6 Simple Steps to Master the Pitch Card Game

Bid Whist is a classic card game that’s perfect for four players. It’s a trick-taking game, similar to Spades or Hearts, but with a few unique twists. The goal of the game is to be the first team to reach 500 points. Pitch is a game of skill and strategy, but it’s also a lot of fun. Can you outbid your opponents and earn the most points?

To play Pitch, you’ll need a standard deck of 52 cards. The game is played in two partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other. One player shuffles the deck and deals 12 cards to each player. The remaining cards are placed in a pile in the center of the table.

The player to the left of the dealer starts the game by bidding. The bid is a number between 0 and 12, and it represents the number of tricks that the player thinks their team can take. The other players then take turns bidding, either raising the bid or passing. The highest bid becomes the contract for the hand. The player who made the highest bid leads the first trick. They can play any card they want, and the other players must follow suit if they can. If they can’t follow suit, they can trump the card with a higher card of the same suit. The player who wins the trick leads the next trick.

Understanding the Basics of Pitch

Pitch is a classic card game of skill, strategy, and a dash of luck. It’s typically played with four players in two partnerships, but can also be played with three or six players. The game uses a standard 52-card deck, with the jokers removed.

The objective of Pitch is to be the first partnership to reach 100 points by winning tricks. Tricks are won by playing the highest card of the suit that was led, or by playing a trump card. Trump cards are the highest-ranking cards in the deck, and they can beat any other card.

To start the game, each player is dealt 13 cards. The player to the left of the dealer then leads by playing any card they choose. The other players must then follow suit if they can. If they cannot, they may play any card, including a trump card.

The trick is won by the player who plays the highest card of the suit that was led, or by the player who plays a trump card. The winner of the trick collects all of the cards in the trick and leads the next trick.

The game continues until one partnership reaches 100 points. The partnership with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Table: Card Rankings

Suit	Rank
Hearts	Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
Diamonds	Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
Clubs	Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
Spades	Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
Trumps	Right Bower, Left Bower, Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2

Bidding and Making Trump

Bidding in Pitch involves each player declaring their willingness to take a certain number of tricks with a specified trump suit. The process begins with the player to the left of the dealer, who must bid either a number between 1 and 9 or “pass”. Subsequent players can bid a higher number, pass, or “blind” (declare a trump suit without bidding a specific number of tricks).

Trump Suit Determination

The trump suit is determined through a blind bidding process. If any player bids blind, the suit named by that player becomes trump. If no player bids blind, the lead suit of the first played card becomes trump. In the event of a tie, the spade suit is designated as trump.

Bidding Strategy

Bidding in Pitch requires strategy and an assessment of one’s hand strength. Players may bid high to claim trump and increase their chances of winning tricks, or they may bid conservatively to minimize their risk. However, bidding too low or too high can lead to penalties, so careful consideration is necessary.

Bidding Table

Bid	Description
1-7	Number of tricks the player commits to taking with the specified trump suit
Blind	Declaring the trump suit without specifying the number of tricks
Pass	Player does not wish to bid, leaving the bidding open to other players

Playing Your Hand

The objective of the game is to get rid of all your cards, one or two at a time, by playing them on tricks. A trick is a set of cards, one from each player, that have been played in a row. The player who plays the highest card in the suit that was led wins the trick and collects all the cards in the trick.

When it is your turn to play, you must follow suit if possible. That means you must play a card of the same suit as the card that was led. If you do not have a card of the suit that was led, you may play any card you like, including a trump card.

Playing a Trump Card

A trump card is a card that can be played to beat any other card, regardless of suit. The only exception is if another trump card of a higher rank is played. Pitch uses the standard deck with four trump suits: hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. There are 13 cards in each suit, ranked from 2 to Ace. The Ace is the highest-ranking card in each suit, followed by the King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, and 3. The 2 is the lowest-ranking card in each suit.

Trump Suit	Rank
Hearts	Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
Diamonds	Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
Clubs	Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
Spades	Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2

Calculating the Score

Calculating the score in Pitch card game involves several steps. First, count the points earned by each player or team during the hand. Each trick taken by the bidding player or team earns 10 points. If a player or team fails to make their bid, they lose 10 points for each trick by which they fell short.

