Pitch card game guides
Learn Pitch, from first deal to Showdown
29 free guides to the classic trick-taking game, also known as Setback, High-Low-Jack, and Smear. About 3 hours of reading, written by the people who built Pitch Online.
New to Pitch? Start here
Rules & variants
The complete rules for Pitch and every regional name it goes by.
How to Play Pitch: Complete Rules for Beginners
New to Pitch? This complete beginner guide walks you through setup, bidding, trump, and exactly how the four points are scored.
6 min read
Setback Card Game Rules: How to Play Setback
Setback is what New England calls Pitch. Here are the full rules, from the deal to the dreaded set.
6 min read
How to Play High Low Jack (Pitch) — Rules & Scoring
High Low Jack is the name older generations gave to Pitch. Here's how the game works, why it's named that, and how to start playing today.
6 min read
Smear Card Game Rules: How to Play Smear
Smear is Pitch with an extra point or two up for grabs. Here are the rules most Midwest tables play, including the Jick and the Joker.
6 min read
Auction Pitch Rules: How Bidding Works in Pitch
Auction Pitch is Pitch with bidding — which is how almost everyone plays it today. Here's how the auction works.
6 min read
10-Point Pitch Rules: Off-Jack and Ten of Trump
Ten-point Pitch enriches the classic game with the off-Jack and the ten of trump as scoring cards. Here is how the variant works and how to bid it.
6 min read
Pedro & Cinch Rules: The Card Game With Two 5s
Pedro and Cinch turn Pitch up a level by adding two fives worth five points each. Here are the rules, the 14-point deal, and the famous cinch tactic.
7 min read
The Low Point in Pitch: Captured vs. Played
The Low point causes more arguments than any other rule in Pitch. Here are both versions and how they change the game.
6 min read
Pitch Card Game Glossary: Terms & Definitions
New to Pitch or brushing up? This glossary defines the game's key terms in plain English, grouped by theme so they are easy to find.
7 min read
Bidding, scoring & strategy
How to bid, keep score, and win more hands with your partner.
How to Bid in Pitch: Strategy for 2, 3, and 4 Bids
Bidding, not card play, is what separates strong Pitch players from beginners. Here is how to judge your hand and pick the right number every deal.
7 min read
Pitch Card Game Scoring: How High-Low-Jack-Game Works
Every deal of Pitch puts four points on the table. This guide explains exactly how High, Low, Jack, and Game are won and how the count decides Game.
7 min read
How to Keep Score in Pitch (Step by Step)
Scoring Pitch is simple once you know what to count. Here's a step-by-step method that settles every hand fast.
6 min read
Pitch Strategy: Tips to Win More Hands
Ready to move past the basics? These practical Pitch strategy tips cover bidding, trump counting, partnership play, and squeezing out every point.
7 min read
Pitch Partner Play: Team Strategy & Etiquette
Pitch is a partnership game, and the best teams think as one. Learn team bidding, saving contracts, and the etiquette of table talk.
7 min read
What Is a Smudge in Pitch? Bidding 4 Explained
A smudge is the boldest bid in Pitch: all four points on a single deal. Here is when it pays off and why a missed smudge is so costly.
6 min read
Stick the Dealer in Pitch: Rule & Strategy Guide
No more thrown-in hands: stick the dealer forces someone to bid every deal. Here is how the rule works and how to survive being stuck.
7 min read
Pitch House Rules: Stick the Dealer, Steals & More
Every family plays Pitch a little differently. Here are the house rules that cause the most arguments, and what each one changes.
6 min read
Pitch for any number of players
Deals, teams, and rule tweaks for 2 to 8 players.
How to Play Pitch With 2 Players: Rules & Strategy
Pitch works beautifully as a two-player duel. Here are the rules, the head-to-head bidding, and the strategy for winning without a partner.
6 min read
How to Play 3-Player Pitch: Cutthroat Rules
In three-handed Pitch there are no teams, just three rivals fighting for every point. Here are the cutthroat rules and the strategy that wins them.
6 min read
6-Player Pitch: Rules, Teams & Big-Table Strategy
Got a full table? Six-player Pitch turns the classic game into three-a-side chaos. Here is how to seat, deal, and win it.
6 min read
8-Player Pitch Rules: How to Play with a Big Group
Pitch scales up to eight players with smaller hands and bigger teams. Here's how to run an eight-player game.
6 min read
Pitch vs other card games
How Pitch stacks up against the trick-taking games you already know.
Pitch vs Setback: Are They the Same Game?
Pitch, Setback, High-Low-Jack, Smudge, Pedro: one game or many? Here is how all the names and regional variations fit together.
7 min read
Pitch vs Euchre: Which Card Game to Play?
Pitch and Euchre are both partnership trick-taking classics, but their deck, trump, and pace set them apart. Here is how they compare.
6 min read
Pitch vs Spades: Key Differences Explained
Pitch and Spades are both partnership trick-taking games, but they play very differently. Here is how their trump, bidding, and scoring compare.
6 min read
Card Games Like Spades: 5 Trick-Taking Games to Try
Love Spades? These trick-taking games scratch the same itch, each with its own twist on bidding and trump.
6 min read
Play online, tournaments & history
Playing online, running tournaments, and where the game came from.
Play Pitch Online Free With Friends at pitch.ac
Want to play Pitch online free with friends? Here is how pitch.ac lets you jump into a game in seconds, solo or with a full table.
6 min read
Card Games to Play Online with Family and Friends
Can't get everyone around the kitchen table? Here's how to keep family card night going online, and which games work best.
6 min read
How to Run a Pitch Tournament: Formats & Brackets
From four players to forty: formats, brackets, and scoring systems that make a Pitch tournament fair, fast, and worth bragging about.
6 min read
The History of Pitch: From All Fours to Online
Pitch is older than the United States. Trace the game from English pubs through American kitchens to the online tables of today.
7 min read
Common questions
What is the Pitch card game?
Pitch is a trick-taking card game for 2 to 8 players where you bid on how many of four points (High, Low, Jack, and Game) you can win. The high bidder names trump by leading a card, and missing your bid subtracts it from your score.
Are Pitch, Setback, and High-Low-Jack the same game?
Mostly, yes. Setback, High-Low-Jack, Smear, Auction Pitch, and Pedro are regional names and close variants of the same game. They differ in details like the number of points per hand, whether a Joker is used, and what score wins.
Which guide should I read first?
Start with How to Play Pitch for the full rules, then How to Bid in Pitch and Pitch Strategy Tips. All three take under 10 minutes to read.
Can I play Pitch online for free?
Yes. Pitch Online at pitch.ac is free in your browser and on iPhone and iPad. You can play against AI players, invite friends with a 4-letter room code, or match up with players online.