2 Player Pinochle Rules (Two-Handed Pinochle)

Deal 12 cards each and turn up the trump card

1. Shuffle the 48-card pinochle deck. Deal 12 cards to each player, three at a time.
2. Turn the next card face up. Its suit is trump for this hand.
3. Put the other 23 cards face down, across the turned card. This is the stock.
4. The non-dealer leads the first trick. The deal alternates each hand.

While the stock lasts, you may play any card

The first half of the hand is relaxed. The cards are the same as in four-player pinochle, ranked ace, ten, king, queen, jack, nine.

• The leader plays any card. The other player may play any card too: you don't have to follow suit or trump.
• The trick goes to the higher trump, or else the higher card of the suit led. Of two identical cards, the one led wins.
• The winner may meld (next section). Then the winner draws the top card of the stock and the loser draws the next one, so both of you are back to 12.
• The winner leads the next trick. This goes on for 12 tricks, until the stock and the turn-up are gone.

Win a trick, then lay down one meld

In 2-handed pinochle you don't show all your meld at once. Only the player who just won a trick may meld, and only one meld per trick. You score it right away.

• The values are the same as in four-player pinochle: run 150, royal marriage 40, marriage 20, aces around 100, pinochle 40, double pinochle 300, dix 10.
• Melded cards stay face up on the table, but they are still yours: you may play them to tricks later.
• A card on the table can be used again, but only in a different kind of meld. A king from your marriage can join kings around later.
• Building up pays: a run made on a royal marriage already on the table scores the rest of the run; a second pinochle next to your first scores the rest of a double pinochle. Try it below.

The first dix is swapped for the trump card

The dix (say “deece”) is the nine of trump, worth 10. The first player to meld a dix may swap it for the turned-up trump card under the stock. That is a good trade: you give up a nine and get a better trump. The second dix just scores 10.

If the card turned up at the deal is itself a nine, the dealer scores 10 at once.

When the stock is gone, the last 12 tricks are strict

• Both players pick up their melded cards. There is no more melding.
• Now you must follow suit. If you can't, you must play a trump. And you must win the trick if you can.
• Play out all 12 cards. The player who wins the last trick scores 10.

Why it matters. Cards you melded are the same cards you need to win tricks. A strong player melds what scores now, but keeps enough trumps and aces to take counters in the second half.

Score your meld and your counters; first to 1200 wins

• Meld is scored as you go, each time you meld.
• After the last trick, each player counts the cards they won. In the classic count: ace 11, ten 10, king 4, queen 3, jack 2, nine 0. Many players use the simple count instead: 10 for each ace, ten and king. Both add up to 250 with the last trick.
• Add meld and card points to your running score. There is no bid, so nobody can be set.
• The first player to 1200 wins. Some play to 1000 or 1500.

See every meld value on the pinochle meld chart, and how four-player scoring differs on pinochle scoring.

Tips for two players

• Win tricks early when you have meld waiting. You can only meld after a win, and the stock runs out fast.
• Lose cheap tricks on purpose when you have nothing to meld: throw a nine or jack, keep your aces.
• Watch the turn-up. If you hold a dix, meld it early to grab that trump card.
• Count trumps before the stock ends. In the last 12 tricks, the player with more trumps usually takes the counters.

Ready to try? Our free pinochle game has a 2-handed mode against the computer, and the full four-player rules are on how to play pinochle.