Pinochle

A short game may end at 100 points, while a longer match may use 250 or 500. For a match consisting of several games, award one game point to each winning partnership and play to a predetermined number of game points.

Throw in an all-pass hand: If all four players pass, redeal with the next dealer instead of forcing the dealer to bid 20.; Higher opening bid: Begin at 25, 30, or another agreed value to create a more aggressive auction.; Bid by fives: Require every bid to be a multiple of five.

Minimum meld: Require a partnership to have at least 20 meld points before any meld can be recorded.; Run required to name trump: Require the declarer to hold a run, a trump marriage, or another agreed minimum trump meld.; Double-run treatment: Score a double run as 150 plus two trump marriages i...

The player to the dealer's left bids first, and bidding continues clockwise. The minimum opening bid is 20.

The same card may participate in certain melds and later be played to a trick. Displaying a card for meld does not remove it from the hand.

Play continues for twelve tricks, leaving every player with no cards. Partnerships keep their captured tricks separate until the trick-point count has been checked.

After winning the auction, the declarer names clubs, diamonds, hearts, or spades as trump. The choice is final once announced.

If one or more trumps were played, the highest trump wins.; If no trump was played, the highest card of the suit led wins.; Cards of other non-trump suits cannot win.

All players lay their scoring combinations face up, grouped clearly enough to verify. Teammates add their meld values together.

A popular larger-group variation uses two 48-card pinochle decks combined, usually with higher bidding and scoring values. It is often played by four players with larger hands or by additional players in partnerships.