How To Play Pitch Card Game: Rules & Gameplay

Pitch is a member of trick-taking games popular among card game lovers in America. The game has many variations, but it refers to “Auction Pitch” in general. At the core, it is about bidding and trick-taking to bag a set number of score points. Immersed in the gameplay, you must strategize, bid, and win over your opponents with a keen observation. But the first step is to master the game’s rules and learn to bid.

Let’s learn how to play pitch card game with all the essential rules.

Pitch Card Game Play: At A Glance

The card game Pitch requires 3 to 6 players.
It uses a standard 52-card deck, sometimes without lower cards like 2s, 3s, and 6s.
Players bid on how many points they can win after evaluating the strength of their hand.
As per the pitch card game rules, only the highest bidder declares the trump suit or leads Trump.
Cards are played in tricks, following the suit led or playing Trump.
Points are scored by capturing specific cards (High, Low, Jack, Game), depending on the card ranks.
The team or player to reach the predetermined score (usually 7, 11, or 21) first, wins.

Terms Used in Pitch Card Game

Trick: A round of the game where each player has to play a single card.

Trump: A suit that surpasses all other suits for the duration of a hand, decided by

Bid: An initial declaration by a player indicating the number of points they expect to win.

Smudge: When a player wins every trick in a round, it is Smudging. They usually earn additional points for it or lose them.

Setback: A regional term for Pitch.

Also Read: How to Play Pinochle Card Game

How to Play Pitch Card Game for Beginners

Learning the pitch card game will be easier for those aware of other trick-taking games like Spades. Even otherwise, let’s start with game mechanics right away.

Objective

The trick-taking Pitch card game aims to reach 21 game points (e.g., 21 Points) through bidding and winning tricks. Players will bet on how many points they can score in a hand. The player with the highest bid must meet their bid by capturing the necessary cards.

Set-Up

Before the game begins, the dealer must be chosen. To do that, every player is given a card from a shuffled deck, and the player with the highest card becomes the first dealer. The first dealer shuffles the deck, and the player to the dealer’s right cuts it. He/she then deals 9 cards in sets of 3 to each of the 4 players in a clockwise direction.

Bidding

Bidding begins with the player to the left of the dealer and moves clockwise. At this point, players pass a bet on how many points they can take in the game. The minimum bid is 2 points (note that the minimum bid varies as per the preset pitch card game rules). The remaining players can bid equal to the initial bid, higher than the previous bid, or pass. Generally, players who are not confident can pass the bid unless they’re the dealer and all others have passed.

In the Pitch card game, when the dealer is required to bid 2 points, it is referred to as “Sticking it to the Dealer” or a “Force Bid.” The player with the highest bid (the Pitcher) is the most confident in their hand, hence determining the highest trump suit.

There is something known as a “Smudge bid,” a high-stakes bid of 4 points. The bidder attempts to win all four point cards (High, Low, Jack, and Game) in a single hand. When they do so, they’re said to shoot the moon. When players “shoot the moon,” they pledge to win every point available in hand, aiming for the highest possible score. But it is a risky move.

A smudge bid in the card game Pitch cannot be taken away from the player, so they are the only players who can outbid them. If successful, they score 4 points; if they fail, they lose 4 points.

Redraw

There is a redraw phase between bidding and gameplay when players can improve their hands. After the Pitcher declares the highest trump suit, players may exchange some of their cards for new cards from the deck through this redraw. It allows them to replace undesirable cards to increase the chances of making a successful bid. However, the number of cards to exchange depends on the Pitch card game variant. In the 4-Point Pitch, there are 3 cards.

Gameplay

After the bidding phase, the Pitcher leads the first trick, playing a card from their hand. The play proceeds clockwise from the player to the left of the dealer. Only trump-suited cards can be played. Each player has to follow suit if they can or play any card.

The highest card of the trump suit wins the trick unless a trump card is played, in which case the highest trump card wins. The player who wins each trick takes the lead in the next round. The process continues until all six tricks have been played or players run out of cards.

Scoring

If the highest bidder meets their bid by scoring the points they predicted, they receive those points. If they fail, the score reduces by points equal to the number bid, i.e., their game score loses points equal to the number of points they bid. Other players who score points keep them without any penalties.

For example, if the bidder bids 3 points and wins High, Low, and Game, they get 3 points, while another player who captures the Jack earns 1 game point. If the bidder only wins High and Low, they lose 3 points, but others still earn points for the Jack and Game.

