Double Deck Pinochle Game Room
About Double Deck Pinochle
Double Deck Pinochle is one of the most popular trick-taking card games in the American Midwest, played with enthusiasm in bars, clubs, and family settings across Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio. It uses a special 80-card deck made by combining two standard pinochle decks — 8 each of Ace, 10, King, Queen, Jack, and 9 of all four suits. The double deck format allows four players in two partnerships to each receive 20 cards, creating richer melds and more dynamic bidding than single-deck pinochle.
The game proceeds in three phases: bidding (estimating the minimum score the declaring partnership can reach), melding (laying down point-scoring card combinations such as runs, marriages, and the coveted double pinochle), and trick-taking (playing out the hand to earn points from Aces, 10s, and the final trick). Partnerships that meet their bid score their meld and trick points; those that fall short have their bid deducted.
How to Play Double Deck Pinochle
Four players form two partnerships. After the deal of 20 cards each, players bid the number of points they believe their partnership can score. The highest bidder names trump. Both partnerships reveal their meld combinations. Trick-taking then begins. Card point values: Aces (11), 10s (10), Kings (4), Queens (3), Jacks (2), 9s (0). The last trick is worth 20 bonus points; 500 total points are available per hand. Teams that meet their bid score their points; those that fall short go set and lose the bid amount.
Why Play Double Deck Pinochle on Rare Pike
- Authentic 80-card double deck pinochle rules
- Partnership play with real online opponents
- Quick match to find opponents instantly
- Private games for club nights with friends
- Live leaderboards updated bi-weekly
- No download or registration required
Frequently Asked Questions
Is double deck pinochle free to play on Rare Pike?
Yes, completely free. No download or registration required.
What makes double deck pinochle different from regular pinochle?
Double deck pinochle uses 80 cards (two combined decks) instead of 48, dealing 20 cards per player. Melds are more varied and scoring dynamics differ significantly from the single-deck version.
What is a double pinochle?
A pinochle is the meld of the Queen of Spades and Jack of Diamonds. With two decks it is possible to hold all four of these cards, forming a double pinochle worth 300 meld points — one of the most valuable melds in the game.
What does going set mean in pinochle?
Going set means the declaring team failed to reach their bid. The bid amount is subtracted from their score rather than added.