Game rules in «Paired Belote»

Four players play in «Paired Belote», pair vs pair. The game begins with cards dealing. Five cards (3+2) are dealt to everybody, 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 following player circle-wise etc. If all four players said «Pass» the second round of bidding starts.

On the second bidding round a player who needs to do the first game action can choose a trump from any of the three left suits, to order the game WT (without a trump, no trump suits), TS (all trumps, all trump suits) or say «Pass». If a player said «Pass» then the right of the order passes to the following player. In case of eight «Passes» (all players said «Pass» on the first and on the second round of biddng) all-pass rounds are played with a trump suit of the opened card.

All points gained by a 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 Bella of the opponent is always considered as minus. After all-pass round and points counting the cards are dealt and the bidding repeats again. The right of the first game action goes clock-wise to the following player.

The game order means the obligation of the player who ordered the game, together with his partner with the specified trumps, to gain points on cards in their tricks and combinations more than the opponents will do. Players ordered the game are called «playing players», the opponents – «whisting players». After the game was ordered cards are dealt. The player ordered the game gets an opened card.

Combinations declaration

The combinations declaration and cards demonstration 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 (if not the highest combination is declared then further higher combinations can not be accepted even if the declared low combination will win). During the bidding combinations of the nearest opponents are compared. The cost of the won combinations is added to the points of the pair. If there are no combinations the player makes a lead.

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

Drawing

Then the drawing 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;
• At a lead in a trump it is obligatory to beat with a higher card (if available), moreover the partner trump also should be beaten;
  Feature: If the lead was made not in a trump suit and the player doesn’t have such a suit, and if by the moment of the lead the trick belongs to the Pair of the player, then it is not necessary to beat with a trump, it is possible to drop any card. If the lead was made not in a trump suit, no trump, the trick does not belong to the Pair of the player then it is obligatory to beat with a trump, moreover to beat the trump of the opponent.
• The highest card takes a trick;
• A player taken the previous trick leads;

Results calculation

At points counting the following things are taken into account:

• Points for the declared combinations (If the Pair of players didn’t take any tricks then the cost of combinations is not summed except Bella);
• 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 doubles including the last trick.

«Bide» - the playing Pair gained less points than the opponents. Their points are given to the opponents.

«Hanging bide» -if Pairs gained identical number of points. The playing Pair does not get anything and the whisting Pair writes the gained points. The Pair in the next deal (all-pass rounds are not considered) gained the biggest quantity of points, in addition gets «the hanging points» from the previous deal.

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

Game end

The Pair gained 1001 points earlier the other one wins. If both Pairs after the dealing gained more than 1001 points than the whisting Pair is considered the winner.

«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 Pair has really enough points for the winning it wins and if there are not enough points then the game is won by his opponent.