Card games
Pilotta
Bid from 80, kontra to double, race to 301
Pilotta is the card game of Cypriot coffee shops — Cyprus’s own belote. Two teams bid from 80 up to 160 and name trump; the others can say kontra to double the bid, and the bidders can answer with rekontra. Declare runs and four of a kind on the first trick, hold the king and queen of trump for the pilotta, and count in tens: the first team to 301 wins.
- Players
- 4 players
- Length
- 35–45 min per game
- Type
- Card games
Play Pilotta online with friends
At Masa, Pilotta is a game of its own right next to Belote: pick it in the games list, open a table and share its code or link with your friends, or sit at a house table. Bots fill the empty chairs, and voice chat keeps the table talking.
How to play
- 1
4 players in 2 teams, partners across; play goes to the right. 32 cards, 8 each.
- 2
Bid from 80 in tens up to 160 and name trump; a pass does not stop you bidding later. Three passes after a bid end it; four passes deal again. Kontra doubles the other team’s bid, rekontra makes it ×4.
- 3
Follow suit. Can’t? You must trump, and beat a trump already played if you can — even your partner’s. When trumps are led, play higher if you can.
- 4
Declarations on the first trick: three in a row 20, four 50, five 100; four jacks 200, four nines 150, four A / 10 / K / Q 100. Only the best one’s team scores; two equal ones cancel. Pilotta — the trump king + queen in one hand — 20.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pilotta the same game as Belote?
No. Pilotta is played at the same kind of table as Belote, but with rules of its own — see “How to play” above. At Masa it is a game of its own, with its own tables, stats and achievements.
Can I play Pilotta online with friends?
Yes. Open a Pilotta table and share its code or link. Empty seats fill with other players or bots, so a game always starts.
Is Pilotta free to play?
Yes. You play with Chips, which have no cash value: nothing can be won or cashed out.
