Baloot online — rules and how to play
Baloot is Saudi Arabia’s national card game: four players in two teams, a 32-card deck, and deals that alternate between Sun and Hokom. On Tonj you play Baloot online right in the browser — no download, a live table or bots in the empty seats. This page is the complete Baloot rulebook as our engine runs it.
Play Baloot free nowWhat is Baloot?
Baloot is the trick-taking team game that owns Saudi cafe tables: two deals rotate — Sun, where plain card values rule, and Hokom, where a named trump suit bends the whole deal. Card points (abnaat) become game points, and the first team to 152 wins.
Baloot on Tonj
Tonj runs the full Baloot engine: Sun and Hokom in rotation, automatic abnaat counting, projects scored for you, and a table that never dies — bots keep seats warm, and spectators can watch any live table.
How a match goes
The deal
32 cards (7 up to Ace) go to four players in two teams — dealt 5-4-4, eight cards each, and the dealer rotates every deal.
Sun then Hokom, in rotation
Deals alternate: in Sun the plain card ranking rules; in Hokom one suit is the hokom (trump) and its Jack and 9 rise to the top.
Collect abnaat up to 152
Card points (abnaat) turn into game points deal by deal — first team to 152 game points wins the match.
Baloot rules in detail
The deck and the teams
Only 32 cards are dealt: 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace. You and the partner across from you play the two opponents; eight cards each, dealt 5-4-4.
Sun and Hokom
The deals alternate. Sun: the plain order 7-8-9-J-Q-K-10-A wins tricks and abnaat follow the flat table. Hokom: a trump suit is named — its Jack (20) and 9 (14) outrank everything, and the deal carries 162 abnaat instead of 130.
Projects (the melds)
Held melds are declared before play: a sira (three-in-a-run) or khamsin (fifty) and the pairs — Sun K+Q and Hokom K+Q of trump (20). A project only scores if your side takes more than half the abnaat; fail that and it passes to the opponents.
Abnaat and game points
Card points: A 11, 10 10, K 4, Q 3, J 2 (9/8/7 nothing); the last trick adds +10. Sun’s 130 abnaat convert into 26 game points a deal; Hokom’s 162 follow the engine’s conversion table.
Kaboot and the 152 race
Sweeping all 8 tricks is a kaboot worth 44 game points on its own. Beyond half the abnaat your side scores its card points; short of half it scores nothing and the opponents score instead. First team to 152 wins.
Baloot scoring at a glance
| Abnaat (card points) | A 11 · 10 10 · K 4 · Q 3 · J 2 · last trick +10 |
|---|---|
| Hokom trumps | Jack of hokom 20 · 9 of hokom 14 · deal carries 162 |
| Sun deal | 130 abnaat a deal → 26 game points (÷5) |
| Kaboot (all 8 tricks) | 44 game points to the sweeping side |
| The match | First team to 152 game points |
A project (sira, khamsin, or the K+Q pairs) only scores when your side takes more than half the abnaat — otherwise its value passes to the opponents.
Frequently asked questions
What is the game Baloot?
Baloot is Saudi Arabia’s national 4-player team card game: 32 cards, Sun and Hokom deals in rotation, abnaat card points converted to game points, and the win at 152.
Can I play Baloot online for free?
Yes — on Tonj you play Baloot right in the browser, no download or sign-up: a live table in seconds, bots filling empty seats, and spectators always welcome.
What is the difference between Sun and Hokom?
Sun plays by the plain card order with 130 abnaat a deal; Hokom names a trump whose Jack (20) and 9 (14) reshape both tricks and the count — 162 abnaat.
What is a project in Baloot?
Declared melds held in your hand: a sira (three-card run) or khamsin (fifty), and the K+Q pairs. They score only if your side takes more than half the abnaat.
How does a Baloot match end?
Deal by deal until a team reaches 152 game points — a kaboot (all 8 tricks) alone is worth 44, the fastest single jump in the game.