Game Basics

Players

Bellot is played with 4 players: 2 teams of 2 players. The game is played at a table with teammates sitting across from each other.

Cards Used

Bellot uses only 32 cards from a regular 52-card deck: Sevens, Eights, Nines, Tens, Jacks, Queens, Kings and Aces.

Power Order and Values

The table below lists the Power Order of cards in Bellot, from strongest to weakest.

Trumps is the designation given to a suit when a player / team Takes; it makes the selected suit the most powerful for the Round.

Selecting a Dealer

Selecting the initial Dealer can be done two ways:

• In a casual game: a dealer is randomly selected at the start — usually whoever wants to deal first.
• In a formal or tournament setting, use the high-card method: each player is dealt a card, and the person with the highest card becomes the first dealer.

The dealer position continuously rotates to each player at the table counterclockwise until the game finishes. After shuffling, the dealer must offer the player to their left the chance to cut the deck before dealing.

Dealing Methods

The 3–2 deal method (most common)

1. Deal 3 cards to the player on your right.
2. Deal 3 cards to your partner across the table.
3. Deal 3 cards to the player on your left.
4. Deal 3 cards to yourself.
5. Deal 2 more cards to the player on your right.
6. Deal 2 more cards to your partner.
7. Deal 2 more cards to the player on your left.
8. Deal 2 more cards to yourself.
9. Place the remaining deck in the center of the table.
10. Reveal the top card of the deck — Trump selection begins with the player to the dealer's right.

See a photo walkthrough of the 3–2 deal method →

The 2–3 deal method

1. Deal 2 cards to the player on your right.
2. Deal 2 cards to your partner across the table.
3. Deal 2 cards to the player on your left.
4. Deal 2 cards to yourself.
5. Deal 3 more cards to the player on your right.
6. Deal 3 more cards to your partner.
7. Deal 3 more cards to the player on your left.
8. Deal 3 more cards to yourself.
9. Place the remaining deck in the center of the table.
10. Reveal the top card of the deck — Trump selection begins with the player to the dealer's right.

Trump Selection

After the cards are dealt, the player sitting to the Dealer's right gets the first chance to Take. Trump selection rotates counterclockwise until it returns to the Dealer.

If the Dealer knocks, Trump selection continues around the table counterclockwise for a Second Time. If nobody takes on the Second Time, the player to the Dealer's right becomes the new Dealer and the deal starts over.

Examples:

• No Players Take
• Player 3 Takes (First Time)
• Player 2 Takes (Second Time)

Hand Organization

It's important to organize your hand — failing to organize your hand could lead to overlooking Room or other important cards. Either of the following methods is recommended.

1. Organize by suit in Card Order (most common)

Sort each suit in Card Order (Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7) to make Room easy to spot. In Figure 4 below, the Tears in diamonds (9-8-7) is easily noticed compared to the Unorganized hand in Figure 3.

2. Organize by suit in Power Order

Sort each suit in Power Order (Trumps: Jack, 9, Ace, 10, King, Queen, 8, 7 — Non-trumps: Ace, 10, King, Queen, Jack, 9, 8, 7) to quickly see the rank of the cards in your hand.

We also recommend alternating suit colors in your hand, as shown in Figures 4 & 6.

Basics Quiz

Test your Bellot knowledge with the Game Basics Quiz.