Bid, meld, and take tricks with AI partners in the classic double-deck card game.
| Run (A-10-K-Q-J trump) | 150 |
| Double Run | 1500 |
| Royal Marriage (K-Q trump) | 40 |
| Marriage (K-Q non-trump) | 20 |
| Pinochle (Q♠+J♦) | 40 |
| Double Pinochle | 300 |
| Aces Around | 100 |
| Double Aces Around | 1000 |
| Kings Around | 80 |
| Double Kings Around | 800 |
| Queens Around | 60 |
| Double Queens Around | 600 |
| Jacks Around | 40 |
| Double Jacks Around | 400 |
| Ace | 10 pts |
| Ten | 10 pts |
| King | 0 pts |
| Last trick bonus | 10 pts |
A > 10 > K > Q > J > 9
Pinochle is a classic American trick-taking card game that uses a unique 48-card double deck. Played in partnerships of two, the game combines strategic bidding, meld declarations, and trick-taking into a deeply engaging experience. Each hand involves estimating your combined hand strength, declaring scoring card combinations (melds), and then playing out 12 tricks to earn counters.
The game's double deck creates situations impossible in other card games: two aces of the same suit can appear in one hand, and powerful double melds can swing an entire game. The ranking system where 10s outrank Kings adds another layer of strategic depth.
Each hand of Pinochle has three phases. First, players bid for the contract starting at 250, competing to name the trump suit. The winning bidder's team must then score at least their bid amount. Second, all players declare their melds -- scoring combinations like marriages (King + Queen), pinochles (Queen of Spades + Jack of Diamonds), and runs. Finally, players take turns playing cards in tricks, with Aces and 10s worth 10 counter points each, plus a 10-point bonus for taking the last trick.
If the bidding team's melds plus counters don't reach their bid, they "go set" and lose the bid amount from their score. The defending team always keeps their melds and counters. First team to 1500 points wins the game.
A meld is a scoring combination of cards shown after winning the bid. Common melds include marriages (King + Queen of the same suit = 20 points, 40 in trump), the pinochle itself (Queen of Spades + Jack of Diamonds = 40 points), runs (A-10-K-Q-J of trump = 150 points), and around sets (one of the same rank in all four suits). Double versions of these melds score significantly higher.
Bidding starts at 250 and increases in increments of 10. Players take turns either raising the bid or passing. Once you pass, you cannot bid again that hand. The highest bidder wins the contract, names the trump suit, and their team must score at least the bid amount through melds and trick counters combined. Failing to make your bid costs you the bid amount.
Pinochle uses a 48-card deck containing two copies of each card from 9 through Ace in all four suits. The ranking from high to low is A-10-K-Q-J-9, with the 10 ranking higher than the King. This double deck enables the unique meld combinations and creates interesting strategic decisions during trick play.
If you enjoy Pinochle, try these other classic card games:
Euchre — Another trick-taking partnership game with trump suits and bowers.
Spades — A partnership bidding and trick-taking game where spades are always trump.
Cribbage — A classic two-player card game with a unique scoring board and counting combinations.