5-Handed Pinochle 2.3.0

This is a five-handed trick-taking card game app designed for pinochle enthusiasts. Originating from a household of pinochle aficionados, the creation of this five-player game was born out of practical necessity. Utilizing a double pinochle deck with 9s absent, each participant receives 16 cards, initiating the bidding at 40, 45, or 50.

Following a process of refinement over time, a method for selecting the high bidder's partner was established by the author alongside their father. Once the bidding winner declares the trump, four 9s are placed face down at the center of the table. Participants, excluding the high bidder, reveal a 9 each. Within the app, players have the option to pick their own 9 or allow automated selection by the software. The individual whose 9 corresponds to the trump suit designated by the bidding winner becomes their partner for that round, while the remaining three players unite as opponents. (In this application, the bidding team is represented by blue, while their adversaries are identified by yellow.)

Subsequently, the high bidder and their partner exchange four cards before proceeding to present melds and engage in trick-taking gameplay. The melds and tricks of the bidding team are assessed against their bid amount, with success resulting in an augmentation to both players' scores or a deduction if they fall short. Conversely, the melds and tricks of the non-bidding team are factored into each member's individual score calculation.

Five-handed pinochle stands out as a favored rendition among enthusiasts of this card game due to the dynamic nature induced by the dual deck and card exchange phase. The element of uncertainty regarding partnership until post-bid stimulates strategic thinking and adds an extra layer of excitement. As scores are tallied separately for each player, a single victor typically emerges upon completion of five rounds. Best of luck!

- Dave