Card values in belote
In belote, every card has a point value that changes depending on whether it is trump or not. Good news: these values are identical to coinche.
Why two scales?
A card is not worth the same if its suit is trump or not. In trump, the Jack and the 9 become the top cards; outside trump, the Ace rules. So you need both tables. This is the first thing to learn in belote, because all the scoring and all the strategy flow from it.
The deck has 32 cards (7 to Ace, in four suits). Of those 32, only eight become trump each deal: those are the ones that change value. The other 24 keep the plain-suit scale. Keep this logic in mind: a card is only strong relative to the context of the deal.
Trump values
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Jack | 20 |
| 9 | 14 |
| Ace | 11 |
| 10 | 10 |
| King | 4 |
| Queen | 3 |
| 8 | 0 |
| 7 | 0 |
In trump, the Jack (20) and the 9 (14) take over: these are the cards to watch.
Non-trump (plain suit) values
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Ace | 11 |
| 10 | 10 |
| King | 4 |
| Queen | 3 |
| Jack | 2 |
| 9 | 0 |
| 8 | 0 |
| 7 | 0 |
Outside trump, the Jack drops to 2 points and the 9 is worthless: their strength is tied to trump.
Belote and coinche: same values
Coinche (or contract belote) uses exactly the same scale. If you know belote values, you know coinche values. For worked examples, see our coinche card values page.
See also
FAQ
How much is the trump Jack worth in belote?
The trump Jack is worth 20 points, the highest card in the game. Outside trump, the Jack is only worth 2 points.
How much is the 9 worth in belote?
The trump 9 is worth 14 points (the second strongest card). Outside trump, the 9 is worth 0.
Are the values the same in coinche?
Yes, exactly the same. Coinche is contract belote: the card scale does not change.