What is Setback?

Setback is another name for Pitch — the same 4-point trick-taking game played across North America for generations. The name "Setback" comes from its signature sting: when the bidding team fails to make its bid, it doesn't just miss out, it gets set, losing the full bid amount from its score.

Each hand begins with an auction — players bid 2, 3, or 4 — and the winner sets trump by leading a card. Teams then chase the four points: High, Low, Jack, and Game. It's simple to pick up and endlessly replayable, which is why it's had so many names and so many devoted players.

Setback, Pitch, High-Low-Jack — same game

Setback, Pitch, Auction Pitch, and High-Low-Jack all describe the same core game — the differences are usually small house rules or regional scoring variants. So if you grew up calling it Setback, you'll feel right at home here: pitch.ac plays clean 4-point rules with optional house rules you can set in the lobby.

That means the trump-in rule, stick-the-dealer, and your winning score (11 or 21) are all yours to configure before the deal.

Play Setback online, free and cross-platform

Because pitch.ac runs in your browser, there's nothing to install and it stays free. Play solo against AI to learn or warm up, create a private room to play Setback online with friends and family across the miles, or jump into matchmaking for a quick game against real opponents.

Create a free account to keep your stats and match history, or play as a guest — your call.