How pitch scoring works
The side that wins the bid must take at least that many points. If they do, they score every point they took; if not, they are set and lose the amount of the bid, so a score can go below zero. The other side always scores the points it took. In 4-point Pitch the points are High, Low, Jack and Game; 10-point adds the off-jack, two jokers and the three of trumps, worth 3.
| Variant | Points | Bids | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-point Pitch (jokers) | High, Low, Jack, Off-jack, Big joker, Little joker, Three (3), Game: 10 | 4 to 9, Moon | 52 |
| 4-point Pitch / Setback | High, Low, Jack, Game: 4 | 2 to 4, Smudge | 21 |
| 5-point Setback (off-jack) | High, Low, Jack, Off-jack, Game: 5 | 1 to 5 | 12 |
| 13-point Pitch | High, Low, Jack, Off-jack, Big joker, Little joker, Ten, Three (3), Off-three (3): 13 | 4 to 12, Moon | 52 |
| Smear (Minnesota, to 21) | High, Low, Jack, Game: 4 | 2 to 4 | 21 |
| Ten-point Smear (to 52) | High, Low, Jack, Jick, Joker, Joker, Three (3), Game: 10 | 4 to 10 | 52 |
| Cinch / Double Pedro (to 62) | High, Low, Jack, Ten (game), Pedro (5), Left pedro (5): 14 | 7 to 14 | 62 |
| 10-point call your partner (to 42) | High, Low, Jack, Off-jack, Big joker, Little joker, Ten, Three (3): 10 | 5 to 9, Moon | 42 |
| Wichita pitch tournament table (5 deals) | High, Low, Jack, Off-jack, Big joker, Little joker, Ten, Three (3): 10 | 4 to 9, Moon | 5 hands |
Going out is where tables differ most. pagat.com's partnership rules say you can only win on a hand where you made your bid. Smear players let the higher score win, and Cinch plays "bidder goes out" once both sides have 55. Pick yours under Rules for this game.
Example: five hands of 10-point
Us bid 5 and took 7 points: made, +7, and Them +3 for theirs. Them bid 6 and took 5: set, so Them go back 6 while Us still score their 5. After five hands it is Us 16, Them 13. Open this example to see each hand with its rule.
Questions people ask
How do you score 10 point pitch?
The bidders need at least their bid in points. Made, they score every point they took; set, they lose the bid. The other team always scores what it took. Charbonneau's 10-point rules on pagat play to 52, and the Oklahoma rules say you can only go out on a hand where you made your bid.
What are the point cards in 10 point pitch?
High (the top trump), Low, the Jack, the off-jack (the other jack of the same color), both jokers, the three of trumps worth 3, and Game (or the ten of trumps). That makes 10. 13-point adds the off-three, also worth 3.
What happens when both teams go over 52 on the same hand?
It depends on your table. Common rules are: the bidders go out first; the higher score wins; or you must win it on your own bid. Set the one you use and the keeper names the winner and says why.
What is shooting the moon in pitch?
A bid to take every point. In Larry Charbonneau's 10-point rules on pagat it wins the game (or brings a minus score back to 0) and loses the game if it fails. The Wichita tournament rules make it plus or minus 20 instead.
How does call your partner pitch scoring work?
With 5 or 6 players the bidder calls a card and its holder is the partner for that hand. Both score the bidders' result; each other player scores the points their side took. Scores are kept per player.
Is Setback the same as Pitch?
Yes. pagat lists Setback and High-Low-Jack as other names for Pitch; a side that misses its bid is "set back" by it. What differs from table to table is the variant (4, 5, 10 or 13 points) and the going-out rule.
Rules from pagat.com Pitch, pagat.com Smear, pagat.com Pedro and Cinch, gamerules.com Ten Point Smear, the Church of the Resurrection (Wichita) pitch tournament rules and Trickster Cards pitch options. House rules vary; where sources disagree the choice is yours in the rules.