trick-taking · USA / Germany
Pinochle
Also known as Binocle
Pinochle is the beloved American/German partnership card game that blends melding and trick-taking with a special 48-card double deck. Score points for melds (runs, marriages, the pinochle), then again for the tricks you win. Play free in your browser vs bots or friends, no signup.
4–4 players · free · no download · no signup
How to play Pinochle
- Note the trump suit and your melds.
- Follow suit; beat or trump when you can.
- Capture Aces, Tens and Kings for trick points.
- Add melds + trick points; first team to the target wins.
Pinochle rules
Deck & teams
4 players in two partnerships, a 48-card Pinochle deck (two each of 9, J, Q, K, 10, A in every suit). A trump suit is set each hand.
Melds
Score combinations you hold — runs, marriages (K+Q of a suit), and the pinochle (Q♠ + J♦). Melds are tallied automatically from your hand.
Trick play
Card order is A, 10, K, Q, J, 9. Follow suit and beat the trick if you can; if void, you must trump. Aces, Tens and Kings carry the trick points.
Scoring
Your team's score is its melds plus its trick points (with a last-trick bonus). First team to the target total wins.
Strategy tips
- Lead trumps to pull the opponents' trumps when strong.
- Protect your meld cards early.
- Count the Aces and Tens — they carry the points.
Variants
Double-Deck Pinochle · Auction Pinochle
Pinochle — frequently asked questions
What is a pinochle?
The meld of the Queen of spades and the Jack of diamonds — the combination the game is named after.
How big is a Pinochle deck?
48 cards — two copies each of 9, Jack, Queen, King, 10 and Ace in all four suits.