Blot rules for beginners: how to play Armenian Blot

Blot is an Armenian card game from the Belote family. Four people play in two pairs: partners sit opposite each other and score together. The deck has 32 cards, from seven up to ace.

Every round starts with bidding. Going around the table, each player can name a trump suit or pass. The player who takes the trump makes a commitment: their pair has to score more points in the round than the opponents. If the contract fails, the points of the round go to the other side.

The trump suit has its own order of cards. The highest are the jack and the nine, followed by the ace, ten, king, queen, eight and seven. In the other suits the order is the usual one for a 32-card deck. That is why the trump jack is the most important card of the round.

Combinations bring bonus points. A king and a queen of trumps in one hand are called belote and give +20. If one pair wins every trick of a round, that is a capot, and it scores +90. The whole game is played to 501 points, and the first pair to reach it wins.

Tips for beginners. Do not name a trump suit without the jack or the nine in it unless you trust your partner. Keep track of the cards that have already been played, so you know who may still hold high trumps. And remember your partner: sometimes it is better to let them take a trick than to beat it with your highest card.

You can play Armenian Blot online right on our site. It is free, and you can sit at a table with the computer or with real people.