Card order in belote
In belote, the card strength order changes with trump. Two rankings to know, exactly the same as coinche.
Trump order
In trump, strongest to weakest:
| Rank | Card | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack | 20 |
| 2 | 9 | 14 |
| 3 | Ace | 11 |
| 4 | 10 | 10 |
| 5 | King | 4 |
| 6 | Queen | 3 |
| 7 | 8 | 0 |
| 8 | 7 | 0 |
That is: Jack > 9 > Ace > 10 > King > Queen > 8 > 7.
Non-trump order
In a plain suit, strongest to weakest:
| Rank | Card | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ace | 11 |
| 2 | 10 | 10 |
| 3 | King | 4 |
| 4 | Queen | 3 |
| 5 | Jack | 2 |
| 6 | 9 | 0 |
| 7 | 8 | 0 |
| 8 | 7 | 0 |
That is: Ace > 10 > King > Queen > Jack > 9 > 8 > 7.
The trap to remember
The Jack and the 9 “rise” in trump and “fall back” outside trump. That is the only real subtlety of the order, and the classic beginner mistake: assuming the Ace always wins. Outside trump it does, but in trump the humble Jack crushes the Ace.
Memory trick: in trump think “Jack-Nine first”; outside trump think “Ace-Ten first”. The rest (King, Queen) follows the same order in both cases. This order is identical to coinche: find it with detailed values on belote card values or the coinche card values page.
See also
FAQ
What is the strongest card in belote?
In trump it is the Jack, followed by the 9. Outside trump it is the Ace, followed by the 10.
What is the trump card order?
Jack, 9, Ace, 10, King, Queen, 8, 7 (strongest to weakest).
Is the order the same in coinche?
Yes, exactly the same. Coinche is contract belote: neither the order nor the values change.