Score for melds in hand, then again for the tricks you take.
A melding and trick-taking game in one, played with a doubled deck. You score twice from the same cards: once for what you hold, and again for what you capture.
48 cards — two each of nine, jack, queen, king, ten and ace in every suit. Note the ranking: ace is highest, then ten, then king, queen, jack, nine. The ten sitting above the king catches everyone out.
In the four-handed partnership game, players bid for the right to name trump, promising a minimum total score.
After trump is set, everyone lays out scoring combinations from their hand:
Marriage — king and queen of the same suit: 2, or 4 in trump Pinochle — jack of diamonds with queen of spades: 4 Four aces, one of each suit: 10 Four kings: 8. Four queens: 6. Four jacks: 4 Nine of trump: 1
Melds are then taken back into the hand and played.
Follow suit if you can, and you must beat the highest card played so far if you are able. If you cannot follow, you must trump. Highest trump takes the trick, otherwise the highest card of the suit led.
Each ace, ten and king taken in tricks is worth 1 point, and the last trick is worth 1. Meld points plus counters make the hand's score, and the bidding side must reach its bid or lose the amount they bid.