Power Pinochle Forums

It seems like every member has years of experience playing some unique deviation of pinochle. I can't think of any other card game that is so mutated, yet is still called its original/general name. Poker, has been wildly mutated over the ages, but its offspring, for clarity, have been awarded unique and sometimes descriptive names. I'd like to identify what is common and uncommon among offline pinochle games. I have this back-burner, brain-child that I would like to pursue one day, but before I can dive into it I need to pool a wide array of colloquial pinochle rulesets. In the meantime, I think it will at least be interesting to see what is out there.

Here is how I would like this thread to work...

If you can explain the rules of your home/local pinochle game, please offer the following:

1. (optional) Name the homegame
2. List the location(s) where this game is played
3. Explain (with as much relevant detail as possible) the rules


Alternatively, if someone else lists a homegame that exactly matches your homegame, PM the poster and request that they add your location(s) to their post.
If you have a question about someone's rules, perhaps PM them and ask them to edit their post to give greater detail.

I'd like this thread to be structured as 1 post = 1 unique homegame. If you post a homegame, I ask that you take responsibility for its future edits - if necessary.

I realize that listing all of a homegame's rules is a long-winded endeavor, so it may be easier to list only the deviations which are not shared among popular online pinochle games. Basically, if you think that a rule might be uncommon -- list it. If you discover you failed to mention something, simply edit the post.

Name: Pennsylvania Dutch Pinochle

Locations: Adams County and York County, Pennsylvania

Rules:

• Two decks, Four players, play to 500, no card exchanging
  
• If you are dealt a hand with 0 Aces, you may force a re-deal when it is your turn to bid.
  
• If you are dealt a hand with 13 or more Queens and Jacks, you may force a re-deal when it is your turn to bid.
  
• Bidding starts at 51. If all players PASS to Dealer, the Dealer wins the bid for 50.
  
• A Dealer who is stuck with a 50 bid, may elect to forfeit the hand. This must be done before declaring trump. This effectively denies the opposition scoring any points on the hand. If trump is declared the opposition is given the chance to save their meld, regardless of the Bidder's ability to get On The Board.
  
• To announce that you have Aces-around, there is no numerical bid, you state "BY ME" which is equivalent to "PASS."
  
• The Bid-Winner's trump suit must feature a Marriage. If the Bid-Winner has no Marriages, the hand is forfeit.
  
• Meld points are only awarded for cards shown. A player is never required to show any/all meld. After the Bid-Winner throws the first card of the first trick, no new meld points will be recognized.
  
• Only the previous trick can be viewed; with exception to investigations of foul play where "buried" tricks may be viewed.