Pinochle Card Game
Objective:
In Pinochle Card Game to score the most points by using strategy’s to meld and take tricks with high scoring cards.
The Cards:
A double deck what’s known as a Hoyle Pinochle Card Game deck each deck consisting of A, K, Q, J, 10, 9 of each Suit (48 cards total). The cards rank A, 10, K, Q, J, 9.
Learn How To Play:
Deal 12 cards to each player; turn the next card up to determine the trump Suit. If it’s a 9, the dealer scores an immediate 10 points. Place the remaining cards, face down to form a stock pile.
Non dealer leads with any card; dealer may follow by playing any card, you don’t have to follow Suit. Tricks are won by the higher trump. If there is no trump the higher card wins the suit. If the two cards are the same, the first card played wins. Winner of the trick can meld any one of these combinations:
Pinochle (  Q,  J ) |
40 points |
A,  A,  A, A (100 Aces) |
100 points |
| K, K, K, K (80 Kings) |
80 points |
| Q, Q, Q, Q (60 Queens) |
60 points |
| J, J, J, J (40 Jacks) |
40 points |
| K and Q, same Suit (marriage) |
20 points |
| Marriage in trump |
40 points |
| A-10-K-Q-J of trump (flush) |
150 points |
| Each 9 of trump (dix) |
10 points |
In this card game even if a player holds more than one meld in their hand, after winning a trick only one meld combination may be put on the table. Another trick must be won to make the second meld. This doesn’t apply to the 9s of trump. The first dix (9 of trump) can be exchanged for the upcard to get a higher trump. The second is shown to the opponent and you get 10 points.
A melded card may be used again in a different meld. For instance, the
Q may be melded with the
K in a marriage; then after winning a later trick, the same
Q may be melded with a
J in a pinochle card game, or with
Q,
Q,
Q for 60 Queens. A second marriage in Spades would require a new
Q and
K. Cards melded on the table still belong to the hand of their owner and may be played for the rest of the hand.
After a trick is won and any meld put on the table, both players take a new card from the stock, the winner of the trick draws first. Winner of the trick then leads to the next trick.
End The Game Instructions:
When only the upcard and a single stock card are left, the winner of the trick takes the stock card, and the loser takes the upcard (which at this point will be the 9 of trump). No more melds may be made. Pinochle card game players return to their hands any cards melded on the table, and the winner of the last trick starts the end game by leading with any card.
A player can’t meld 40 Jacks and later meld 60 Queens, also claiming the 40 points for the game. The player should first meld the Pinochle card game the Jacks and Queens.
In playing the tricks during the end game, a player must follow Suit if able; or, the player must trump if able.
Free Rules for Scoring:
After all the tricks have been played, players total up cards won as follows:
| Each ace |
11 points |
| Each 10 |
10 points |
| Each king |
4 points |
| Each queen |
3 points |
| Each jack |
10 points |
| Each nine |
zero points |
Scorekeeper adds these trick points to each player’s melds and reports the running totals. Games are usually played to 1000 points. If both players go over 1000 points on the same deal, whoever has the higher total wins.
Pinochle Card Game Tips:
Cards played to tricks in the first phase of the game are no longer available for melding. Play a possible melding card only if you’re sure you can spare it. Win tricks with 10s, not with Aces (unless you have a duplicate of that Ace).
In
Pinochle card game Kings and Queens (especially the
Q) are good melding cards. Retain these cards while the possibility of melding (except the
J). Four different Jacks score only 40 points, so unless you have this meld, don’t keep Jacks.
If you’ve seen both
K’s, then all other kings become less valuable, since 80 Kings is no longer a possible meld.
If your opponent plays a good melding card early, it’s likely to be a duplicate. However, your opponent may be missing the rest of the meld and be strapped for a play.
Use a trump in beginning play to meld some cards and free them for play, or to prevent opponent from melding. In the end game a long trump suit will bring in several extra tricks, as well as the last trick.
In the
Pinochle end game, beware the singleton Ace. If opponent plays the other Ace, you follow Suit and lose. Play yours first.
Spades
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