📌 Quick Info
- Name of the Game: Pinochle
- Number of Players: 4 (2 teams of 2)
- Deck: 48 cards (double 9-Ace deck; no 2–8s)
🎯 Objective
To win points through a combination of bidding, melding (declaring combinations of cards), and taking tricks. The first team to reach the agreed-upon point total (commonly 1,000 or 1,500) wins.
🛠️ What You Need
- A 48-card Pinochle deck (two copies each of 9, 10, J, Q, K, A in all suits)
- 4 players seated in fixed partnerships
- Score sheet or app to track melds and tricks
🔄 How to Play – Step by Step
▶️ 1. Deal
- Each player is dealt 12 cards.
▶️ 2. Bidding Phase
- Players bid points starting from 250 (or agreed minimum) in clockwise order.
- Bidding continues until 3 players pass — highest bid wins.
- The winning bidder names the trump suit and must score at least the number of points they bid — or they “go set.”
▶️ 3. Meld Phase
Players now place valid combinations (melds) on the table. Common melds include:
- Run (Trump A, 10, K, Q, J): 150 points
- Pinochle (J♦ + Q♠): 40 points
- Double Pinochle (2 J♦ + 2 Q♠): 300 points
- Marriages (K + Q of same suit): 20 (non-trump), 40 (trump)
- Aces around (A in all suits): 100 points
- Kings/Queens/Jacks around: 80, 60, 40 points
▶️ 4. Trick-Taking Phase
- Bid winner leads first; players must follow suit if possible.
- If unable to follow suit, a player may play a trump or discard.
- Trick is won by the highest trump or the highest card of the lead suit.
- Each team collects cards from tricks for additional scoring.
📜 Scoring
- Melds: All declared combinations (as listed above)
- Trick Points: Each Ace, 10, and King = 10 points; last trick = 10 bonus
- Meeting Bid: Bidder must meet or exceed their bid — otherwise, score = 0 and subtract bid points
🧠 Strategy Tips
- Bid wisely — don’t overcommit unless you have strong trump and meld potential.
- Keep track of cards played, especially trumps and meld signals.
- Save Aces and 10s for late tricks to secure point cards.
- Use melds to gauge what your partner holds — plan coordinated plays.
🧪 Example Play
- You bid 270 and win the bid, declare ♥ as trump.
- You have: ♥A K Q J 10, Q♠, J♦, plus Kings and Aces in other suits.
- You declare a Run in ♥ (150), Pinochle (J♦+Q♠ = 40), and Marriages.
- You win 30 more points in tricks → Total = 270 → You meet your bid!
📚 History & Origin
- Derived from the German game “Bezique.”
- Brought to America by German immigrants in the 19th century.
- Became popular in American homes and military communities in the 20th century.
- Variants include Double-Deck Pinochle (with 80-card deck), 2-player, and 3-player games.