belote-cli 3.2.0

A 4-player terminal card game

Belote – 4-Player Terminal Card Game

Complete implementation of the French card game Belote for the terminal, with a full-screen green felt table and full card graphics at compass positions (N/W/E/S).

What's new in 3.2.0

• Joker correctness — La Sentinelle and Le Dernier Mot both used to key on Seat.SOUTH instead of the NS team, so the joker silently no-op'd when North (the AI partner) held the trump Jack or won the last trick. Both now correctly fire on team membership.
• Score floor — L'Égoïste's add_chips = -event.card_points per partner-won trick could drive the running total negative and produce a negative final round score; ScoreAccumulator.get_total now clamps at 0 so the intermediate log can still show the deduction without the visible score going below zero.
• Auto-coinche event parity — The NS-taker auto_coinche boss path now re-emits BidMadeEvent with the new coinche_level, matching the EW-taker branch. Pre-3.2 jokers and HUD subscribed to on_bid silently missed this code path.
• Determinism — The shop and the three RNG-using tarots (LeJugement, LaPretresse, LeFou) now all draw from the run's seeded _get_rng() instead of the module-level random. Ghost-run replays are now reproducible across shop generations. LaPretresse additionally samples instead of choice-ing twice, so the two planets it grants are always distinct.
• Registry / boss-field hygiene — register_joker/planet/tarot/voucher now assert against duplicate IDs (typo'd registrations used to silently overwrite the original). boss_fields in modifier_patch.py is now derived from BossModifiers' dataclass fields, so adding a new flag no longer requires updating an out-of-band allowlist.
• UI fix — patch_trick_card now re-applies render's vertical-centering offset; on tall terminals (>40 rows) it used to draw single-card patches too high.
• Audit reconciliation — This release consolidates the verified findings from two independent LLM code audits (Qwen 3.6 27B + Ring 1T). Both audits had load-bearing false positives — Qwen's two P0 "dead voucher / dead boss flag" claims were both wrong (the flags are consumed); Ring's "critical IllegalMoveError" only fires under test mocks. Eleven rejected claims are catalogued in the changelog so they aren't re-investigated.
• Test coverage — 528 tests (up from 525). Strict gates still clean: pytest 528/528, mypy 0 errors, ruff 0 violations.

What's new in 3.1.0

• Bug fixes — HUD running-total no longer drifts under multi-boss combos (Les Clubs Bannis + Le Roi Mort style: pre-3.1.0 the rank-zero recompute silently overwrote the ban_clubs zeroing). Shop.buy_item no longer charges money when consumable slots are full — the "Slots full — sell first" banner now fires before any spend.
• TierceForge wired up — the voucher shipped in 3.0.0 with a working backend but no UI caller; the feature was unreachable. The shop now shows a "Forge ×N/3" tile when the voucher is owned, opens a numbered planet picker on Enter, and confirms the level-up via a banner.
• Performance — score_round and apply_round_score no longer re-walk the trick list (~16 fewer trick_winner_seat calls per round). The per-event copy.deepcopy in ScoreAccumulator.update_state is gone (~20 deepcopies/round saved); replaced with a shallow dict(...) plus a scalar-only invariant test that locks the contract. Hard-AI's _score_card_play precomputes hand suit counts and trump tallies once per turn instead of per candidate.
• Cleanup — the modifier_patch underscore-prefix shim is gone (23 boss apply() methods rewritten to use unprefixed field names; the getattr(state, "_X", False) anti-pattern is now locked against by a regression test). slots=True added to Statistics, SessionStats, ScoreAccumulator. Bare except Exception: in key-press parsing narrowed; print → logging in stats.
• Test coverage — 525 tests (up from 510). Strict gates still clean: pytest 525/525, mypy 0 errors, ruff 0 violations.

