The complete Pinochle melds cheat sheet — every meld type with point values for both single-deck and double-deck play.

Pinochle melding is where the game is won or lost. Knowing every meld and its value lets you bid accurately and play the cards where they score the most. Print this chart and keep it handy.

The Pinochle Deck

Pinochle uses a 48-card deck (single-deck) or 80-card deck (double-deck): two copies of 9, 10, J, Q, K, A in each suit.

Card ranking (high to low): A → 10 → K → Q → J → 9

Single-Deck Melds

Type I — Runs & Marriages

Meld Cards Points
Run (Flush) A-10-K-Q-J of trump 150
Royal Marriage K + Q of trump 40
Common Marriage K + Q of any non-trump suit 20

Type II — Around Melds

Meld Cards Points
Aces Around One Ace from each suit (A♠ A♥ A♦ A♣) 100
Kings Around One King from each suit 80
Queens Around One Queen from each suit 60
Jacks Around One Jack from each suit 40

Type III — Special Melds

Meld Cards Points
Pinochle Q♠ + J♦ 40
Dix (Deece) 9 of trump 10

Double-Deck Melds

Double-deck Pinochle rewards duplicate melds with enormous bonuses:

Type I — Runs & Marriages

Meld Cards Points
Double Run Two complete runs in trump (A-10-K-Q-J × 2) 1,500
Run A-10-K-Q-J of trump 150
Double Royal Marriage K-K-Q-Q of trump 80
Royal Marriage K + Q of trump 40
Common Marriage K + Q of non-trump 20

Type II — Around Melds

Meld Single (1 per suit) Double (2 per suit)
Aces Around 100 1,000
Kings Around 80 800
Queens Around 60 600
Jacks Around 40 400

Type III — Special Melds

Meld Single Double
Pinochle (Q♠ + J♦) 40 300
Dix (9 of trump) 10 10 (no double bonus)

How Melding Works

  1. Win the bid (or be partners with the bid winner, depending on variant)
  2. Declare trump suit
  3. Lay down melds face-up for all players to see and verify
  4. Score melds — add up all valid melds
  5. Pick up melds and begin trick-taking play

Key Rules

  • One card, multiple melds: A Queen of trump can count in a Royal Marriage AND in Queens Around AND in a Run — all at the same time.
  • Same category restriction: You cannot use the same card in two melds of the SAME type. Two marriages in the same suit requires two different Queens and two different Kings.
  • Minimum meld to save: In many variants, you must win at least one trick during play to keep your meld points.

Melding Strategy Tips

Bid Assessment

Before bidding, count your guaranteed melds:

Meld Count Bid Adjustment
0-30 meld points Bid conservatively — you need tricks
40-80 meld points Standard bid range
100+ meld points Bid aggressively — you have a cushion
150+ meld points Consider a power bid

Trump Selection for Maximum Melds

Choose trump to maximize your total meld score:

  • A Run in trump (150) is worth far more than any Around meld
  • A Royal Marriage (40) is double a Common Marriage (20)
  • If you have Kings Around + Queens Around, ANY suit works for trump — pick the one where you also have A-10-J for a Run

Common Meld Combinations

Hand Pattern Likely Melds Approx. Points
Run + Pinochle 150 + 40 190
Run + Aces Around 150 + 100 250
Kings + Queens Around + Marriage 80 + 60 + 40 180
Pinochle + 2 Marriages 40 + 40 + 20 100
Double Pinochle (double-deck) — 300

Quick Reference Summary

Memorize these three numbers:

  • 150 — Run in trump (the big one)
  • 100 — Aces Around
  • 40 — Pinochle, Royal Marriage, or Jacks Around

Everything else falls between these benchmarks. Kings Around (80) and Queens Around (60) slot in logically. Common Marriages are always 20, and the Dix is always 10.

Practice melding in real games at Rare Pike Pinochle →.