How to play Pinochle
Bid from meld and trick strength, name trump, and capture counters under must-beat play.
- Players
- 4 in partnerships
- Deck
- 48 cards
- Minimum bid
- 150
- Goal
- First to 1,500
Deck and auction
The deck has two copies of 9, J, Q, K, 10, and A in every suit; each player receives 12 cards. Bidding begins left of the dealer at 150 and rises by 10. Passing withdraws a player. If the first three pass without a bid, the dealer must bid 150. The winning bidder names trump and leads.
Meld
- Trump run A-10-K-Q-J: 150; double run: 1,500.
- Trump marriage K-Q: 40; other marriage: 20. Doubles score twice those values.
- Trump nine: 10. Q♠ plus J♦: 40; double pinochle: 300.
- A/K/Q/J around: 100/80/60/40; doubles: 1,000/800/600/400.
- A card may count in different meld classes, but the K-Q inside a run does not also score a royal marriage.
Must-beat trick play
Cards rank A, 10, K, Q, J, 9. Follow suit and, if possible, beat the current winner—even when your partner is winning. If void, trump and overtrump when possible. Only when void in both led suit and trump may you discard freely. With equal duplicate cards, the first played remains higher.
Scoring and winning
Each captured ace, ten, and king scores 10; the last trick adds 10. A team needs at least one counter to retain meld. The bidding team must reach its bid with meld plus counters or score exactly minus the bid; defenders score their meld plus counters when they captured at least one. At +1,500 or −1,500, the higher unequal total wins; a tie continues.
Beginner strategy
- Bid only with firm meld plus realistic trick-taking power.
- Choose trump for both meld and control because there is no card exchange.
- Secure at least one counter or the last trick to preserve meld points.
- Plan around the must-beat rule; you cannot duck with a legal winner.
- Track both copies of important cards.
- Prioritize aces, tens, kings, and the last trick.