Playing a Game | PlayBellot.com

A game consists of many Rounds of card play; the Taking team must collect half of the Round's points to avoid Going Down. A team accrues points by taking as many Lifts as possible — a Round has 8 Lifts.

The four scenarios below walk through the rules governing card play. To follow along, it helps to know the Power Order and point values of the cards by heart — most people let beginners keep a cheat sheet handy while they learn.

Scenario 1 Follow Suit

Rule: A player may Lead Off with any suit. The other players must play the same suit if the have it.

Strategy: If you determine your team won't take the Lift, play your lowest-value card in that suit.

Player 1 leads off with the Ace of Hearts (not Trumps). Player 2 has a heart and plays the Nine of Hearts (0 points). Player 3 has a heart and plays the Seven of Hearts. Player 4 has a heart and plays the Jack of Hearts (2 points).

Players 2 and 4 play their least valuable Hearts to avoid contributing points into a Lift that belongs to Players 1 and 3. The Lift belongs to Player 1, who had the highest Heart — Player 1 leads off the next Lift.

Illustration of Scenario 1: following suit

Scenario 2 Trumps Played

Rule: When a player leads off with Trumps, the other players must Go Over the highest Trump on the table if they're able to.

Player 1 leads off with the Ace of Spades (Trumps). Player 2 has a Trump and plays the Nine/Minnel of Spades (14 points). Player 3 has a Trump and plays the Jack of Spades. Player 4 has a Trump and plays the Seven of Spades (0 points).

Player 2 had to Go Over Player 1's card because Trumps were called, and could because they held Minnel. Player 3 held the Jack and went over the Minnel. Player 4 couldn't go over the Jack, so they played the Seven of Trumps for 0 points. The Lift belongs to Player 3, who had the highest Trump (Jack) — Player 3 leads off the next Lift.

Illustration of Scenario 2: a Trump led, others going over

Scenario 3 Can't Match Suit

Rule: If a player starts with a suit you don't have, but you have a Trump, you must Trump the Lift. If the Lift has already been Trumped by an opponent and you still don't have the suit, you must Trump too — with a higher Trump if you can (Go Over), or your lowest Trump if you can't (Hug).

Player 1 leads off with the Ten of Diamonds (not Trumps). Player 2 has no Diamonds and Trumps the Lift with the Ace of Clubs (Trumps this Round). Player 3 has no Diamonds but holds a Club (Trump) lower than the Ace, so plays their lowest Trump, the Eight of Clubs (0 points). Player 4 does have a Diamond and plays the King of Diamonds.

The Lift belongs to Player 2, who Trumped it and wasn't Gone Over — Player 2 leads off the next Lift.

Illustration of Scenario 3: being void in the led suit

Scenario 4 Partner already Trumped

Rule: If your partner already Trumped the Lift because they didn't hold the called suit, and you also don't hold it, you don't have to Trump — your partner already has possession of the Lift.

Player 1 leads off with the King of Clubs (not Trumps). Player 2 has no Clubs and Trumps the Lift with the Eight of Diamonds (Trumps this Round). Player 3 has neither Clubs nor Diamonds and plays a low card, the Seven of Hearts (0 points). Player 4 also has no Clubs, but since the Lift is already Trumped by their partner (Player 2), Player 4 doesn't need to Trump — they play the King of Spades instead.

The Lift belongs to Player 2, who Trumped it and wasn't Gone Over — Player 2 leads off the next Lift.

Illustration of Scenario 4: partner already trumped the lift