Baloot is a trick-taking game for four players in two teams, played with just 32 cards. One player buys the contract (Sun or Hokm), eight tricks are played, and points come from card values and projects until a team reaches 152. This guide explains the basics in a simple order.
What you need
- Players: four, in two opposing teams, with partners sitting opposite each other. Play goes counter-clockwise.
- Cards: 32 cards, 7 to A in the four suits, with 8 cards per player in the end.
- Strength in Sun: A, 10, K, Q, J, 9, 8, 7.
- Strength in the Hokm (trump) suit: J, 9, A, 10, K, Q, 8, 7. The other suits use the Sun order.
Steps of one hand
1. The deal
The dealer gives 5 cards to each player, then one card is turned face up: the mushtara. The first player entitled to buy is the one on the dealer's right.
2. Buying
In the first round you choose Sun (no trump), Hokm (the trump suit is the suit of the mushtara) or Bas (pass). The dealer and the player on his left may also call Ashkal, which is Sun with the mushtara going to the caller's partner. If everyone says Bas, a second round follows with Sun, Second Hokm (a suit different from the mushtara) and Wala (pass). If everyone says Wala, the hand is cancelled with no score and the next dealer deals.
3. Completing the hands
Once the contract is fixed, the buyer receives the mushtara plus two more cards, and the others are dealt enough cards to hold 8 each.
4. Playing
In this version the buyer leads the first trick, and following suit is compulsory: if you hold the suit that was led, you must play it. In Hokm, if you cannot follow suit you may play a trump or discard another card, so cutting is not forced. A trick is won by the highest trump if there is one, otherwise by the highest card of the suit led, and its winner leads the next. A hand has 8 tricks, and the team taking the last one gets 10 extra raw points.
Card values (Abnat)
| Card | In Sun | In the trump suit |
|---|---|---|
| J | 2 | 20 |
| 9 | 0 | 14 |
| A | 11 | 11 |
| 10 | 10 | 10 |
| K | 4 | 4 |
| Q | 3 | 3 |
| 8 and 7 | 0 | 0 |
The raw total of a hand (including the 10 for the last trick) is 162 in Hokm and 130 in Sun.
Projects
Projects are sequences or sets in your hand that add points. A sequence follows the order A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7 within one suit.
| Project | Definition | Hokm | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sira | 3 consecutive cards of one suit | 2 | 4 |
| Fifty | 4 consecutive cards | 5 | 10 |
| Hundred | 5 or more consecutive cards, or four of a kind of A, K, Q, J or 10 | 10 | 20 |
| Four Hundred | Four Aces (Sun only) | not available | 40 |
| Baloot | K and Q of the trump suit held by one player (Hokm only) | 2 | not available |
A player declares their best project in the first trick. If both teams declare, the values are compared, and only the team with the best project scores regular projects. Baloot is independent of this comparison and either team may score it.
Doubling
In Hokm the stake can be raised in order: Double, Triple, Four, then Gahwa, and no level may be skipped. Gahwa means the team that wins the hand wins the whole match. In Sun, Double is opened only if the buyer team is above 100 points and the opponents are below 100, and there is no Triple or Four in Sun.
How scoring works
- Each team's raw points are counted, with 10 for the last trick, and converted into game points by rounding. In Hokm they are divided by 10, so the two teams share 16 card points; in Sun they are divided by 5, so they share 26.
- If the buyer team loses, it scores 0 and its opponent takes all the card points plus the scoring projects.
- With Double, Triple or Four, the winner takes all the points. In Hokm the card base for the winner is 32 with Double, 48 with Triple and 64 with Four; in Sun it is 52 with Double.
End of the match
The score starts at 0 / 0. When a team reaches 152 or more, the match ends and the higher total wins. If both teams are at 152 or more with exactly the same total, an extra hand is played. Gahwa ends the match at once.
Common beginner mistakes
- Not following suit when you hold it; that play is refused.
- Forgetting the extra 10 for the last trick.
- Believing a Double multiplies Baloot; it always stays 2.
- Thinking four 9s, 8s or 7s make a project; they do not.
Quick FAQ
Who leads the first trick?
The buyer, the winner of the buying.
What if everyone says Wala?
The hand is cancelled with no score and the next dealer deals.
ERAM CARDS is an online multiplayer card and board game app, starting on Android in Arabic and English. Full rules: full Baloot rules.