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Proposed:
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Score
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East/West: {{ teamScores.EW }}
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Settings
Gameplay
Interface & Experience
AI vs AI Mode
How to Play Belote
Belote is a 4-player trick-taking card game with partners.
Objective
Score points by winning tricks containing valuable cards and by announcing combinations (declarations). The first team to reach the target score (default 1000, configurable in Settings) wins.
The Deck
32 cards: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7 in 4 suits (Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs).
Card Values (Points)
In Trump Suit: J (20), 9 (14), A (11), 10 (10), K (4), Q (3), 8 (0), 7 (0)
In Non-Trump Suit: A (11), 10 (10), K (4), Q (3), J (2), 9 (0), 8 (0), 7 (0)
Dealing & Bidding
Players sit opposite their partners (North/South vs. East/West).
Dealer deals 5 cards to each player. The next card is turned face-up (proposed trump).
Starting left of dealer, players can "Take" (accepting the suit as trump) or "Pass".
If someone takes, they get the face-up card. Dealing continues (3 cards to others, 2 to taker) so everyone has 8 cards. The team who took are "Attackers".
If all pass, a second bidding round occurs. Players can name any *other* suit as trump, or pass. If a suit is chosen, dealing completes (3 cards to all).
If all pass again, cards are re-dealt by the next dealer.
Declarations
Belote-Rebelote: Having the King and Queen of the trump suit. Announce "Belote" when playing the first, "Rebelote" for the second. Worth 20 points.
Full Declarations (Optional Setting): If enabled in Settings, other sequences can be declared before the first trick is played (or when the first card of the sequence is played, depending on house rules - this version checks after trump is set).
Tierce: Sequence of 3 cards of the same suit (e.g., 7-8-9). Worth 20 points.
Quarte: Sequence of 4 cards of the same suit. Worth 50 points.
Quinte: Sequence of 5 cards of the same suit. Worth 100 points.
Carré (Four of a Kind):
Four Jacks: 200 points.
Four Nines: 150 points.
Four Aces, Kings, Queens, Tens: 100 points.
(Four 7s and 8s are typically not scored as Carrés in many Belote variants).
Only the highest declaration (or Carre over sequence) per player counts if multiple are possible. If teams have declarations of equal value (e.g., both have a Tierce), usually only the one with the highest ranking card counts, or if still tied, the one in trump suit, or if still tied, the one held by the player earliest in turn order from the dealer. (This game simplifies: all valid declarations score for the team).
Playing the Game
Player left of dealer leads the first trick.
Players must follow suit if possible.
If unable to follow suit, they MUST play a trump card if they have one.
If they must play trump, and a trump is already leading the trick or has been played that could win, they MUST play a higher trump if possible ("over-trumping"). This also applies if the lead suit *is* trump; you must play higher if you can.
If no suit and no trump (or can't over-trump/win as required), play any card.
The highest trump card wins the trick. If no trumps are played, the highest card of the suit led wins.
Winner of the trick leads the next trick. This continues for 8 tricks.
Scoring
Points are totaled from cards won in tricks.
Add points for any declared Belote-Rebelote or Full Declarations.
Last trick ("Dix de Der"): 10 points for the team winning it.
The Attacking team must score at least 82 points (their trick points + their declarations).
If successful: Both teams score their points.
If they fail ("Chute"): The Defending team scores ALL points from the round (162 total card points + all declarations from both teams). Attackers get 0.
Capot (winning all 8 tricks): 250 points for the round (instead of card points + Dix de Der). Attackers automatically succeed. Opponents get their declarations.
AI Behavior
The AI will try to make logical bids based on hand strength and play cards strategically. "Hard" difficulty AI will also be aware of potential Full Declarations if enabled.
Tutor Mode
When "Tutor Mode" is on (in Settings), the game will provide explanations for AI moves and guidance on rules for human players. When you hover over a playable card during your turn, it will also provide a hint about that specific card.
Next AI Step Button
In "AI vs AI" game mode, this button allows you to manually advance the game one AI action at a time, especially when AI Autoplay is paused. This is useful for observing AI decisions closely.