BEZIQUE

Noun7 lettersValid in our Scrabble word list
Unscramble BEZIQUE

Quick definition

BEZIQUE is a classic trick-taking card game popular in the 19th century, played with a special deck. In word games, this unique 7-letter word featuring both Z and Q tiles scores an impressive 27 base points.

Is BEZIQUE a valid Scrabble word?

Yes. BEZIQUE is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 27 points in Scrabble, 29 in Words With Friends and 29 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.

LetterBEZIQUETotal
Scrabble31101101127
Words With Friends41101102129
Wordfeud41101102129

Definition and meaning

BEZIQUE is a sophisticated card game that originated in France in the early 19th century and became wildly popular across Europe and America. Played with a 64-card deck (using only Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks, 10s, 9s, 8s, and 7s from two standard decks), it combines elements of trick-taking and melding.

The game reached its peak popularity during the Victorian era, particularly among the upper classes. Winston Churchill was known to be an avid bezique player, often playing with his mother, Lady Randolph Churchill. The game requires both strategy and memory, as players must track cards played while planning their melds.

In bezique, the titular "bezique" is a specific meld consisting of the Queen of Spades and Jack of Diamonds, worth 40 points. A double bezique (two of each) scores 500 points, making it one of the most valuable combinations in the game. Players score through both winning tricks and declaring melds of specific card combinations.

BEZIQUE in a sentence

  • Churchill spent evenings playing bezique while pondering wartime strategies.
  • The Victorian ladies gathered for their weekly bezique party at the club.
  • She declared a double bezique and scored 500 points in one hand!

Origin

BEZIQUE has a disputed etymology, with several theories about its origin. The most widely accepted derives from the French "bésigue" or "bézigue," which appeared in early 19th-century France. Some linguists trace it to the Italian "bazzica," meaning "card game."

Anagrams, hooks and words inside BEZIQUE

Anagrams: no other word uses exactly the letters of BEZIQUE.

Hooks: no front hooks; back BEZIQUES.

Words inside BEZIQUE: 9 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: QUIZBIZEZEBUBIZZEEQIBEEBEBI. See all words from BEZIQUE.

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