Pinochle

Pinochle
The jack of diamonds and queen of spades are the "pinochle" meld of pinochle.
TypeTrick-taking
Players4 in partnerships or 3 individually; variants exist for 2–6 or 8 players
SkillsStrategy
Social skills
Teamwork
Card counting
Cards48 (double 24 card deck) or 80 (quadruple 20 card deck)
DeckFrench
Rank (high→low)A 10 K Q J 9
PlayClockwise
Playing time1 to 5 hours
ChanceMedium
Related games
Bezique, Marjolet, Binokel

Pinochle (English: /ˈpnʌkəl/), also called pinocle or penuchle,[1] is a trick-taking ace–ten card game, typically for two to four players and played with a 48-card deck. It is derived from the card game bezique; players score points by trick-taking and also by forming combinations of characters into melds. It is thus considered part of a "trick-and-meld" category which also includes the game belote. Each hand is played in three phases: bidding, melds, and tricks. The standard game today is called "partnership auction pinochle".

  1. ^ Parlett 2008, p. 295.