Game Rules
Pilotta (Palatisti)
Pilotta is a card game for 4 players and is played with a deck of 32 cards.
The players facing each other form the two teams. The order of player is anti-clockwise. The aim of the game is to be on the team to reach the predetermined points total first, which can vary and for the purpose of tournaments and games on Betomall depends on tournament level or stake. The target win points is displayed for each game on the website.
Trump Selection
Each player receives 8 cards. Each player in turn has the opportunity to call a trump suit. A game value and a suit must be called. If a subsequent player also wishes to call a trump, he/she must choose a higher game value. The game values start from 80 points and increase in blocks of 10 points. “Capot” can also be called. This signifies that all of the tricks have to be taken and that the game is worth 250 points. If a player does not wish to call a trump, he/she can simply pass. Once all of the remaining players have passed following a call the trump is fixed. The opponents have the choice to declare “Double” or “Contra” to double the game value. This can be countered with a call of “Redouble” or “Recontra” by the player who selected the trump and his/her partner. This once again doubles the value.
Order of Play
Following the trump selection the forehand begins the game. The next player must follow suit. If a trump is played, the players must take the trick if possible. If the player cannot follow suit then they must play trump.
The highest trump card wins the trick. If no trump is played, the highest card of the played suit wins the trick. The following ranking applies: Jack, 9, Ace, 10, King, Queen, 8, 7 (for the trump suit) and Ace, 10, King, Queen, Jack, 9, 8, 7 (for the other suits). The player, who takes the trick, begins the next.
Declarations in the game are allowed when beginning the game. During the first trick, it is possible to make a call. Players may call the value of their highest declaration. Two types of declarations are acceptable, a sequence and a “carre”. A sequence consists of at least 3 consecutive cards of the same suit. A “carre” consists of four cards of the same value.
The points from calls are added to those from the tricks. However, only the team with the highest call can score points. The following applies:
- A carre is always higher than a sequence.
- A higher carre beats a lower carre.
The length of the sequence decides. If the length is equal, the higher ranking sequence wins. If the rank of the sequences is equal, the sequence made up of the trump suit wins. Otherwise, no sequence wins and no points are counted.
If a player holds the trump Queen and King, he/she can call ‘Belote’. As the first of these cards is laid, the player calls "Belote". As the second is played, "Rebelote" is called. Twenty bonus points are awarded to the team.
Points
For each trick won, the total number of points within the trick is awarded.
The following applies for the trump suit:
- Jack: 20 Points
- 9: 14 Points
- Ace: 11 Points
- 10: 10 Points
- King: 4 Points
- Queen: 3 Points
- 7 & 8: 0 Points
The following applies for the other suits:
- Ace: 11 Points
- 10: 10 Points
- King: 4 Points
- Queen: 3 Points
- Jack: 2 Points
- 7, 8 & 9: 0 Points
The following points are awarded for calls:
- Belote-Rebelote: 20 Points
- Sequence of 3: 20 Points
- Sequence of 4: 50 Points
- Sequence of 5: 100 Points
- Four Jacks: 200 Points
- Four 9s: 150 Points
- Other Carre: 100 Points
Points Calculation
The points from all of the tricks are added up. Ten points are awarded for the last trick. If a team collects all tricks then it receives a total of 250 points instead. 20 points are awarded for ‘Belote-Rebelote’ and any declarations. If the team, which called the trump suit, has reached the game value points total then it also receives the points for the game value. If, however the trump-calling team failed to reach the points total, all of the points go to the other team and they receive 0. For scoring purposes the total points are divided by 10 and rounded off, so if for example the score is 287 - 43 then the score recorded for the round is 29 – 4. Only one team can round up and the other must round down. The team with the highest remainder (after division by 10) for the trick taking points rounds their points up. Since the total number of trick taking points are 162 then it is possible that both teams have a remainder of 6 in which case the team with more points (from trick taking) rounds up.
Classic Pilotta
Classic Pilotta is a card game for 4 players and is played with a deck of 32 cards.
