Coinche, contrée, contract belote: one game, many names
Coinche, contrée, contract belote... These words actually refer to the same game, or very close cousins. Let's sort out the names.
Coinche and contrée: two words, one game
Coinche and contrée mean essentially the same thing: a belote where you bid a contract and can "coinche" (double) the opponents. Coinche is very common in south-east France, contrée elsewhere. The differences are mostly vocabulary and small conventions. We compare them on coinche vs contrée.
Contract belote: the long name
Contract belote ("belote contrée") is the full name that recalls its origin: a belote to which a bidding system and the option to double were added. It is therefore a synonym for coinche/contrée. See the contract belote page.
The southern names
In the south, you'll hear Marseille coinche or Provençal coinche. Again, the underlying game is the same; these names mostly point to local table habits (bidding style, partnership conventions) rather than a genuinely different rule set.
Quick recap
| Name | What it means |
|---|---|
| Coinche | The game; common term in the south-east |
| Contrée | The same game; common term elsewhere |
| Contract belote | Full name (belote + bidding + double) |
| Marseille / Provençal coinche | Same rules, southern table conventions |
Whatever the name, you can play a hand with the same rules.
See also
FAQ
Are coinche and contrée the same?
Yes, essentially: they are two names for the same game. Coinche is mainly used in south-east France, contrée elsewhere; the gaps are limited to vocabulary and small conventions.
Is contract belote a different game?
No, it's the full name of coinche: a belote enriched with bidding and the option to double (coinche) the opponents.
Why so many names?
The game spread region by region with local names. The names change, but the core rules stay the same.