What's new in 3.0.3

• Full-codebase audit — three-agent pass over the classic engine, BelAtro content wiring, and perf / code-quality hotspots (~7,100 LOC). Headline: engine is rule-correct against canonical French Belote; BelAtro content matrix is 93/93 wired (21 bosses, 8 planets, 36 jokers, 4 editions, 12 vouchers, 12 tarots). Prioritized findings list (1 P0 functional, 2 P0 perf, 5 P1, 7 P2) tracked for follow-up cuts; implementation landed in 3.1.0.
• Doc accuracy — README boss-count corrected (18 → 21; 3.0.0 added Le Sauvage / L'Iconoclaste / Le Mime), and two stale (435 tests) references bumped to 510 to match the figure already present elsewhere in the file.

What's new in 3.0.2

• Replay analyzer + Ghost run wired up — both shipped in 3.0.0 as code modules but were never called from the running game. Now opt-in behind BELOTE_REPLAY=1 (post-round Hard-AI comparison) and BELOTE_GHOST=1 (per-run JSON dump to ~/.local/share/belote/ghosts/). See DEVELOPMENT.md › Optional Runtime Flags.
• Performance — score_round() now caches per-trick winners once instead of recomputing them in each boss-modifier helper (2-3× walks → 1× walk per round). register_all_items() is now idempotent so test setup no longer re-walks every items module per BelAtroRun. Bidding's special-bid path (TA / SA) hoists _suit_lengths out of the per-difficulty branches.
• Defensive pin — every entry in ALL_BOSS_MODIFIERS is now asserted to actually toggle a BossModifiers field via .flags(). Catches typo'd state.patch("_misspelled", True) keys at test time rather than letting the boss silently no-op.
• Test coverage — 525 tests (up from 509).

What's new in 3.0.1

• Bug fixes — play_card() running total now honours aces_zero / jacks_zero (Le Sauvage / L'Iconoclaste); the screen-reader trick-winner pts are now boss-aware; the HUD synergy registry no longer references nonexistent joker IDs; the AI void-cache key is now reset across rounds.
• Test coverage — 509 tests (up from 489): HOLO/POLYCHROME editions, multi-boss composition (separate_scoring × zero-flag), a11y boss-aware pts, synergy registry self-check.

What's new in 3.0.0

• Endless mode — beat Ante 8 in BelAtro and the run offers a continuation: targets scale ×2.2 per ante and a furthest-ante leaderboard tracks how deep you go.
• Joker editions — Foil (+50 chips), Holo (+10 mult), Polychrome (×1.5 mult), Negative (extra slot) randomly stamp shop jokers.
• Three new boss blinds — Le Sauvage (Aces = 0), L'Iconoclaste (Jacks = 0, even trump-J), Le Mime (Declarations = 0).
• Achievements — six classic-mode milestones tracked across sessions.
• Colorblind palette + screen-reader hints (BELOTE_A11Y=1) for accessibility.
• Replay analyzer — module added (post-round Hard-AI comparison). User-facing wiring landed in 3.0.2 behind BELOTE_REPLAY=1.
• Ghost run recording + run summary log — modules added (serialize a run / append per-run JSON). Run-summary fires automatically; ghost-run user-facing wiring landed in 3.0.2 behind BELOTE_GHOST=1.
• Bug fixes — Capot under Sans Atout / Tout Atout now uses the correct base (220 / 348, not 252); The Sun and Libra planets actually do something now; AI void inference no longer mis-flags voids under Le Républicain wild 7/8.

BelAtro Expansion

BelAtro is a major roguelite expansion inspired by Balatro. Play through 8 Antes of escalating difficulty, build a deck of powerful Jokers, and use Tarot cards and Planets to break the game!

BelAtro is now fully integrated into the main menu! Just launch belote and select it from the top of the list.