The players facing each other form the two teams. The order of player is anti-clockwise. The aim of the game is to be on the team to reach the predetermined points total first, which can vary and for the purpose of tournaments and games on Betomall depends on tournament level or stake. The target win points is displayed for each game on the website.
Trump Selection
Each player receives 5 cards and one if turned upside up on the table. Each player in turn has the opportunity to accept the suit of the card on the table as the trump suit. If no player selects that suit as trump then the players get another chance in order to name one of the other three suits as trump. If all pass again then the round is cancelled and the cards dealt again.
Order of Play
Following the trump selection the player who selected the trump get the card on the table and two other cards and the rest of the players get 3 more cards so that all players have 8 cards each. Then the forehand begins the game. The next player must follow suit. If a trump is played, the players must take the trick if possible. If the player cannot follow suit then they must play trump.
The highest trump card wins the trick. If no trump is played, the highest card of the played suit wins the trick. The following ranking applies: Jack, 9, Ace, 10, King, Queen, 8, 7 (for the trump suit) and Ace, 10, King, Queen, Jack, 9, 8, 7 (for the other suits). The player, who takes the trick, begins the next.
Declarations in the game are allowed when beginning the game. During the first trick, it is possible to make a call. Players may call the value of their highest declaration. Two types of declarations are acceptable, a sequence and a “carre”. A sequence consists of at least 3 consecutive cards of the same suit. A “carre” consists of four cards of the same value.
The points from calls are added to those from the tricks. However, only the team with the highest call can score points. The following applies:
- A carre is always higher than a sequence.
- A higher carre beats a lower carre.
The length of the sequence decides. If the length is equal, the higher ranking sequence wins. If the rank of the sequences is equal, the sequence made up of the trump suit wins. Otherwise, no sequence wins and no points are counted.
If a player holds the trump Queen and King, he/she can call ‘Belote’. As the first of these cards is laid, the player calls "Belote". As the second is played, "Rebelote" is called. Twenty bonus points are awarded to the team.
Points
For each trick won, the total number of points within the trick is awarded.
The following applies for the trump suit:
- Jack: 20 Points
- 9: 14 Points
- Ace: 11 Points
- 10: 10 Points
- King: 4 Points
- Queen: 3 Points
- 7 & 8: 0 Points
The following applies for the other suits:
- Ace: 11 Points
- 10: 10 Points
- King: 4 Points
- Queen: 3 Points
- Jack: 2 Points
- 7, 8 & 9: 0 Points
The following points are awarded for calls:
- Belote-Rebelote: 20 Points
- Sequence of 3: 20 Points
- Sequence of 4: 50 Points
- Sequence of 5: 100 Points
- Four Jacks: 200 Points
- Four 9s: 150 Points
- Other Carre: 100 Points
Points Calculation
The points from all of the tricks are added up. Ten points are awarded for the last trick. If a team collects all tricks then it receives a total of 250 points instead. 20 points are awarded for ‘Belote-Rebelote’ and any declarations. If the team, which called the trump suit, has reached the game value points total then it also receives the points for the game value. If, however the trump-calling team failed to reach the points total, all of the points go to the other team and they receive 0. For scoring purposes the total points are divided by 10 and rounded off, so if for example the score is 287 - 43 then the score recorded for the round is 29 – 4. Only one team can round up and the other must round down. The team with the highest remainder (after division by 10) for the trick taking points rounds their points up. Since the total number of trick taking points are 162 then it is possible that both teams have a remainder of 6 in which case the team with more points (from trick taking) rounds up.
Classic Pilotta for 2 Players
Classic Pilotta can also be played by two players. Each player gets 6 cards and one is down on the table. Trump selection is the same as for the 4 Player version. If a player selects the suit of the card down to be trump suit and that player has the 7 of that suit the option is available to switch the 7 with the card on the table. Then each player is given 3 additional cards, discarding the card down on the table and gameplay continues with the same rules and points as in the 4 Player version.