1 – Setup

Number of players: 4
Number of cards: 32 (8 per player)
Direction of the game: Clockwise
Team game: Players from 2 teams ("North-South" and  "East-West")

Value and order of the cards:

2 - Dealing

Contrée on Belote.com is a variation of Belote and is very similar to Coinche. In Contrée, the cards are dealt at the beginning of each round and each player receives 8 cards (3 cards are dealt to each player, followed by 2, and then 3).

3 - Bidding

Contrée is a Belote bidding game. Depending on the game, each player can “announce” the number of points they think they might achieve for their chosen trump suit.

Once dealing is completed, each player announces a number of points, a trump, or they have the choice to “pass”. The players to the left take turns to bid on their turn but must raise the current bid. For example, if the opening player announces "100 hearts", the next player can only bid from "110". Possible bids are as follows: 80, 90, 100,110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 260 (Capot), 500 (general).

“Contrée and Surcontrée!”

This is the reasoning behind the name "Contrée’". If a player believes that their opponents will fail to fulfill the announced contract, they can say "contrée".

“Contrée” is a way to earn more points and occurs when the betting team cannot fulfill their contract. If their opponents succeed in fulfilling their contract, their point score is doubled!

If a team was playing for “contrée” and they still feel they can complete their contract, they have the option to say “surcontrée”. “Surcontrée” quadruples the announcer’s points if they succeed in fulfilling the contract.

If none of the players wish to participate in the bid, the cards are dealt again.

This means a Contrée game can only begin once the bidding phase has ended.

4. Playing the game

The game is played in the same way as Coinche with the exception of scoring.

Note: If a player receives both the King and Queen in the trump suit, they will receive 20 points, regardless of the order they choose to play their cards. This is called “Belote-rebelote’.

5. Scoring

There are two possible scenarios:

• The team that has fulfilled their contract scores the points gained + the belote- rebelote bonus.
• The team did not fulfill their contract and only scored points for the possible belote-rebelote. The opposing team wins 162 points, the opposing team’s points, and the belote-rebelote points.

It should be noted that to fulfill their contract, the betting team is not required to reach a minimum of 82 points. The team must simply achieve the minimum points defined by the contract, which Belote can help to achieve.

For a contract of 80 Spades: the team only needs to achieve exactly 80 points. For example,50 points + 10 points from “Dix de Der” + 20 points Beloteto fulfill the contract.

If the betting team was playing “contrée” and fulfill their contract, they will score the points achieved, double the number of their contract points, and the potential belote points.

If the defending team (that said “contrée”) wins the round, they receive 162 points, double the number of their contract points and the potential belote points.

In the event of a dispute, the betting team loses its points. In the event of “capot”, the last fold is worth 100 points. For a general (a player who wins all the tricks), the last trick is worth 350 points.

If the two teams are tied (the total score of the game is identical), the team which wins the last round is then designated as the winner of the game.

Try it for yourself 😀  and have fun on Belote.com!