PINOCHLE LAS VEGAS
RULES

ant playing cards

Below are the rules that are used at our pinochle games. Click here for a printable version.

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DEALING:

Deal 4 or 5 cards at a time.
The person to the right of dealer must cut the cards only once.
He is then responsible for returning the completed deck to the dealer (not left in two piles).
Not adhering to this “dealing rule” will cause the hand to be re-dealt.
Cards must be shuffled at least five (5) times.
Try moving a card or two around if deal is not correct.
IF, AT THE END OF THE HAND, a player has only one card difference, it does not require a re-deal, but two or more requires a re-deal.
If someone deals out of turn, the hand must be dealt over.

TABLE TALKING:

No table talk between partners (or others) until hand is completed.
BAD LANGUAGE OR OTHER IRRITATING FACTORS: Not allowed! See Sportsmanship Violations below. Try not to comment on the play of anyone. We all make mistakes.

RENEGE:

The opposing team may call a renege after a trick is put into the pile and next card played. The reneging team goes set their bid. The other team gets their meld or the bid, whichever is higher.
If the renege call was wrong, the calling team goes set the amount of the bid.

PLAYING OUT YOUR HAND:

We prefer all cards be played orderly, but if you lay down your last few cards (at the end of a hand) and claim you can take remaining tricks and, it is discovered that any card laid down can be beaten by the opponents, the opponents get the remaining tricks.

A PINOCHLE:

If you take all the tricks, you have pulled a “Pinochle” and will get 300 points plus meld.

BIDDING:

Bids such as “I’ll Save” , “By Me”, or “Open” are not allowed.
If someone lays down their hand before bidding is complete, it shall be considered an error (or fouled hand) and bidding reverts to previous bidder for completion.
A “50” bid means you want or are saving your partner.
A “51” bid means you have aces if you are the first bidder- not necessarily “around”, but enough to cover “51” ace bid.
Listen carefully to the bidding and react accordingly. Examples of meld bidding:
- Skip from 50 to 52 means 20 meld, skip from 50 to 53 means 30 meld, etc.
- 58 bid means 80 double kings or triple pinochle or a combination of 80 or 90 meld.
- 59 bid always means double aces around
We do not bid from 52 to 53 to show 10 meld - The bidder always will assume his partner has 10 meld. Bidding in that manner will mislead your partner into thinking you want the bid.
If a 60 or 65 bid is given by your partner and you have 30 or more meld, you “jump bid” by 10, such as 60 to 70 - 65 to 75. If you have 60 meld, you would jump twice by tens.
If you have lots of meld and a strong suit, we suggest giving a meld bid first - you can always come back and take the bid.
Some players choose not to give a meld bid unless they have some aces to help save the meld; however, your partner may have a strong hand and need the meld, so this is controversial.
If your partner gives a 53 or similar bid and you have a marriage but not much else, just bid 54 if forced to to cover your partner’s bid in case he has no marriage. You must then take the bid if everyone passes.
Aces around should be declared and displayed as a courtesy. But, if not done, it is not a renege if one forgets.
All meld must be displayed in such a manner that all at the table can see and total up, but you are responsible for adding your own meld.
A marriage is required to name trump. The first marriage laid down by winning bidder is considered trump; however, if the bidder calls out the trump, he must have a marriage to lay down in that suit he calls out. Otherwise, it will be considered a renege.
If everyone passes and it goes around to the dealer and he does not have a marriage, he and his partner go set 50. The other team gets their meld if they have a least 20 points.
Don’t show or mention meld until trump has been announced.
Each team must have at least 20 points to count meld and must pull 20 points to save meld. The team who won the bid must make their bid, but if not, they go set that amount.

SCORING:

Both teams are accountable for the scoring process. Each team must check the scorekeeper’s scoring so as to be correct and be sure to check their individual score sheet with the main score sheet to make sure their score is properly recorded. Only designated members shall score in the main book.

PINOCHLE POINT VALUES AND DEFINITIONS:

	SINGLE	DOUBLE	TRIPLE	QUAD
Jacks	4	40	120	160
Queens	6	60	180	240
Kings	8	80	240	320
Aces	10	100	300	400
Run	15	150	450	650
Pinochle	4	30	90	300
Marriage	2	4	6	8
Marriage in Trump	4	8	12	16
Round House 24
Run and Round House 35
Run, Round House and Pinochle 39
Marriage: King and Queen in same suit
Marriage in Trump: King and Queen in the suit that was named trump
Pinochle: Jack Diamonds - Queen of Spades
Run: Ace, 10, King, Queen, and Jack all in the same suit that is trump
Round House: King and Queen in every suit

SPORTSMANSHIP VIOLATION

The Review Committee and Management have the right to refuse, suspend or terminate membership of any player if the best interests of the club and its players are served. If a Sportsmanship violation occurs, a Sportsmanship Violation must be completed and turned in to Loretta Williams. It will then be submitted to the Review Committee. If a violation is issued, the first infraction is a verbal warning, second is a two week suspension, third is an indefinite suspension from the club. Any fighting or verbal abuse will not be tolerated and may result in a more immediate harsher penalty depending on the severity of the incident, as determined by the Review Committee.

PINOCHLE LAS VEGAS RULES