BelAtro Quick Start

# Play using the integrated launcher (recommended)
belote

# Or play the new Roguelite mode directly
belatro

Starting Decks (All Fully Implemented)

Deck	Special Rule
Le Classique	Standard 32-card baseline
Le Républicain	7s & 8s are wild — play them on any trick. +5 chips per 7/8 your team captures
L'Aristocrate	All four Aces start Gold Sealed (+cash)
Le Joueur	Start $14 — Boss Blind every 2 antes
L'Ermite	Starts with La Sentinelle Joker (×3 Mult if Trump Jack never leaves hand)
Le Vétéran	Start with a random Planet card pre-applied to level up a contract
Le Flambeur	Starts with L'Aventurier Partner Joker (×2 Mult if both win ≥3 tricks)
L'Anarchiste	Start $19 — Corrupted pool visible

Notable Vouchers

Voucher	Effect
Le Carnet	See partner's full hand every round. +1 Mult each time South wins a trick
La Voûte	Earn $1 interest per $5 held, up to $5/round
La Double Donne	+1 Joker slot
La Télescope	+$1 flat bonus after every round
Le Grimoire	Shop always stocks at least one Tarot card
Les Cartes Dorées	+1 interest rate and +5 interest cap permanently
La Balance	Your team wins automatically on a card-point tie
La Surcoinche	Unlocks the Surcoinche contract (unlockable)

Showcase

Main Menu

  ⢠⣴⣶⣶⣶⣄
  ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦
 ⢰⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠟⠁⣠⣴⣶⣦⠄
 ⢸⣿⣿⠟⠉⣠⣴⣿⣿⣿⠟⠁⣠⣾⣿⣦⡀
  ⠉⣀⣴⣾⣿⣿⣿⠟⢁⣤⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡆
⢀⣤⣾⣿⣿⣿⡿⠛⢁⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠁⡀
⢼⣿⣿⣿⡿⠋⣀⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠉⣠⣾⣿⡆
⠘⢿⡿⠋⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠋⢀⣾⣿⣿⠟⢁⣀
  ⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠏⢀⣴⣿⣿⣿⠋⢠⣾⣿⣷⣦⡀
  ⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⢁⣴⣿⣿⣿⡿⠁⣰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
   ⠹⢿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠋⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⠟⢀⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟
     ⠉⠉⠉ ⢾⣿⣿⣿⣿⠋ ⠚⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠁
          ⠉⠉⠉

                       (
                        )     (
                 ___...(-------)-....___
             .-''       )    (          ''-.
       .-'``'|-._             )         _.-|
      /  .--.|   `''---...........---''`   |
     /  /    |           BelAtro           |
     |  |    |       > Start Game <        |
     |  |    |      AI:     < Hard >       |
     |  |    |      Target: < 1000 >       |
     |  |    |     Speed:  < Normal >      |
     |  |    |  Theme:  < Classic Green >  |
     |  |    |       Rules & History       |
      \  \   |         Statistics          |
       `\ `\ |            Quit             |
         `\ `|                             |
         _/ /\                             /
        (__/  \                           /
     _..---''` \                         /`''---.._
  .-'           \                       /          '-.
 :               `-.__             __.-'              :
 :                  ) ''---...---'' (                 :
  '._               `''...___...--''`              _.'
 jgs \''--..__                              __..--''/
     '._     '''----.....______.....----'''     _.'
        `''--..,,_____            _____,,..--''`
                      `'''----'''`

Card Graphics

┌────┐  ┌────┐  ┌────┐  ┌────┐
│J ♠ │  │Q ♦ │  │K ♥ │  │A ♣ │
│ ⚔  │  │ ♕  │  │ ♔  │  │ ★  │
│ J ♠│  │ Q ♦│  │ K ♥│  │ A ♣│
└────┘  └────┘  └────┘  └────┘

Requirements

• Python >= 3.10
• No third-party dependencies (stdlib only)
• Terminal with >= 80 columns × 32 rows (compact preset). Recommended: 96×38 (standard) or 120×48 (spacious) for the full Art Nouveau card art and verbose HUD. The game auto-selects the best fit and adapts on resize.
• UTF-8 support (for card symbols: ♠♥♦♣)

