Pitch

Classic American trick-taking game (Setback / High-Low-Jack). Bid for the contract and score High, Low, Jack, and Game.

How to play

4 players play in two fixed partnerships (0 & 2 vs 1 & 3) using a 52-card deck (6 cards each).

Players bid 2 to 4 tricks (or pass); the highest bidder leads the first card to set trump.

Players must follow suit if able, but may choose to trump instead at any time.

4 points available each hand: High trump, Low trump, Jack of trump, and Game (most card points: 10s=10, As=4, Ks=3, Qs=2, Js=1).

Making your bid scores points captured; failing sets you back by your bid amount (-bid).

Defenders always score the points they capture.

First team to reach the target score (default 11) wins.

About Pitch

Pitch, also known as Setback or High Five, is an American partnership trick-taking game played with a standard 52-card deck. Four players bid for the right to name trump, bidding 2, 3, or 4 (Smudge). The highest bidder pitches the first card, which automatically determines trump. Exactly four points are available each hand: High (highest trump in play), Low (lowest trump in play), Jack (Jack of trumps), and Game (highest total face-card value won: tens=10, Aces=4, Kings=3, Queens=2, Jacks=1). If the making team misses their bid, they are setback that amount.

Pitch 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: 11 or 21
Turn timer (online)	30 seconds
Cost	Free, no download

Tips for Pitch

Low trump is scored by whoever originally held it, so you can safely sacrifice a low trump without worrying about who wins the trick.
Jack of trumps is the swing point: protect your Jack by ducking or capturing it only when opponents' higher trumps are flushed.
Count tens when bidding for Game: winning three tens is often enough to guarantee the Game point even without high cards.

Questions about Pitch

How many people can play Pitch?

Pitch 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 Pitch 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 Pitch 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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