Transform coefficients of sample blocks of a macroblock of a video picture are encoded by adaptively encoding a combination, the number of non-zero coefficients before the trailing one coefficients and the number of trailing one coefficients. The transform coefficients may be further encoded by adaptively encoding one or more of the signs of the trailing one coefficients, the level measures of the interposed in the non-zero coefficients. Adaptive encoding of the number and trailing one coefficients may be performed in view of one or more neighboring sample blocks, whereas adaptive encoding of level measure may be performed in view of quantization parameters of a macroblock and previously encoded level measures. Decoding may be performed in an inverse manner.