Belote (Game)

Belote (French pronunciation: [bəlɔt]) is a 32-card, trick-taking game for 4 players popular in France. It is considered the national card game of France, played both casually and in gambling. The game belongs to the jass family characterized by the jack and nine of trump being the strongest trumps. It appeared around 1900 in France, and is a close relative of both Klaberjass (also known as bela) and klaverjas. Closely related games are played throughout the world. Definitive rules of the game were first published in French in 1921. Within the game's terminology, belote is used to designate a pair of a king and a queen of a trump suit, possibly yielding the game's name itself. Similar games are played in central Europe, Saudi Arabia (baloot) and in Cyprus (pilotta).