Pinochle

Classic 4-player partnership trick-taking game played with a 48-card double deck, auction bidding, meld scoring, and trick play.

How to play

Four players in two partnerships (North-South vs East-West) using a 48-card double deck (9, J, Q, K, 10, A in all 4 suits).

Rank in tricks: Ace (high) > 10 > King > Queen > Jack > 9 (low). Counters: A, 10, K are 10 points each. Last trick = 10 points.

Auction bidding starting at 250 in steps of 10. The highest bidder chooses the trump suit.

Melds are scored after trump selection: runs (150/1500), royal marriages (40), pinochle (40/300), arounds (Aces 100/1000, Kings 80/800, Queens 60/600, Jacks 40/400).

Trick play requires following suit and heading trump. Winning bidder must make their bid; first team to reach 1000 points wins.

About Pinochle

Pinochle is an iconic American trick-and-meld game played by four players in two fixed partnerships using a special 48-card double deck containing two copies of 9, Jack, Queen, King, 10, and Ace across all four suits. Cards rank in the distinctive order of Ace (highest), 10, King, Queen, Jack, and 9. Each hand begins with a competitive auction starting at 250 points where partners bid on the combined value of their trick counters and melds. After the winning bidder names trump, players display combinations including runs, marriages, pinochles (Queen of Spades with Jack of Diamonds), and four-of-a-kind arounds. During the twelve tricks that follow, players must follow suit, head trumps, and capture counters to reach 1000 points.

Pinochle at a glance

Players	4 players
Type	Table game: play online with friends, or with bots in any seat
Family	Trick-taking
Bot levels	Easy, medium and hard
Options	Target Score: 1000 or 1500 or 500
Turn timer (online)	30 seconds
Cost	Free, no download

Tips for Pinochle

Calculate your guaranteed meld before bidding aggressively: runs, pinochles, and arounds provide the stable point foundation needed to justify bids above 300.
Remember that Tens rank higher than Kings, Queens, and Jacks: never discard a Ten on an uncertain trick where opponents might win it.
Lead your side-suit Aces early to pull counters from opponents before trump controls are exhausted across the table.

Questions about Pinochle

How many people can play Pinochle?

Pinochle is played by exactly 4 players. Real players and bots can share a table, so a game can always start even if you do not have enough people.

Can I play Pinochle against the computer?

Yes. Pick easy, medium or hard bots and start straight away. Bots only use what a player in their seat could see, so they cannot peek at your cards.

Can I play Pinochle online with friends?

Yes. Create a private room and share its code, or join a quick match. If someone drops out mid-game, a bot takes over their seat.

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