Pinochle Online

Pinochle has its own deck, which consists of two suits of 9s through Aces, totaling 48 cards. In order of lowest to highest rank, it goes 9s, Jacks, Queens, Kings, 10s (yes, 10s), and then Aces.

 Though there are several variations, Pinochle is typically played with two teams of two players (partners sit across from each other). Your end goal as a team is to earn 150 points. Points are earned through melding and trick-taking, both of which we will explain in just a moment.

Each turn starts with a bidding round to determine the trump suit. After determining the trump suit, the winner of this round exchanges 4 cards with their partner. Players will then show their melds, which are specific combinations of cards worth a set number of points. For example, a King and Queen of the trump suit is a “royal marriage,” which awards 4 points.

Once melding is over, the highest bidder leads the trick-taking round. Everyone takes turns “one-upping” or “crawling” the last trick, staying in the trump suit as much as possible, with the highest card winning the trick. Points are totaled, the process repeats, and the team that earns 150 points wins.

This overview of how to play Pinochle only scratches the surface. Give it a try to sharpen your trick-taking skills —and if you’ve got tips or strategies, share them in the comments to help others level up their game.

This game is operated by World of Card Games. You can read their privacy policy here and terms of service here.

Did you know that Pinochle is played with teams? That’s right; this trick-taking card game blends just-right difficulty (not too easy, not too hard) with captivating team-based gameplay to always keep things interesting. Far from relying only on luck to win, you will need sharp judgment and savvy strategies to make the best bids, build those melds, and more.

Now is a better time than ever to learn Pinochle, thanks to free online Pinochle at Arkadium, which allows you to hone your skills whenever you want against computer opponents. Fans may have kept the rules the same for the past 150 years since Pinochle was invented, but that doesn’t mean we can’t elevate your experience with modern conveniences.

A Bridge To…Bridge?

Pinochle is an excellent stepping stone from simpler games like Freecell and Blackjack to more difficult games like online Bridge. Both Pinochle and Bridge involve team-based gameplay, bidding, and trick-taking. However, Pinochle delivers a more beginner-friendly introduction to these elements. Of course, whether or not you intend to learn Bridge, Pinochle is fun enough in its own right to make hours of your free time magically disappear.

This game is operated by World of Card Games. You can read their privacy policy here and terms of service here.