Pinochle

(Public Domain), (Unknown), Arrco Playing Card Co. · Board game · 1864

— Ludopedia 6.9 BGG 2–4 · best 4 45 min Weight 2.3/5

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— rating Ludopedia

6.9 rating BGG

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Our Verdict

FOR GENRE FANS

If you love traditional card games with a strategic twist, Pinochle’s your jam. Think chess with cards, but way more lively!

Highlights

Smart card combinations
Nail-biting trick-taking
Great for partnership play

Keep in mind

Steep learning curve
Requires memorizing niche rules

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About the game

What you do in a play session

Pinochle is a classic card game blending strategy, bluffing, and a dash of luck. Played with a special 48-card deck (no 2-8s), it challenges players to bid how many points they’ll score to earn the right to choose the trump suit. But beware: miss your bid, and you lose everything! The game has two distinct phases: first, you meld card combinations (like runs or 'marriages' between kings and queens) to rack up points. Then comes the trick-taking showdown, where every play demands careful card management. Pinochle’s unique twists—like mandatory trumping when void—keep things spicy. Play solo or in partnerships (team variants are the most popular). It demands focus but rewards you with deeply tactical satisfaction.

Gallery

Box and component photos

11 photos · from the community

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Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

2 videos

In English

Best player count

BGG community vote

2–4 players

2 OK

3 REC

4 BEST

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Publisher (Public Domain), (Unknown), Arrco Playing Card Co., ASS Altenburger Spielkarten, F.X. Schmid, Jax, Ltd., Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag, Piatnik, Russell Manufacturing Company, The United States Playing Card Company, Waddington Sanders Ltd., Watkins Strathmore

Designer (Uncredited)