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The card game Pitch is called by several different names, including Setback, Auction Pitch and High-Low-Jack. It is similar to other trick-taking games, such as Smear. Pitch is thought to be descended from a medieval English card game called All Fours. There are many different variations of the game, including with a partner or playing alone (cutthroat). There are also variations for playing with six players or playing with four players. This article focuses on Basic Pitch.
The Card Players
The rules of the game may change a bit, depending upon how many players are playing and which variations implemented. Basic Pitch allows for two to seven players. Each player is given six cards, with the dealer dealing three cards at a time to each player starting with the player to his left and ending with his self.
Bidding
The game of Pitch is a bidding game. Players can bid with pretend points, real or fake money, poker chips, candy or whatever used as bidding tools. The bidding also starts with the person to the dealer's left and goes around the table clockwise. Bids can be a pass or single digits up to four. If a player wants to bid four, he should place a card in his hand face up in the middle of the table, called "pitching." Each player has only one chance to bid. The winning bidder chooses the trump by throwing out the first card in the suit of his choice.
Actual Game Play
The game plays clockwise, with the player from the left of the bidder following. Each player can choose to follow suit or trump the card played. So, if a player throws out a club and a diamond is trump, you can choose to play a diamond even if you have a club. This is a bit different than trick-taking games such as Euchre or Rook. Either the highest card in the suit played or the highest trump card wins each round. The person who wins the "trick" or round gets to start the next round.
Scores for Cards
To figure out who won the round, certain cards are each worth one point. Add up the cards scooped toward you. The cards worth one point include the highest trump in play, lowest trump in play, the Jack in the trump suit and another point for the highest score of cards. In Basic Pitch, the cards are worth 10 points for 10s, 3 points for kings, 2 points for queens, 1 point for jacks and 4 points for aces.
Now look back to the bidding at the beginning of the round. If the player bid four points, then she must have scored four points or her overall game score will become negative. If she reaches her points or goes above, then she receives those points. Most games are played until someone reaches 11 points, although the goal can be set higher to extend game play.
The Card Players
The rules of the game may change a bit, depending upon how many players are playing and which variations implemented. Basic Pitch allows for two to seven players. Each player is given six cards, with the dealer dealing three cards at a time to each player starting with the player to his left and ending with his self.
Bidding
The game of Pitch is a bidding game. Players can bid with pretend points, real or fake money, poker chips, candy or whatever used as bidding tools. The bidding also starts with the person to the dealer's left and goes around the table clockwise. Bids can be a pass or single digits up to four. If a player wants to bid four, he should place a card in his hand face up in the middle of the table, called "pitching." Each player has only one chance to bid. The winning bidder chooses the trump by throwing out the first card in the suit of his choice.
Actual Game Play
The game plays clockwise, with the player from the left of the bidder following. Each player can choose to follow suit or trump the card played. So, if a player throws out a club and a diamond is trump, you can choose to play a diamond even if you have a club. This is a bit different than trick-taking games such as Euchre or Rook. Either the highest card in the suit played or the highest trump card wins each round. The person who wins the "trick" or round gets to start the next round.
Scores for Cards
To figure out who won the round, certain cards are each worth one point. Add up the cards scooped toward you. The cards worth one point include the highest trump in play, lowest trump in play, the Jack in the trump suit and another point for the highest score of cards. In Basic Pitch, the cards are worth 10 points for 10s, 3 points for kings, 2 points for queens, 1 point for jacks and 4 points for aces.
Now look back to the bidding at the beginning of the round. If the player bid four points, then she must have scored four points or her overall game score will become negative. If she reaches her points or goes above, then she receives those points. Most games are played until someone reaches 11 points, although the goal can be set higher to extend game play.