In addition, several special points can be earned:

Bags: 1 point for each bag (4 cards of the same suit) in a player’s hand.
Jacks: 10 points for each Jack in a player’s hand.
Pitch: If a player correctly guessed the Trump card, they earn 10 points.

Once all points are accounted for, the score is tabulated. Players or teams who bid a higher number of tricks receive a bonus of 10 points for each additional trick bid.

The following table summarizes the point values:

Event	Points
Trick taken (bidding player/team)	10
Trick taken (non-bidding player/team)	0
Miss bid (per trick)	-10
Bag	1
Jack	10
Pitch (correct)	10

The game continues until one player or team reaches a predetermined score (e.g., 200 points). The player or team with the highest score at the end of the game is the winner.

Winning the Game

In Pitch, the team with the highest total score after a predetermined number of hands wins the game. The winning team can either be the team that bid successfully (the “makers”) or the team that defended against the bid (the “defenders”).

Makers

To win as the makers, the team must make at least the number of tricks they bid. If they make their bid, they score 10 points for each trick they take. If they fail to make their bid, they lose 10 points for each trick they fail to make.

Defenders

To win as the defenders, the team must prevent the makers from making their bid. If the makers fail to make their bid, the defenders score 1 point for each trick the makers fail to make. If the makers make their bid, the defenders score 0 points.

Additional Scoring

In addition to the base scoring system, there are several additional ways to score points in Pitch:

Pitch: If a team bids and makes 10 or more tricks, they score an additional 10 points.
Bled: If a team makes exactly 0 tricks, they score an additional 5 points.
Blind Nil: If a team bids and makes 0 tricks without looking at their cards, they score an additional 10 points.

Bid	Minimum Tricks	Winning Score
1	1	10
2	2	20
3	3	30
4	4	40
5	5	50
6	6	60
7	7	70
8	8	80
9	9	90
10	10	100
Pitch	10	110

Advanced Strategies: Leading with Trump

Lead with a Medium-Strength Trump

When leading with trump, choose a medium-strength card (e.g., 10, Jack, Queen) instead of an Ace or King. This allows you to potentially capture a higher-ranking trump from your opponents while also saving your most powerful trump for later.

Lead with a Side Trump

If you have a weaker hand, consider leading with a side trump (e.g., Jack, Queen of a different suit). This forces your opponents to defend with their highest trump, potentially exhausting their trump holdings early on.

Lead with an Ace or King If Necessary

In certain situations, it may be necessary to lead with an Ace or King to establish your dominance and force your opponents to play their trump or high cards early.

Don’t Lead with a Weak Trump

Avoid leading with a weak trump (e.g., 2, 3, 4) unless you have no other options. This will likely give your opponents an easy capture and allow them to gain control of the game.

Lead with a Double Suit

If you have a double suit in a side suit, consider leading with one of the cards in that suit. This increases your chances of capturing a high card in that suit and gaining control of the pitch.

Hold Back Your Highest Trump

In most cases, it’s wise to hold back your highest trump until later in the game. This gives you the flexibility to counter your opponents’ trump leads and potentially force them into discarding high cards.

Table: Leading with Trump Decision Tree

Situation	Lead with
Medium-strength hand	Medium-strength trump
Weak hand	Side trump
Need to establish dominance	Ace or King
No other options	Weak trump (as last resort)
Double suit in side suit	Card in double suit
Conserve power	Hold back highest trump

Advanced Strategies: Counting Out

Counting out is a crucial skill in Pitch. By counting the cards played, you can track the number of each rank in the deck and make educated guesses about which cards are still available. Here are some tips for effective counting:

Keep a Mental Tally: As each card is played, mentally note its rank and suit. This will help you build a running count of the cards that have been removed from the deck.

Focus on Specific Ranks: Pay particular attention to the high-scoring ranks (e.g., Aces, Kings, and Queens), as these cards can have a significant impact on the game.

Track High and Low Cards: Keep track of both the highest and lowest cards played in each suit. This will give you a better understanding of the distribution of cards within the deck.

Count Face Cards: Face cards (Jacks, Queens, and Kings) are particularly important to count, as they can be used for Pitching and avoiding penalties.

Use a Counter: If you find it challenging to keep a mental tally, consider using a physical counter or tally sheet to track the card counts.