Quick Start

# Install in editable mode (recommended for development)
pip install -e .

# Or install from PyPI (once uploaded)
pip install belote-cli

# Play using the belote command
belote

# Play the new Roguelite expansion
belatro

# Custom settings
belote --difficulty hard --target 500 --seed 123 --speed fast

Controls

General:

• ?: Show keyboard shortcut help
• M: Toggle sound effects on/off
• I or V: Toggle BelAtro score overlay (per-trick breakdown popup)
• Q: Quit to main menu or exit
• H: View Game History (round-by-round, with contract / taker / tricks / declarations)
• T: Cycle UI Theme

Classic Belote:

• ↑ ↓: Navigate options
• ← →: Quick-change settings (Difficulty, Target, Speed)
• Enter: Select option / Enter submenu

BelAtro (Roguelite):

• 1-5: Inspect specific Jokers in the Shop
• U: Use a consumable (Tarot/Planet) during gameplay

Gameplay:

• ← → or ↑ ↓: Move selection
• Enter: Confirm card/bid
• 1-8: Direct card selection (or 1-4 for bids)
• O: Sort hand by suit and rank
• Z: Undo last move
• Space or Esc: Skip animations
• During bidding round 2: P = Pass, A = Tout Atout, S = Sans Atout

Features

• BelAtro Roguelite Mode: A massive expansion featuring 36 Jokers, 12 Tarot cards, 8 Planets, 12 Vouchers, and permanent upgrades.
• Collection (Almanac): Persistent tracker to browse every Joker, Planet, and Voucher you've discovered across your runs.
• Full Boss Blind Suite: All 21 unique bosses implemented, including complex mechanics like L'Anarchie (dynamic trump) and La Rupture (no consecutive wins).
• Multiplier Scoring: Use items to stack Multipliers and reach scores in the millions.
• Partner Trust: Build a relationship with your AI partner to unlock synergies.
• Rich Terminal UI: Full-screen green felt table with detailed card graphics and "You" vs "Partner" terminology.
• Enhanced Hard AI: Advanced void inference and 2-ply lookahead for critical tricks (Dix de Der).
• Customizable Themes: Switch between six color palettes (Classic Green, Dark Mode, Blue Velvet, Red Casino, Sepia Vintage, High Contrast) using the T key during gameplay.
• Incremental Rendering: High-performance cursor-based updates for zero-flicker gameplay even at high speeds.
• Hand Sorting: Strategic "play value" organization (honors grouped together) for better tactical awareness.
• Main Menu: Simple single-player entry point with configurable AI difficulty, Target Score, and Speed.
• Undo/Redo: Press Z to undo your last move during bidding or play.
• Statistics: unified global tracking of games played, win rates, best rounds, and BelAtro expansion milestones.
• Responsive Layout (3 tiers): Three preset layouts — compact (80×32, fits 1366×768), standard (96×38), spacious (120×48+). The game picks the largest preset that fits your terminal on every render, so resizing mid-game adapts automatically; cards, side columns, and HUD verbosity all scale with the preset. Vertical centering pads tall terminals so the game never clings to the top.
• Alternate Screen Buffer: Both classic Belote and BelAtro run in a dedicated terminal buffer for a clean, non-overlapping interface — your shell scrollback stays untouched after you quit.
• Sound Effects: Enhanced auditory feedback for trick wins, Belote, and Capot, with a built-in mute toggle.
• Declarations: Automatic detection and announcement of sequences (Tierce, Quarte, etc.) and Carrés after the first trick.
• Live HUD: Real-time round scoring displays points won during the current round, with a smooth "rolling" numerical animation for total scores.
• High Fidelity: Implementation of French Belote rules according to the official rules of the Fédération Française de Belote, including a two-round bidding system, "Dix de Der", "Capot" (252 pts), and "Litige" (tie-break). All six contracts are bidable in round 2: the four card suits, Tout Atout (every suit acts as trump within its own led-suit group; press a), and Sans Atout (no trump, lead-suit highest wins; press s).
• Rules & History Viewer: A scrollable, bilingual (English/French) in-game reference for the game's heritage and mechanics.

