Bridge-Belote is a popular and exciting card game that is a combination of two classic games, Bridge and Belote. It is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and requires four players, divided into two teams of two. In this game, communication and strategy are key, making it a favorite amongst card game enthusiasts.

To set up the game, remove all the jokers from the deck and shuffle the cards thoroughly. Then, deal 13 cards to each player, starting with the player to the left of the dealer and moving clockwise. The remaining cards are placed in a stack face down in the center of the table, forming the draw pile.

The objective of Bridge-Belote is to earn points by winning tricks throughout each round of play. The first team to reach 501 points wins the game. Each round consists of three parts: bidding, playing, and scoring.

Bidding starts with the player to the left of the dealer and moves clockwise. Players must make a bid by stating the number of tricks their team believes they can win in the round, as well as the suit they want as the trump suit for that round. A player can choose to pass if they do not want to bid. The minimum bid is 80, and the maximum is 162. The highest bidder gets to choose the trump suit, and the other team becomes the defense team. The player who makes the bid also becomes the declarer for that round.

Once the bidding is complete, the playing portion begins. The declarer leads the first card, and the other players must follow suit if they can. If they cannot, they can play any card they want. The player who plays the highest card of the suit led wins the trick. If a trump suit was chosen, then the highest trump card wins the trick. The declarer’s team earns points for each trick they win, while the defensive team earns points for stopping the declarer from reaching their bid.

Scoring is done at the end of each round. If the declarer’s team reaches their bid, they earn points equal to their bid, plus 10 points for each trick won. If the declarer’s team fails to reach their bid, they deduct points equal to their bid from their score. The defensive team always earns points equal to the number of tricks they won, regardless of the declarer’s bid.

This continues until one team reaches 501 points, and they are declared the winners. It is important to note that if a team reaches 501 points in the middle of a round, the round is still completed, and points are still earned.

In conclusion, Bridge-Belote is a game with simple rules but requires strategic bidding and playing to win. With practice, players can develop their communication and teamwork skills while having a fun and competitive card game experience. So gather your friends and try your hand at this exciting game of Bridge-Belote!