Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

CONTENTS 1. PINOCHLE 1 The Pinochle Deck 2. AUCTION PINOCHLE 5 The Stakes, The Deal, The Widow, The Bid, The Meld, Trump, To Play or Not to Play, The Burial, The Play, The Count, The Kitty, Spades Double, Hearts Triple, Dealer Stays Out, The Score, Misdeal, Incorrect Hands, Improper Bidding, Exposed Cards, The Re voke, Better Bidding, Possibilities of the r Widow, Unseen Value, Better Playing, Better Timing, The Safety Play in Trump, Better Discarding, Better Defense, Distribution 3. TWO-HANDED PINOCHLE 53 Rules of the Meld, Penalties and Misdeals, Two-handed Scoring, The Call-Out, Doubles, Two-handed Pinochle Three-handed, Bettei Play, Goulash 4. PARTNERSHIP PINOCHLE 67 The Play, The Score, Penalties, Firehouse, Partnership Auction Pinochle, Partnership Pi nochle Corners 5. CHECK PINOCHLE 74 Original Bidding, Original Scoring, Modem Bidding, Modern Scoring, The Play, Strategy, vi Jonttnts Bidding CbhVefrtibfas, Iritormational Bidding, Responds r x Opening Bids, Overcalls, Pen alties 6. CHEATING AT PINOCHLE 86 Cheating at Auction, Cheating at Four handed Auction, Cheating at Two-handed Pinochle, Cheating at Goulash L PINOCHLE a card game, probably of German ori gin. So says the dictionary. In reality, the name Pinochle is given to three distinctly different games Two-handed Pinochle, Auction Pinochle, and Check Pinochle, which differ from each other quite as much as they do from their parent game, Bezique. All three games use the same deck of cards they have similar values and counts. But there the likeness ends. Each game has separate rules and conventions of its own. Two-handed Pinochle is a head-to-head battle of in tellects Auction Pinochle is a group game with hazards. There is asmuch difference between the two as there is between chess and checkers. As for Check Pinochle that is a combination of Auction Pinochle and Bridge, with rules drawn from each. Of the trio, Two-handed Pinochle came first. When Auction Pinochle was developed, many of the rules and regulations used in the two-handed game were thrust upon the newcomer. Because of the fundamental differ ence between the two games, some of these laws proved unworkable. Therefore the Auction players adopted new and better rules. Then, when those who were introduced first to Auc tion Pinochle took up Two-handed Pinochle, they kept the changes. This movement back and forth accounts for the divergence in rules and values. The net result has been that both Two-handed Pi i 2 MacDougall on Pinochle nochle and Auction Pinochle are played with numerous variations, to suit the times, the customs, and the tem perament of the players. The modern game of Check Pinochle avoided these misunderstandings because, from the very beginning, certain well-defined rules and methods of procedure were laid down by the authorities. From the moment the cards are dealt, Auction Pi nochle is a predetermined game, its possibilities and play depending on the distribution of the hands and the relative ability of the players. On the other hand, Two-handed Pinochle is a progressive game, in which the draw of the cards may alter the situation. Neither one is a perfect Cinderella. One game has a foot too small for the glass slipper the other a foot that is too big. Each should be fitted properly, irrespective of the other. Fortunately, when an argument arises, it is usually possible to trace the disputed rule to the game where it properlybelongs, or to find the answer by logical con sideration of the game itself. All common differences of opinion have been carefully studied, and an equitable decision rendered...