Belote coinchée and coinche: the same game?

Good news: belote coinchée and coinche are the same game. "Belote coinchée" is simply the full name of what we shorten to "coinche".

Why two names?

Coinche grew out of belote. The word coinche comes from the act of coincher (doubling an opponent's contract judged too ambitious). Since this doubling is the game's big novelty, people spoke of "belote coinchée", soon shortened to "coinche".

How does it differ from classic belote?

Classic belote: trump is chosen by turning up a card; bidding is very simple (take or pass).
Belote coinchée / coinche: real numbered bidding (from 80 to capot), the taker freely chooses trump, and opponents can double (×2) or redouble (×4).

And where does contrée fit in?

"Contrée" is another regional name for the same kind of game with doublable bidding. The nuances between coinche and contrée vary by region and table, but the core (numbered bidding + doubling) is identical. It's best to agree on exact conventions before playing.

Want to practise? Play coinche for free against tunable AIs on Coincheur.

See also

FAQ

Are belote coinchée and coinche the same?

Yes, it's exactly the same game. Coinche is short for belote coinchée. The name comes from the act of coinching, that is doubling an opponent's contract.

What's the difference from classic belote?

Classic belote has very simple bidding and trump set by a turned-up card. Coinche adds real numbered bidding, free choice of trump, and the ability to double (×2) or redouble (×4).