How to Win at Belote: Bidding and Card-Play Tips
Belote is won over many deals, not in a single hand. Every deal is worth 162 points, plus 20 for Belote-Rebelote, and the biggest swings come from contracts: a failed one hands all 162 points to the defenders, while a Capot is worth 250. This guide covers when to take trumps, how to play as the taker and as the defender, and the small habits that add up on the way to 1000.
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Take trumps only when you can make it
To make the contract your team must score more than the defenders, which usually means at least 82 of the 162 points. The Jack of trumps (20 points) and the Nine (14) are the heart of a good hand, so count them first, and remember that the turned-up card joins your hand if you take. The Jack or Nine of trumps with one more trump and a side Ace is a fair start; Jack, Nine and another trump is strong.
Passing on a weak hand costs nothing, but a failed contract gives away a whole deal. In the second round you may name any suit except the turned-up one, so if your five cards are strong in another suit, wait for that chance instead of taking a poor trump in round one.
As the taker, draw the trumps first
When you hold the Jack of trumps, lead it early. When trumps are led, everyone must follow and play a higher trump if they can, so a few trump leads strip the defenders of the trumps they would use to cut your Aces. Once the trumps are gone, cash your side Aces and Tens safely.
Count trumps as they fall: there are eight in the suit. When you know how many are still out and who might hold them, you know whether a side Ace will survive or be trumped.
Feed points to your partner
When your partner is sure to win the trick, add a Ten or an Ace to it: that is 10 or 11 points for your team at no risk. You do not have to trump when your partner is already winning, so you can keep your trumps and drop points instead.
When the other team is winning a trick, do the opposite and throw your 7s, 8s and side 9s, which are worth nothing. A bare Ten is a liability, so lead the Ace of a suit before its Ten, and avoid leading a Ten while the Ace is still out.
Use the trumping rules against your rivals
If a player cannot follow suit and their partner is not winning, they must trump and beat any trump already played. Leading a suit in which a defender is void forces them to spend a trump, which is useful when you want to shorten their trumps, but costly if the trick holds your Ace or Ten. Keep track of which suits each player has run out of.
Play for the last trick, Belote and Capot
The last trick is worth 10 extra points, so try to keep a high trump or a sure winner for the end. Belote-Rebelote is worth 20 to the team that holds the King and Queen of trumps, and it counts when deciding whether the contract is made. If your team has won every trick so far, keep your best cards to finish the sweep: a Capot scores 250 instead of 162.
Questions
- How many points does the taking team need?
- More than the defenders, counting Belote. Without Belote on either side, that means at least 82 of the 162 points.
- Do I have to trump when my partner is winning the trick?
- No. If you cannot follow suit and your partner is winning, you may play any card, which is the perfect moment to add a Ten or an Ace.
- Can I play Belote online?
- Yes. Play online with friends in teams of two, partners sitting opposite; if someone leaves, a bot takes over their seat. You can also play with a computer partner against two computer rivals.
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