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Game Basics
Players Cards Used Power Order and Values Selecting a Dealer Dealing Methods
Trump Selection Hand Organization Basics Quiz    

Players
   
   Bellot is played with 4 players (2 teams with 2 players).
   The game is played at a table with team members sitting across from each other.
   

Figure 1. Players at a Bellot Table

    
   

Cards Used
   
   Bellot only uses 32 cards from a regular 52 card playing deck.
   The following cards are used to form a Bellot deck: Sevens, Eights, Nines, Tens, Jacks, Queens, Kings and Aces.
    


Figure 2. Bellot Deck (32 cards)

     

Power Order and Values
   
   The table below lists the Power Order of cards in Bellot from strongest to weakest.
 
Trumps pts
Jack 20      
Nine (Minnel) 14
Ace 11
Ten 10
King  4
Queen 3
Eight  0
Seven 0
Non-trumps pts
Ace 11    
Ten 10
King 4
Queen 3
Jack 2
Nine 0
Eight 0
Seven 0

   Trumps is a designation given to a suit when a player / team Takes; the designation of Trumps makes that suit the most
   powerful cards for that Round. Notice the 7 and 8 of Trumps are worth 0 points but both cards are more powerful than any non-trump.
     
 

Selecting a Dealer
   
   Selecting the initial Dealer can be done in the following manner:
    
  • In a casual setting / game:  
    A dealer is randomly selected at the start of a game, usually it will be the person who wants to deal first.
  • In a formal / tournament setting use the high-card method: 
    Each player at the table is dealt a card, the person with the highest card becomes the first dealer of the game.
   The deal will continuously rotate to each player at the table in a counterclockwise motion until the game is finished.
   After shuffling the cards, the dealer must offer the player to their left the opportunity to cut the deck of cards prior to dealing.
  

Dealing Methods
 
   The 3 - 2 deal method (most common):

   Step 1: deal 3 cards from the top of the deck to the person on the right
   Step 2: deal 3 cards to your partner across the table
   Step 3: deal 3 cards to the player to the left
   Step 4: deal 3 cards to yourself

   Step 5: deal 2 more cards to the person on the right
   Step 6: deal 2 more cards to your partner across the table
   Step 7: deal 2 more cards to the player to the left 
   Step 8: deal 2 more cards to yourself

   Step 9: Place the remaining deck of cards in the center of the table.
   Step 10: Reveal the top card on the deck for Trump selection to begin (starting with the person on the dealer's right)

   Click the link to see: The 3 - 2 Deal Method

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   The 2 - 3 deal method:

   Step 1: deal 2 cards from the top of the deck to the person on the right
   Step 2: deal 2 cards to your partner across the table
   Step 3: deal 2 cards to the player to the left
   Step 4: deal 2 cards to yourself

   Step 5: deal 3 more cards to the person on the right
   Step 6: deal 3 more cards to your partner across the table
   Step 7: deal 3 more cards to the player to the left 
   Step 8: deal 3 more cards to yourself

   Step 9: Place the remaining deck of cards in the center of the table.
   Step 10: Reveal the top card on the deck for Trump selection to begin (starting with the person on the dealer's right)
  
  

Trump Selection
  

   After the cards are dealt, the person sitting to the Dealer's right will have the first chance to Take.
   Trump selection will rotate counterclockwise to each player at the table until the option returns to the Dealer. 
   If the Dealer knocks, Trump selection will continue around the table counterclockwise for a Second Time.

   If nobody takes Second Time, the player on the Dealer's right becomes the Dealer and the deal starts over.
    
   Click the links below to see examples:
  
   

Hand Organization
   
   It's important to organize your Hand; failure to organize your cards may result in overlooking Room or important cards.
   Either of the following methods is recommended:
 
   1. Organize your Hand by suit in Card Order to check for Room (most common):
   - We took Figure 3 and organized the Hand by suit in Card Order (Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7) to check for Room.
   - In Figure 4, it's easy to see our Tears in diamonds (9-8-7)

Figure 3. Unorganized Hand - Example 1

Figure 4. Hand Organized by suit in Card Order
 
 
   2. Organize your Hand by suit in Power Order:
   - We took Figure 5 and organized the Hand by suit in Power Order; useful to see the rank of the cards in your Hand.
   - Power Order (Trumps: Jack, 9, Ace, 10, King, Queen, 8, 7 --- Non-trumps: Ace, 10, King, Queen, Jack, 9, 8, 7)

Figure 5. Unorganized Hand - Example 2 (Hearts are Trumps)

Figure 6. Hand Organized by suit in Power Order (Hearts are Trumps)
 
   We also recommend organizing your Hand by alternating suit colors as seen in Figures 4 & 6
 
 

Basics Quiz  
  
   Testing your Bellot knowledge: Game Basics Quiz