Playing the computer
Belot against bots: play against the computer
Sometimes you just want to play a deal without waiting for three other people. Other times you want to try No trumps without anyone grumbling that you ruined the game. Either way, a game against bots is exactly what you need.
In Belot Arena a game against the computer is a full game to 151 with the same rules as with people: cutting, bidding, contra, declarations, belot. You sit at the bottom, your bot partner at the top and the two opposing bots left and right.
5 min readUpdated By the Belot Arena team
How to start
- On the home screen press “vs Bots” – the game starts immediately.
- You don’t need an account. Play as a guest and create one later if you want.
- If you close the page halfway, the game stays saved on your device and you continue where you left off. Games against bots don’t affect your rating.
A full game to 151, no waiting.
Play against botsHow the bots play
The bots don’t see anyone else’s cards. They only know their own hand, the cards already played and who has shown they are out of a suit. Their decisions follow simple but sensible rules, the kind a decent club player uses.
In the bidding
A bot rates its five cards for every possible contract. For a suit contract it values the jack and nine of that suit most, then the ace and ten of it, and side aces add strength; without the jack or nine of trumps it bids less often. For All trumps it counts jacks and nines, especially a jack and nine of the same suit. For No trumps it counts aces and tens backed by an ace.
If its partner holds the bid, a bot raises only with a clearly stronger hand – it doesn’t like “stealing” the contract. It says contra when it has solid defence against the opponents’ contract, and recontra only with a very strong hand. A little random hesitation is added to every evaluation, so they don’t play like clockwork.
In the play
- When leading, a bot usually plays an ace – preferably in a suit where the opponents haven’t yet shown a void. Without aces in a suit contract it leads the jack or nine of trumps to draw trumps.
- When its partner is winning the trick and the bot plays last, it “loads” the trick with a high-scoring card of the same suit.
- When it can win the trick, it wins with the lowest card that does the job. When it can’t, it throws its weakest card.
Where the bots go wrong
To be honest: the bots are good practice partners, but they are not champions. Here is what you won’t see from them:
- They don’t plan several tricks ahead. They cash an ace when they can, even when it would be better to keep it for later.
- They don’t send deliberate signals to their partner and don’t “read” yours.
- They don’t play specifically for capot and don’t count exactly how many points they need to make the contract.
- Their bidding works from a table – it ignores the score, whether the opponents are close to 151 or whether a hanging deal is likely.
That is actually useful for learning: against bots the punishment for your mistakes is predictable, and you can clearly see which of your own decisions worked.
A five-game training plan
If you just play, you improve slowly. If every game against the bots has one goal, you improve fast. Try this plan – one game a day:
| Game | What you practise | Read first |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bid a suit only with its jack or nine and at least one more trump. | Beginner strategy |
| 2 | In a suit contract, draw trumps at the right moment and keep one for the end. | Playing a trump contract |
| 3 | Bid No trumps at least once – with aces and protected tens. | No trumps strategy |
| 4 | Count the trumps played in every deal and check yourself at the end. | Counting cards |
| 5 | Say contra only when you can see sure tricks against the contract. | Contra and recontra |
After every game ask yourself one question: “Which deal did I lose because of my own decision?” The answer is usually in the bidding, not the play.
Tutorial and puzzles if you are just starting
If you have never played, don’t start with a full game. The interactive tutorial walks you through one deal step by step: what trumps are, which cards you may play and how points are counted. It takes about five minutes.
After that the puzzles give you a concrete situation from a deal and ask which card is best. And if you want to test the rules without cards in hand, try the rules quiz.
When to move on to people
A sign you are ready: you win most games against the bots, you no longer wonder which card is allowed and you count trumps without effort. Then people give you what bots can’t – a partner who understands you and opponents who punish mistakes more inventively.
Start with unranked games and, once you feel confident, move on to ranked. Or gather your friends and play together in a private room with friends, where bots can still take the empty seats.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register to play against the computer?
No. A game against bots starts immediately as a guest. An account is only needed for ranked games.
Can the bots see my cards?
No. The bots only know their own cards and what has been played on the table – just like a person.
Do games against bots affect my rating?
No. Games against bots are only for practice and fun and don’t change your rating.
Do the bots play by the same rules?
Yes. The table is the same and enforces the same obligations: follow suit, trump and overtrump when required. Details in the Belot rules.