Game rules in «Front belote»

Two players play in the game. The game begins with cards dealing. Three cards are dealt, six in total. One more card is opened.

Trump definition

Trump definition passes in two rounds. The first game action is done by the player who lost the previous game or (in the first game) defined by a lot. At first the opened card is offered as a trump suit. If it suits the player he says – «play», if not – «pass» and the next game action goes to the second player. If the second player accepts an open trump then he says – «play», if not – «pass». If any player said «play» in the first round then the suit of the opened card becomes a trump and the game goes to the next game stage.

If both players said «pass» on the first circle then it is possible to declare any other suit as a trump on the second circle (except the suit of the opened card), to order a game TS (all trump suits) or WT (without trumps). It is possible to say «pass» and then the right of the trump declaration passes to the second player. The second player either declares a trump or orders TS or says «pass». If players said «pass» then all-pass rounds are played with a trump suit of the opened card.

After the trump declaration three cards are dealt. So, 9 cards at hands. The bottom card is opened and put over a deck. A player who declared a trump becomes a «playing player». The second player is a «whisting player». The deck in the current game is not used further. Players see two opened cards.

All-pass rounds are played in the case when both players said «pass» twice – so, nobody declared a game. All points gained by the player in all-pass round will be considered as minus ones. Besides if a player took at least one trick all played combinations of the opponent will be considered for him as minus ones. The declared opponent’s Bella is always considered as a minus. After all-pass round and points counting the cards are dealt and the bidding repeats again.

Combinations declaration

At this stage it is found out which one of the players can write points for the combinations at hands (if they have it).

The combinations declaration and cards showing take place in the moment of the cards placing during the first trick. If a player has a combination then when placing the first card he can name it. If there are several combinations he declares the highest one because if the second player doesn’t beat the declared combination, then other combinations are declared but with the condition that they are not higher than the first one. Bella can be declared on any lead if at least one card from a pair is available.

Combinations and their ranking can be found on a page «Main game rules in Belote».

Drawing

Then the draw starts which consists that players take tricks. The first lead is done by the player who started the bidding in the current deal. Rules of tricks are the following:

• Suit needs to be placed on a lead suit, if no suit available then to beat by a trump;
• No suit and trump – to place any card;
• The highest card takes a trick;
• A player taken the previous trick leads;
• At a lead in a trump it is obligatory to beat, that is to beat with a trump which is higher than the previous one (if available).

Results calculation

At points counting the following things are taken into account:

• Points for the declared combinations;
• The sum of points in the taken tricks (according to the cost of cards);
• 10 points award in case of the last trick taking.
• If the contract WT (without trumps) was played then the sum of the gained points is doubled.

«Bide» - the playing player (i.e. the one who declared a trump) gained less points than the second player. His points are given to the opponent.

«Hanging bide» - the playing player and his opponent gained identical number of points. The playing player does not get anything and his opponent writes the gained points. The playing player’s points will be added to the player who wins the following deal.

The result of each drawing is summed to a total sum of the gained points.

Game end

The game goes on up to 1001 points. If both players gained necessary number of points then the whisting player wins.

«Finish» (Russian: «Doezd») - the preschedule game end. If a player is sure that the gained sum of points including the current deal is more or equal 1001 then he can declare «Finish» on his lead. If a player really has enough points for the winning he wins and if there are not enough points then the game is won by his opponent.