Estimate Remaining Cards: Based on the cards that have been played, estimate the number of cards of each rank that are still in the deck. This will help you make informed decisions about which cards to play.

Counting High-Scoring Cards

It’s crucial to keep track of the high-scoring cards, especially Aces. The following table provides an easy reference for the number of Aces remaining in the deck based on the number that have been played:

Aces Played	Aces Remaining
0	8
1	7
2	6
3	5
4	4

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Not Learning the Basic Rules Thoroughly

To play Pitch effectively, it’s crucial to fully understand the game’s rules and nuances. Skipping this step can lead to confusion and mistakes during gameplay.

2. Overbidding on Tricks

When making a bid, it’s essential to assess your hand carefully. Overbidding can result in a loss of points and can affect your team’s overall performance.

3. Not Communicating with Your Partner

Pitch is a cooperative game. Communicate with your partner about your hand strength and bidding intentions. Failure to do so can hinder teamwork and limit your success.

4. Playing Too Aggressively

While taking risks can sometimes be beneficial, being overly aggressive can lead to unnecessary penalties. Balance your strategy with caution and avoid making reckless plays.

5. Not Paying Attention to Other Players’ Bids

Observing your opponents’ bids can provide valuable information about their hand strength. Use this information to adjust your own bidding and strategy accordingly.

6. Not Using All Your Cards Effectively

It’s important to utilize all your cards strategically. Don’t hold onto valuable cards for too long, but also avoid discarding them prematurely.

7. Not Managing Your High Cards Wisely

High cards are powerful assets in Pitch. Learn how to use them effectively to trump opponents’ tricks and score points for your team.

8. Not Playing to Your Strengths

Identify the strengths and weaknesses of your hand. Focus on playing to your strengths while mitigating your weaknesses.

9. Not Utilizing the Scoring System Effectively

The scoring system in Pitch is designed to reward players for making successful bids and taking tricks. Thoroughly understand the scoring system to maximize your points and improve your chances of winning.

Variations of Pitch

Standard Pitch

The most common variation of pitch, played with a standard deck of 52 cards.

Partnership Pitch

Played in teams of two, where partners sit across from each other. The team with the highest score wins.

Cutthroat Pitch

A competitive variation where players play individually, with no teams. The player with the highest score wins.

Blind Pitch

A variation where players do not look at their cards before bidding. They must rely on their intuition and the cards they see played by other players.

High-Low Pitch

A variation where players bid on the highest and lowest cards in the deck. The player with the highest bid wins the highest card, while the player with the lowest bid wins the lowest card.

Bid Whist

A variation that combines elements of pitch and whist. Players bid on the number of tricks they will take, and the team with the highest score wins.

Joker Pitch

A variation where jokers are added to the deck. Jokers can be used as any card, giving players more flexibility in their bidding.

Auction Pitch

A variation where players bid on the right to set the trump suit. The player with the highest bid sets the trump suit, and the team with the most tricks wins.

Progressive Pitch

A variation where the trump suit changes every few hands. This adds an element of unpredictability to the game.

South Carolina Pitch

A popular variation played in South Carolina. It features a different scoring system and a unique set of rules for bidding.

Variation	Description
Standard Pitch	Played with a standard deck of 52 cards, no teams.
Partnership Pitch	Played in teams of two, partners sit across from each other.
Cutthroat Pitch	Competitive variation where players play individually.
Blind Pitch	Players do not look at their cards before bidding.
High-Low Pitch	Players bid on the highest and lowest cards in the deck.

How to Play Pitch Card Game

Pitch is a trick-taking card game played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The game is typically played with four players in two partnerships. The goal of the game is to be the first partnership to reach 500 points.

To start the game, each player is dealt 13 cards. The player to the left of the dealer then leads with any card. The other players must follow suit if possible. If a player cannot follow suit, they may play any card.

The highest card of the suit led wins the trick. If a player plays a trump card, it automatically wins the trick. Trumps are the four jacks, queens, kings, and aces.

The winner of the trick leads the next card. The game continues until all 13 tricks have been played.

At the end of each hand, the partnership that wins the most tricks scores points. The number of points scored is equal to the number of tricks won plus any bonus points for taking all 13 tricks (called a “pitch”) or for winning the last trick (called a “dix”).

The first partnership to reach 500 points wins the game.