Pinocle

PINOCLE is a game of cards, similar to the French game of "bezique." It can be played by two, three or four persons.

Short Pinocle

is played with two packs, from which all cards below the 9's are left out. The cards remaining are in order of value : 9, knave, queen, king, io, ace (high). Twelve cards are dealt to each player, four at a time, and the next card is turned as a trump. It is placed under the pack, face up. If it is a 9, it is called the "dix" (pronounced "fleece"), and the dealer scores io points for turning it. If any other card is turned, either player who has a 9 of trumps, after he has taken a trick, may take up the turned trump into his hand, and put his 9 face up, under the pack, and score '0 points for his 9. The holder of the other dix may lay it on the table, after he has taken a trick, and add io to his score.

The scoring is done by "melding," a word which comes from a German verb widen, to announce. After either player has taken a trick, he can lay the cards to be melded on the table, face up, and add the value of that meld to the score, but only one meld can be made after each trick taken. The values of the meld are as follows: the dix is io; a marriage (any king and queen of same suit) 20; a royal marriage (a king and queen of trumps) 4o, pinocle (the knave of diamonds and queen of spade§) 40; 4 aces of different suits oo, 4 kings of different suits 8o; 4 queens of different suits 6o; 4 knaves of different suits 4o; a royal straight (ace, 10, king, queen and knave of trumps) 150.

In melding, at least one new card must be laid out for each new meld. For instance, with spades for trumps, holding 150, the king and queen should be laid out first, and 4o trumps melded; then, after taking another trick, the ace, 1 o and knave are laid down, and 150 melded. Then, if the player has the knave of diamonds, after taking another trick, it may be laid by the queen of spades, and pinocle melded. This order of melding, however, can only be followed when there are enough cards left in stock to be sure the player will have time, as no meld can be made after the last card is drawn from the stock. Otherwise 150 should be melded at once.

The cards left after the trump is turned are called "stock cards," and after each trick is taken in, and laid away, face down, each player draws a card, the winner drawing first. After they draw, no player can meld until he has taken another trick. Each player

keeps in mind a count of the cards he has taken in play. They count as follows: aces 11, tens 10, kings 4, queens 3, and knaves 2 points; and he adds the total of those made to his melding score. The player who takes the last trick also adds I°. The total of the points in the two hands, including the last trick, is 25o.

A player may follow suit, trump or discard, but after the last stock card has been drawn, each must follow suit or trump. If void both of the suit and trump, he may discard. One who violates this law loses the cards in the tricks he has won, in that hand. The game is 1,000 points, and when a player who has the lead believes that the value of cards in the tricks he has taken, added to the points he has already scored, equals ',coo, he may call "out" and stop the play. If he is short of the points, he loses the game.

Auction Pinocle

has generally taken the place of short pinocle. Only in number of cards used, the values of the melds and the values of the cards and dixes are the games the same. Only three can play auction pinocle. If a fourth takes part, each dealer in turn takes no cards, and sits out during the play, but wins or loses the same as those who play against the successful bidder.

Fifteen cards are dealt to each player, usually three at a time, and at some time during the deal, three cards are dealt to the table, face down, and remain there. These are often called the "widow" or "dummy." Each player in turn, beginning with the eldest hand, may pass or may bid for the privilege of declaring the trump, and playing the hand. if all pass, the hands are thrown up, and there is a new deal. If bids are made, the first bid usually must be at least 200 or 25o (in some clubs at least 300), but may be whatever more the bidder thinks he can make. Each following bid must be at least Io more, and the bidding continues until two players have passed. A player who has passed cannot bid again on that hand. When two pass, the bidding stops, and the contract goes to the last bidder, who becomes the contractor. The contractor now turns the three cards in the "widow" face up on the table, and adds them to his hand. He declares a trump, and lays his melds on the table, face up. In addition to the melds given above, the contractor may meld a "round trip" 240, if he holds a king and a queen in each suit, but if he makes this meld, a royal straight counts only 11o.