Counting your points easily when starting out

Counting in coinche feels scary at first, but it's simpler than it looks once you know the trick. A deal is worth 162 points, full stop, and only a handful of cards really matter. Get those into your head and the rest falls into place.

Memorise the big cards

The trick is to remember only the high-value cards. In trump: Jack 20, 9 14, Ace 11, 10 10. In side suits: Ace 11, 10 10. The rest (Kings, Queens, low cards) weighs little. Track the Jacks, 9s, Aces and 10s and you already have 80% of the count.

Don't forget the last trick

When totalling, add 10 points to the team that took the last trick. That's the last-trick bonus. It's what takes the total from 152 (the cards) to 162 (a full deal).

Checking the contract

Compare the bidding team's points with its contract. Reached = made, otherwise it fails and everything goes to the opponents. With the belote (trump King + Queen), add 20 points to whoever holds them.

Let the machine count

Early on, let yourself be helped: against the AI on Coincheur, scoring is automatic. You focus on the play and learn the values stress-free. Bit by bit, try estimating the total in your head before checking: you'll find your estimates quickly land very close to the real count. One last handy cue: think in bundles. An Ace plus a 10 in the same suit is already 21 points. The trump Jack and 9 together make 34 points. Reasoning by groups rather than card by card makes the maths far faster.

See also

FAQ

How many points in a deal of coinche?

162 points: 152 in the cards plus 10 for winning the last trick.

Which cards should you watch to count fast?

Above all the trump Jacks and 9s, and the Aces and 10s everywhere. Those make up most of the score.