Lot-et-Garonne. Belote and rebelote every Wednesday at the hunters of Saint-Nicolas-de-la-Balerme

An average of 120 people come to play their four weekly games in the village hall, and no one leaves empty-handed.

"Here's Buchette! That's his nickname; he's always the last to arrive. It's a sign that things are about to begin..." In front of the Saint-Nicolas-de-la-Balerme community hall, on Wednesday, August 13 at 9 p.m., the co-president of the local hunting association, Michel Brignoli, calls the shots: the weekly belote competition organized by his association is about to begin, with 76 teams coming to play tonight. Because the event is very popular, both summer and winter.

For the past twenty years, these evenings have brought together an average of 120 people every Wednesday. "Before, we played every two weeks, but it didn't work well because people didn't know if it was the right Wednesday or not. We decided to offer the competition every week, and it's going better," he continues. It's going great, with fans coming from Agen, its surrounding area, and even Moissac.

A single person can always find a partner, they just have to come and tell us, and if necessary, one of our volunteers will act as a partner."

Here, participation is modest: 8 euros per player. The money raised is used to release game, especially pheasants and partridges, for the town's hunters. They also offer an annual free meal in the spring, with venison pâté and wild boar sausages, followed, of course, by a belote competition.

The other co-president, Jean-Marie Robert, registers the participants, assisted by Éliane, the wife of a hunter, who manages the computer. A random draw determines the opponents, who generally come in pre-formed teams, "but a single person can always find a partner; they just have to tell us, and if necessary, one of our volunteers will act as their teammate," says Michel Brignoli.

So we sit down in front of our mats, with the day's first opponents. Because from 9 p.m. to midnight, the total scores of four games of 12 ends (deals) will determine the day's winners. And there's no question of engaging in any ranting or ranting like Caesar and his broken heart. We don't hang around, and the pace is brisk, albeit good-natured. "Is this cheating?" we ask. "We sometimes see signs or gestures, there's a bit of chatting, but nothing nasty," according to Michel Brignoli.

Indeed, the games are conducted courteously, and we wouldn't blame a venerable granny for half-smashing the table by placing her queen of hearts, just to make it clear to her partner: "Come back quickly!"... Some have gone so far as to buy a large wooden die to remind themselves which trump suit is chosen. As for the game, it is played in its most classic variation, without any announcement other than the famous belote.

For this first test, with my colleague Jean, the cards didn't want to smile and we finished with only one game won, and an overall score that only allowed us to pocket a consolation prize, a far cry from the three roasts offered to each of the two winners and other meat prizes awarded to the highest ranked. We had the choice between a pâté terrine, a packet of noodles or a bar of chocolate. But the important thing was to participate and have a good time.