Why Play Pinochle?

The melding and trick-taking German card game called Pinochle should not only be played with a good hand but also with strategic thinking. This got me interested so I created an account and started to play. The good thing is that I can use a single account on various devices so I can maintain and update my profile anytime and anywhere, as long as I am connected to the internet. The option to log in automatically also adds more convenience, but you should be careful not to use it on devices that everyone share or use.

To be honest, I was really confused when I am still starting out, especially with the cards and the lingos. However, I read through the tutorials and tried several games. Eventually, I got the hand of it and everything went through smoothly.

In Pinochle, the goal is to win as many cards as possible. However, you have to be careful with each card that you lay down. There are 48 cards in a deck and cards from 2 to 8 are removed. There are two sets of cards including Aces (high), 10s, Kings, Queens, Jacks, and 9s (low). The highest card wins the trick. You must follow the suit of the card that is laid down on the table.

A player can announce a trump when he wins the bid at the beginning of the game and he will also determine the trump suit. This will beat the cards of all the other suits. The game has the so-called trump compulsion, which allows you to play a trump card if you cannot follow the suit. It is an effective option if you don’t have a matching suit or a trump. You will be able to win a trick so you can start the next one.

The Ace has the highest value, which is 11 points, while 10s corresponds to 10 points as well. King, Queen and Jack are valued by 4, 3, and 2 points, respectively. You have to play a card with a higher value. Each player will have the total scores for each of the score assigned to the cards they won at the end of the round. If you get the highest score, then you win the game.

However, make sure that you first pass the bidding and you also accept the melds being suggested. This way, you get to have a good feeling of the game before you can learn additional rules that will make your experience more fun and exciting.

Overall, Pinochle will enhance your thinking brain and develop your strategic skills. You might get frustrated in the beginning because you’ve more than you’ve won the game. Just continue playing for more games and you will eventually win more unlike before.