The Top French Card Games You Should Know

France has a rich history of card games that dates back through the centuries. Many of these games have become beloved games not just in France but for others around the world. The games range from simple, family-friendly games to more complex, strategic games that require an element of skill and experience. Let’s look at some of the most popular French card games and their origins.

Belote, the national card game of France

Belote is one of the most popular card games in France, enjoyed by children and adults alike. It is widely considered the national card game of France and is often played in homes, cafes and social clubs. The game dates back to the early 20th century and is typically played with a deck of 32 cards, with all cards below 7 removed.

Belote is played by four players who are divided into two teams. The goal is to score points by winning tricks, with certain cards holding higher values than others. The game features a bidding system where players can declare a ‘trump’ suit that increases their chance of winning the trick.

Belote is particularly appealing because it uses a unique blend of strategy, skill and teamwork. Players have to carefully assess the strength of their hand, anticipate moves made by their opponents and work with their partner to beat the other team. This combination of factors means that no two rounds of Belote are ever the same, making it a game that can still be enjoyed to this day.

Piquet, a game for intellectuals

Piquet is another classic French card game, this time dating back to the 16th century. It was once the preferred game of French nobles. It is a two-player game that uses a 32-card deck and is renowned for its strategic elements. The game’s emphasis on skill and strategy is what has earned Piquet a reputation as a game for intellectual card players.

The game is divided into six phases: dealing, discarding, exchanging cards, declaring, playing tricks, and scoring. Players have to choose which cards they discard and exchange to improve their hand. Piquet also requires a series of declarations, where players announce combinations of cards they hold, such as sequences of sets of the same rank.

Jeu de Tarot

Tarot is usually associated with fortune-telling, but it’s also the name of a popular French card game. Jeu de Tarot, its full name, is played with a special 78-card deck, which includes 21 trump cards and a card known as ‘the fool’. The origins of Tarot are unclear, but it has been played regularly in France since at least the 18th century.

Tarot is a trick-taking game for four players, with one player acting as the ‘declarer’ who plays against the other three. The objective is to win a certain number of points, done by taking tricks that contain cards of a high value. The ‘fool card’ adds a unique twist, as it can be played at any point to protect a player from losing a trick.

La Bataille

La Bataille, known simply as War in English, is a simple card game in France that is perfect for children. Played by two players with a 52-card deck, each player simultaneously reveals the top card of their deck, and the player with the higher card wins both cards. If the cards are of equal value, this is where the ‘war’ aspect of the game ensues, with each player placing cards face down before revealing another card to determine the winner.

A Rich Tradition of French Card Games

The range of French card games offers something for everyone, whether a player prefers a more complicated strategy game such as Piquet or Belote or a simple game to play with children such as La Bataille. For those looking to play, online casinos offer a wide range of online card games that capture the essence of these French favourites.