How to Play Pinochle
Pinochle is a classic American trick-taking game played with a special 48-card deck. Each hand has three parts: bidding, showing your melds, and playing tricks. It rewards careful planning and good teamwork with your partner.
- Players
- You and a computer partner vs 2 computer players
- Cards
- 48 cards (two each of 9 to Ace)
- Game length
- 20–30 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
The goal
Pinochle is played by two teams of two, with partners sitting across from each other. Teams score points for meld (special card combinations) and for counters won in tricks. The first team to 150 points wins.
The deck
A Pinochle deck has 48 cards: two copies each of the 9, jack, queen, king, 10 and ace in every suit. Cards rank ace, 10, king, queen, jack, 9: the 10 beats the king. Each player gets 12 cards.
Bidding
- Starting left of the dealer, each player either bids or passes. The first bid is at least 20, and every bid must be higher than the last.
- A player who passes is out of the bidding. Bidding ends when only one player is left.
- If all players pass, the dealer must take the bid at 20.
- The player who wins the bid chooses the trump suit and leads the first trick.
Meld
After trump is named, every player shows their meld. A card may count in different classes, but only once in each class.
| Meld | Cards | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Run | A, 10, K, Q, J of trump | 15 (double run 150) |
| Royal marriage | K and Q of trump | 4 |
| Marriage | K and Q of another suit | 2 |
| Dix | 9 of trump | 1 each |
| Pinochle | Q♠ and J♦ | 4 (double pinochle 30) |
| Aces around | One ace of each suit | 10 (double 100) |
| Kings around | One king of each suit | 8 (double 80) |
| Queens around | One queen of each suit | 6 (double 60) |
| Jacks around | One jack of each suit | 4 (double 40) |
A team's meld only counts if that team wins at least one trick.
Playing the tricks
- You must follow the suit that was led, and you must beat the best card of that suit if you can.
- If you cannot follow suit, you must play a trump, beating any trump already played if you can.
- Only when you have neither may you play any card.
- The highest trump wins, or the highest card of the suit led. If two identical cards are played, the first one wins.
Scoring
- Each ace, 10 and king won in tricks is a counter worth 1 point. The last trick is worth 1 more, for 25 counter points in every hand.
- The bidding team adds its meld and counters. If the total reaches the bid, it scores the total; if not, it is set and loses the amount of the bid.
- The other team always scores its meld and counters.
- The first team to reach 150 wins. If both get there in the same hand, the bidding team wins.
Strategy tips
- Count your meld for each possible trump suit before you bid, and add a few points for counters and your partner's help.
- Long trump suits win tricks late in the hand, when other players run out of a suit.
- When your partner is winning a trick, give them your counters: aces, tens and kings.
- Lead aces early, before opponents can trump them.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pinochle meld?
A pinochle is the jack of diamonds together with the queen of spades. A double pinochle uses both copies of each card.
Why does pinochle use a 48-card deck?
The deck has two copies each of the 9, jack, queen, king, ten and ace in every suit, which makes the meld combinations possible.
Card games have many house rules. This page describes the most common way Pinochle is played, and the version you play on Card Sunday. Does your family play differently, or have you spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will check it.