Points are scored based on capturing specific cards like the one below. Each of them fetches one Point. For example, capturing the high card earns one point, as does capturing the Low, Jack, and Game cards.

High: The highest trump card played during the hand.
Low: The lowest trump played during the hand.
Jack: The Jack of the trump suit.
Game: This is often the sum of the values of the cards in the tricks won, where Aces are worth 4 points, Kings 3 points, Queens 2 points, Jacks 1 game point, and 10s are worth 10 points.

Winning

The first team or player to reach the game points (21 or another predetermined score like 7, 11, or 52) wins the Pitch card game. Until then, the game continues, as explained above.

How to Play Pitch Card Game With 3 Players?

Pitch with 3 players follows the same basic rules as the 4-player version but with key differences. Each player is dealt 9 cards instead of 6 and plays individually rather than in partnerships. Bidding and gameplay proceed clockwise.

The scoring remains the same, with players aiming to capture point cards (High, Low, Jack, and Game). Once again, if the bid-winning team doesn’t win the points bid, the same number of points will be subtracted from their game score.

The absence of partnerships means each player must rely solely on their hand and strategy. The redraw phase is tough in the 3-player variant, as players have more cards to work with.

Strategies to Win Pitch Game

Evaluate your hand’s strength before bidding to avoid falling prey to negative scores. Focus on high trumps, sequences, and combinations that can win tricks.
Bid cautiously based on your hand’s potential, avoiding risky overbidding.
A Smudge is a high-risk contract. Go for it only if you have 4 high-value Trump cards.
Aim to be the Pitcher as often as possible because you get to choose the Trump suit, which benefits you if it aligns with your hand’s prominent suit.
If you win the bid, lead with strong cards to establish control.
Manage trump cards strategically. Saving high-ranking trump cards to win crucial tricks.
Always keep track of played cards, especially trumps and high-value cards.
Observe opponents’ bidding and playing patterns to decode their strategies and hands.
It is best to discard weak cards or play a strategic trump card when unable to follow suit.
When playing the team version of the Pitch card game, coordinate with your teammate to win the game.
Adapt your strategy as the game progresses based on how your hand changes.
Balance aggressive play with defensive tactics based on your position and the game’s current state.

Origins of the Pitch Game

According to Games historian David Parlett, the Pitch card game is thought to have originated in the 17th century in the Netherlands. It has become a variation of the original “Blind All Fours”. The game came to England first and then to the rest of the world after the arrival of Charles II in 1660. However, the game had no bidding process for a long time. Auction Pitch is now the dominant version of the game. The card game pitch has given birth to two more beautiful variations in the course of time, Cinch and Pedro.

Conclusion

The pitch card game is rich in strategy and skill, creating a multifaceted world of the card game. Learning the rules is essential, but success in the game requires adaptability, psychological play, and keen observation. Apart from internalizing the pitch game rules, getting comfortable with skilled players takes a ton of practice. After all, mastery involves grasping the game mechanics, developing tactics, and reading opponents’ strategies.

Interested in trick taking games? Here are the top trick taking card games like Spades.

FAQs

How can I play a Pitch card game online for free?

Try websites like Trickster Pitch or CardzMania to play Pitch online for free. Both platforms offer customizable rules and the ability to play with friends or against live players. The pitch card game can also be played free of charge through free apps available for Android and iOS devices.

What is the objective of the Pitch card game?

The objective of the Pitch card game is to capture cards to win at least the number of points bid. Players must bid and win tricks by capturing high-ranking cards like Ace, Jack, etc. They have to either meet or exceed their bid to win the game. The target score is usually 21 points, though it can be 7 or 52 depending on the game variant and agreed rules between players.

How many people can play Pitch card game?

A pitch card game is generally played between four players. But it can also accommodate 2 or 3 players with slight modifications to account for the smaller player count.

Can children play Pitch card game?

The pitch card game is designed for children above 13 years of age. However, some adaptations are required for children below 18. For example, the rules and scoring should be simplified to make them easier to understand, and fewer points should be used to win. Teaching the basics of bidding and trick-taking can be fun for kids to learn strategy and teamwork.

What is redraw in Pitch game?

When players are dissatisfied with their hand after declaring a trump suit, they can exchange their cards for new ones from the deck. This is known as a redraw, and it happens between the bidding phase and taking tricks. It allows the players to increase their chances of winning by gaining a stronger hand.