Objective of the Game
Bela is a trick-taking card game popular in countries like Croatia, Serbia, and Bulgaria. The game involves two teams of two players each competing to win more points by capturing tricks than the opposing team.
Game Materials
- A 32-card deck, consisting of cards from 7 to Ace in the suits of Clubs, Spades, Hearts, and Diamonds.
- Game pad and pen for scoring.
Setup
- Form two teams of two players each. Team members sit opposite each other.
- Shuffle the 32-card deck thoroughly.
- Determine a dealer who deals five cards to each player initially.
Rules
-
Determining Trump: After the first five cards are dealt, the top card of the remaining stack is flipped over. The suit of this card becomes the initial trump. Players arrange their hands, and the game begins.
-
Declarations: The team to the right of the dealer must decide whether to accept this trump or not. If not, each player gets a chance to choose an alternative trump. If no trump is accepted, the cards are reshuffled and the dealer changes.
-
Playing Tricks: The game is played in rounds where each player plays a card. Players must follow suit if able. If unable to do so, they may play a trump or any other card. The highest trump or the highest card in the led suit wins the trick.
-
Scoring: After each round, points are tallied. Card values are as follows:
- Ace: 11 points
- Ten: 10 points
- King: 4 points
- Queen: 3 points
- Jack: 2 points
- Nine (only in trump suit): 14 points
-
Eight, Seven, Nine (other suits): 0 points
-
Winning a Round: The team with the most points at the end of the round wins. There is also a bonus for capturing all tricks.
Special Rules
-
Belot Declaration: If a player has the Queen and King of the trump suit in their hand, they can declare "Bela," earning an additional 20-point bonus.
-
Kaput: If a team fails to win any tricks, the other team receives all the points for that round.
Strategy
- Team communication is key to playing cards effectively and collecting points.
- Keep track of which cards have been played to calculate the probability of remaining cards in play.
Ending the Game
The game typically ends when a team reaches a predetermined score, like 500 points.
Enjoy playing Bela! It is a strategic and entertaining game where teamwork and communication are keys to success.
