Game Rules: Pinochle

Game Identity

• Name: Pinochle
• Player Count: 2–4 players. Standard: 3 or 4 (4-player partnership is most common).
• Teams: Yes for 4-player (2 teams of 2, partners sit across). Individual for 2 and 3-player.
• Theme: Classic American card game using a 48-card double pinochle deck (9s through Aces in two suits each).

Scoring Mechanics

• Scoring Variant: Accumulative — scores grow toward a target.
• Target Score: 150 points (standard). First team/player to reach 150+ after a hand where they bid and won wins.
• Unit of Scoring: Points per hand (meld points + trick points).
• Lower vs. Higher: Higher score wins.

Rules & Validation

Per-Hand Logic

• Points per Hand: Variable. Consists of two phases:

  1. Meld Phase: Players reveal combinations from their hand for points (see table below).
  2. Trick Phase: Points are scored by taking tricks (Aces = 11, Tens = 10, Kings = 4, Queens = 3, Jacks = 2, Last trick = 10).

• Total trick points: 250 per hand (standard counting).

• Bid: The winning bidder names trump and must score at least as many points as their bid; failing to do so subtracts the bid from their score.

• Common Meld Values:

  Combination	Points
  Ace, 10, K, Q, J of trump (Run)	150
  K+Q of trump (Royal Marriage)	40
  K+Q of non-trump (Marriage)	20
  4 Aces (one of each suit)	100
  4 Kings (one of each suit)	80
  4 Queens (one of each suit)	60
  4 Jacks (one of each suit)	40
  Pinochle (J♦ + Q♠)	40
  9 of trump (Dix)	10

• Validation Rules:

  • The bidding team's total (meld + tricks) must meet or exceed the bid; otherwise subtract the bid from their score.
  • Non-bidding team always scores their meld + tricks.

Special Actions / Bonuses

• Double Pinochle: Both J♦ and both Q♠ = 300 points.
• Double Run: Two complete runs in trump = 1,500 points.
• Going Set (Burying the Bid): Bidding team fails to make their bid — subtract the bid amount from their score; score can go negative.

Win Conditions

• Condition: After any hand, if the bidding team's cumulative score reaches or exceeds 150, they win. Non-bidding teams can also reach 150 through accumulated meld + tricks. The bidding team wins if tied.
• Tie-Breaker: The bidding team wins all ties at or above 150. If neither team bid in a tied hand, play continues.

Set Up in Doodle Score

Pinochle doesn't have a dedicated scorecard yet — track it for free using a general scorecard:

1. Tap New Scorecard and choose Paper Score (tracks all players each round in a grid)
2. Add 4 players (adjust as needed)
3. Set Target Score to 150 points (or skip for open-ended play)

Score type: Ascending — highest score wins.