Glossary | PlayBellot.com

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Bellot: Not only the name of the game, but also a call worth extra points. If a single player holds both the King and Queen of Trumps, they must say “Bellot” when they play the first of the two cards, and “Re-bellot” when they play the second card — earning their team 20 additional points. Failing to announce either forfeits the points. Likely from the French word Belote.

Called: Asking “What was Called?” means asking which suit was led at the start of the Lift.
Carry: Four of a kind — see Keeping Score for values. Likely from the French word Carré.
Came Out / Come Out / Coming Out: At the start of a Round, the player to the Dealer's right Comes Out; afterward, whoever took the previous Lift Comes Out next. They may lead any suit — it's common for the Taking team to Come Out with Trumps. Same as Leading Off.
Cut: The player to the Dealer's left cuts the deck — splitting it in half and placing one half on the other without exposing the bottom card.

Down: What happens when the Taking team fails to collect at least half the Round's points — all points go to the other team.

First / First Time: The first pass of Trump selection after the deal, starting with the player to the Dealer's right and rotating counterclockwise. If the Dealer Knocks without anyone taking, selection continues for a Second Time.
Flag / Flagged: When one team takes all 8 Lifts in a Round, the other team is Flagged. The Flagging team gets 250 points; the Flagged team gets a small flag mark in their score column. A team with the highest Room keeps it even if they gave or received the Flag.
Flash / Flashing: Declaring that your remaining hand is dominant enough to take every remaining Lift in the Round. You must be able to show the order you'd have played the cards to prove it — if you're not sure, just play the Round out.

Go Over / Going Over: Playing a Trump stronger than any currently on the table. When Trumps are called, you must Go Over if you're able to. Trumps Power Order (strongest to weakest): Jack, Minnel (9), Ace, Ten, King, Queen, Eight, Seven. Same as Over / Over Trump.
Good Playing Cards / Good Playing Hand: A hand with a few smaller Trumps or Aces, Tens, and Kings — not strong enough to Take, but good support for your partner or for putting the other team Down.

Hand: The cards you're holding — 8 cards at the start of a Round.
Hit Me: Something a player says about a suit in their hand that can take Lifts, without revealing which suit to their partner.
Hug / Hugging / Hug up: When your partner leads a suit an opponent can't follow and they Trump it, and you also can't follow that suit and don't hold a higher Trump, you must still Trump the Lift — using your lowest Trump.

Knocked / Knocking / Knock(s): At the start of Trump selection, knocking on the table means you're passing on the exposed card (or, during Second Time, that you don't want to play that hand). A second, older meaning — knocking mid-Round to signal your partner to return a suit — is no longer accepted in Bellot games.

Last / Last Lift: The team that takes the final Lift of a Round earns 10 additional points.
Lead Off / Leading Off / Leads Off: Same as Coming Out — the player who opens a Lift, either the player to the Dealer's right at the start of the Round, or whoever won the previous Lift.
Lift: One card played by each of the 4 players — 4 cards total.

Minnel: The Nine of Trumps, pronounced “Min–nel.”
Minnel Bare: Holding only one Trump, and it's the Minnel.
Misdeal: An improperly dealt hand, per the rules in Game Basics. The same dealer reshuffles, re-cuts, and deals again.

Over / Over Trump: Same as Go Over / Going Over — playing a Trump stronger than any currently on the table, required when able.

Pack: Asking “Who's turn to Pack?” means asking who deals next.
Pull Trumps / Pulling Trumps: Leading Trumps early after Taking, to strip the powerful Trumps out of your opponents' hands.

Re-bellot: See Bellot — the second announcement, made when playing the second of the King/Queen of Trumps pair. Also earns 20 points if announced.
Room: Bonus points added to a single Round — see Keeping Score.
Round: A Round of Bellot consists of 8 Lifts.

Second / Second Time: The second pass of Trump selection, after everyone has Knocked on the first pass — each player gets a chance to call a different suit as Trumps before the rest of the cards are dealt.

Take / Takes / Taking / Took: The player or team who added the exposed top card to their hand.
Tears: Three cards in sequence, same suit, worth 20 points. Likely from the French word Tierce.
Throw In / Throwing In: Conceding a bad Take before the Round is out, handing the Round's points to the other team without playing out the count.
Trumps: The suit designated most powerful for the Round by the Taking player/team. Power order: Jack, Minnel (9), Ace, Ten, King, Queen, Eight, Seven.