Pinochle scoring
Meld, counters, and the bid
Two scores are added together and then measured against one promise. Everything about Pinochle scoring follows from that, including the penalty that makes a careless bid so expensive.
Step one: count the counters
| Captured card | Points |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| Ten | 1 |
| King | 1 |
| Queen or Jack | 0 |
| Winning the last trick | 2 |
The double deck holds four copies each of the Ace, Ten, and King in four suits, so 48 counters are on the table. With the two points for last trick, a deal is worth exactly 50 in tricks.
Sources: Pagat: Double Deck Pinochle; Trickster Cards: Pinochle rule options.
Step two: add the meld
Meld was already counted before the first lead. Add it to the counters for each partnership to get that side's raw total for the hand.
See the complete meld chartStep three: settle the contract
A bidding team that finishes below its bid does not lose the difference. Its score for the hand becomes minus the entire bid, and the meld it laid down counts for nothing.
Bid 52, finish 72
Forty meld and thirty counters plus last trick reaches 72 against a bid of 52. The team scores all 72; there is no cap at the bid.
Bid 52, finish 38
Twenty meld and eighteen counters reaches only 38. The team scores −52 for the hand. The opponents keep everything they earned.
Big meld, no tricks
A hand with 90 meld still has to win counters. Melding well and then losing control of trump is the classic way to be set on a hand that looked safe.
Sources: Pagat: Double Deck Pinochle; Trickster Cards: Pinochle rule options.
Winning the match
The first partnership to 500 wins. Big Mike also supports a 300-point match for a shorter session.
If both partnerships pass the target in the same hand, the bidding team wins the match, even when the other side finished with more points. Taking the contract is what earns the right to go out.
Sources: Pagat: Double Deck Pinochle.
What a bid is really promising
Because meld counts toward the bid, a bid of 52 with 40 meld only needs 12 counters, while the same bid on 10 meld needs 42 of the 50 available. Those are very different hands wearing the same number, which is why counting meld accurately before bidding matters more in Pinochle than in most trick-taking games.
Quick answers
Pinochle scoring FAQ
Which cards are counters in Pinochle?
Aces, Tens, and Kings. Each one captured is worth one point. Queens and Jacks are worth nothing in tricks.
How many points are available in one Pinochle deal?
Fifty from tricks: 48 counters plus two for winning the last trick. Meld is added on top and varies with the hands dealt.
What happens if the bidding team misses its bid?
The bidding team scores minus the full bid for that hand, not the shortfall. A team that bid 52 and finished with 38 scores −52.
Who wins if both teams pass 500 in the same hand?
The bidding team wins the match, even if the other partnership finished with more points. Taking the contract is what earns the right to go out.
Settle the hand
Use the free meld calculator
Count meld, then settle meld and counters against the bid in one place.