't, you must trump — and overtrump — unless your partner is already winning. The last trick is worth 10 (dix de der), the king and queen of trumps in one hand score 20 for belote-rebelote, and all eight tricks make a capot. The taking team must score more than the defence, or it goes dedans and the defence scores all 162. Play to 501 or 1000 points against three computer levels. No download, no sign-up.
Quick start
- Press Start. You play with the partner sitting opposite.
- When it is your turn to bid, press I take to make the turned card's suit trumps, or Pass. In the second round you may name another suit.
- Play by tapping a highlighted card — the game only lets you play legal cards.
- Take more points than the other team when you are the takers; first team to the target wins.
How to play Belote
- Belote uses 32 cards (7 to ace). Each player gets five cards and the next card is turned face up.
- First round: in turn, each player may take the turned card, making its suit trumps, or pass. If all pass, a second round lets each player name a different suit as trumps. If everyone passes again, the cards are dealt again.
- The taker picks up the turned card plus two more; the others get three, so everyone has eight.
- The player after the dealer leads. You must follow suit. If you can't, you must trump, and if a trump has already been played you must overtrump when you can — unless your partner is winning the trick, in which case you may play anything.
- When trumps are led, you must play a higher trump if you have one.
- Card points are counted at the end, plus 10 for the last trick (152 + 10 = 162). King and queen of trumps in one hand add 20 (belote-rebelote).
- If the taking team scores more than the defence, both teams score their points. If not, they are dedans: the defence scores 162. Winning all eight tricks is a capot, worth 250.
Card order and points
- Jack of trumps20
- The strongest card of the game.
- Nine of trumps14
- Second strongest trump.
- Ace11
- Highest card of a plain suit.
- Ten10
- Second in a plain suit.
- King · Queen4 · 3
- Jack (plain suit)2
- Low outside trumps.
- 9, 8, 7 (plain suits)0
Controls
- Use the buttons in the middle of the table to bid
- Tap a highlighted card to play it
- Enter or Space lets the computer decide your bid or card
Tips
- Take with the jack or the nine of trumps plus another trump or two — or a couple of aces.
- As takers, draw the trumps early so the defence can't trump your aces.
- When your partner is winning, load the trick with your tens and aces.
- Count the trumps: there are eight, and knowing when they are gone wins hands.
Frequently asked questions
Are there announcements like tierce or carré?
No. This version plays classic belote with belote-rebelote as the only announcement.
What is 'dedans'?
The takers failed: they scored no more than the defence, so the defence scores all 162 points.
Is this coinche?
No, it is the classic belote with a turned card; coinche (contrée) uses auction bidding.
Is Belote free?
Yes, completely free in your browser, with no download and no account.