AI

Three difficulty levels:

• Easy: Random legal moves, bids on 2+ honors.
• Medium: Heuristic suit scoring, void tracking to force trumps, and smart covering/ducking.
• Hard: Advanced void inference, 2-ply lookahead for critical tricks, and randomized "personality" bidding thresholds.

Project Structure

belote/
├── src/belote/
│   ├── main.py        # Classic entry point
│   ├── belatro/       # Roguelite Expansion package
│   │   ├── main.py    # BelAtro entry point
│   │   ├── core/      # Run state, scoring, economy
│   │   ├── engine/    # Event bus, round driver
│   │   ├── items/     # Jokers, Tarots, Planets, Vouchers
│   │   ├── partner/   # Trust system and partner AI
│   │   └── ui/        # Shop, HUD, and item visualization
│   ├── gameflow.py    # Main game loop and phase transitions
│   ├── deck.py        # Card, Suit, Rank, deck operations, points
│   ├── game.py        # GameState, phases, pure transitions, legal moves, bidding
│   ├── scoring.py     # Declarations, round scoring, capot
│   ├── ai.py          # Three-tier AI (easy/medium/hard)
│   ├── config.py      # Global configuration and timings
│   ├── context.py     # Global managers (Audio, Terminal)
│   ├── themes.py      # Color theme management
│   ├── ui/            # Modular UI package
│   ├── ansi.py        # ANSI escape helpers (colors, cursor)
│   ├── input.py       # Platform-dispatched key reader and interruptible sleep
│   ├── stats.py       # Global and session statistics tracking
│   └── rules.py       # Game rules content
├── tests/             # Comprehensive test suite (528 tests)
├── scripts/           # Performance benchmarks
├── pyproject.toml      # Build system and dev dependencies (ruff/mypy)
├── LICENSE             # MIT License
├── CHANGELOG.md        # History of changes
├── DEVELOPMENT.md      # Detailed setup and dev guide
└── GRIMAUD Standard Playing-Cards-1898.png # Reference art for card faces

Running Tests

# Run all tests (Classic + BelAtro)
PYTHONPATH=src pytest

Currently 528 tests passing with 100% coverage on game-logic modules.

Technical Integrity

The codebase is strictly validated with the following tools:

• mypy: 0 errors (strict type safety)
• ruff: 0 violations (linting & formatting)
• pytest: 528/528 passed
• Functional Architecture: Purely immutable state transitions using dataclasses.replace
• Performance: High-efficiency rendering and sub-millisecond AI decision times (see scripts/benchmark.py)

Statistics & Progression

Belote-CLI tracks your long-term performance across both game modes.

• Global Statistics: View your win rates, best round scores, and trump usage from the "Statistics" menu.
• BelAtro Unlocks: Progression in the roguelite mode is saved automatically. You can track your Ante 8 wins and total items found in the expansion.

Resetting Progress

If you want to start fresh and clear your history/collection, manually delete the data files:

• Linux: rm ~/.local/share/belote/*.json
• Windows: del %APPDATA%\belote\*.json

This will wipe all global statistics and reset your discovered item Almanac in BelAtro.

Terminal Hygiene

Signal handlers (SIGINT, SIGTERM) and atexit hooks ensure the terminal is always restored — cursor visible, colors reset, alt-screen off — even after Ctrl+C or crashes.

Every rendered row ends with \x1b[K (clear-to-end-of-line) and every interactive prompt (bid selector, card selector, full-screen overlays) repaints in a single in-frame pass — no \r\n-bracketed writes outside the render. This keeps the game free of stale-cell artifacts on strict ANSI emulators like Konsole (KDE), in addition to the more lenient VTE-based terminals (GNOME Terminal, LXTerminal, xterm).