TallynightHow to keep score in Pitch
Pitch, also called setback, has four points to win in every hand: high, low, jack and game. Whoever wins the bid must take at least as many points as they bid, or they're set back by that amount. Most tables play to 11, and house rules vary more than in most card games.
- Players
- 2 to 7, often 4 in two teams
- Who wins
- First to 11, or 21 at some tables
- Each hand
- 6 cards each, 4 points to win
- Set back
- Miss your bid and lose what you bid
The four points in every hand
The first card the winning bidder leads, or pitches, sets the trump suit. After the six tricks, four points are handed out, each worth 1.
| Point | What it is | Who scores it |
|---|---|---|
| High | The highest trump played | Whoever played it |
| Low | The lowest trump played | Whoever was dealt it, or at many tables whoever wins it in a trick |
| Jack | The jack of trumps, if it was dealt | Whoever wins it in a trick |
| Game | The most card points in your tricks | Whoever has the most |
Not every card is dealt, so if nobody holds the jack of trumps, there are only three points in that hand.
Counting game
Game goes to the player or team whose tricks hold the most card points. Count the cards of every suit, not only trumps.
- Each 10: 10
- Each ace: 4
- Each king: 3
- Each queen: 2
- Each jack: 1
Every other card counts nothing. If two sides tie for game, nobody scores it that hand.
Bidding and being set back
Each player bids once, from 2 to 4, or passes. Some tables allow a bid of 1. The highest bidder pitches the first card, and its suit is trumps.
If the bidder takes at least as many points as they bid, they score every point they took. Bid 2 and take 3, and you score 3.
If they take fewer, they're set back: they score nothing for the hand and lose the amount they bid. A score below zero is called being in the hole. Everyone else scores the points they took, either way.
Winning the game
Keep a running total. Most tables play to 11. Partnership games often go to 21, and some tables play to 7 for a quick game.
If more than one player or team reaches the target in the same hand, the bidder's points are counted first, so the bidder goes out first. Otherwise count high, low, jack and game in that order, and the first to reach the target wins.
Some tables also say you can only win on a hand you bid and made. Agree before you deal.
Variants that change the score
- Shooting the moon, or smudge: bid to take all four points, and at some tables every trick too. Make it and you win the game at many tables, or score 5 in partnership pitch. Miss it and you're set back 5, or lose the game, depending on the table.
- Five-point pitch: adds the off-jack, the other jack of the same colour as trumps, for five points a hand.
- Ten-point pitch: adds the off-jack, two jokers and the three of trumps, which is worth 3, for ten points a hand.
- No junk points: only the bidder can score. Points taken by everyone else don't count.
A scoring example
Ana and Ben are Team A, Cleo and Dev are Team B, playing to 11. The bidder goes out first.
| Hand | Bid | Who took what | Team A | Team B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team A, 2 | A: high, game · B: low, jack | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | Team B, 3 | A: low, game · B: high, jack | 2 | −3 |
| 3 | Team A, 3 | A: all four | 4 | 0 |
| 4 | Team B, 2 | A: game · B: high, low · no jack dealt | 1 | 2 |
| 5 | Team A, 2 | A: high, jack, game · B: low | 3 | 1 |
| Total | 12 | 2 |
In hand 2, Team B bid 3 but took only 2 points, so it was set back 3 and went into the hole. Team A kept the 2 it took. In hand 3, Team A bid 3 and took all four, so it scored 4.
Team A passed 11 in hand 5, a hand it bid and made, and won 12 to 2.
Keep score for Pitch in Tallynight
Pitch isn't one of Tallynight's built-in games yet, but it takes a minute to set up. Choose Something else, then Rounds, and under Who wins pick Highest. Leave Play to a target off, because targets go up in tens, and tap End game when someone reaches 11. Add each team as a player, or everyone on their own for cutthroat.
Tap Add to favourites so it's ready next time, then Start game. After each hand, type everyone's points on one keypad, with a minus sign for a set. Tallynight doesn't know high, low, jack and game, so call them out at the table.
- Everyone's hand on one keypad, minus signs included
- The table keeps the running totals and who's in front
- Tap any hand to fix it
- A winner card with a podium at the end
A Pitch score sheet to print
Playing on paper tonight? Print a free Pitch score sheet, or save it as a PDF.
Questions
How do you score Pitch?
Four points are up for grabs each hand: high, the highest trump played; low, the lowest trump played; jack, the jack of trumps; and game, for the most card points in your tricks. Each is worth 1.
How do you count game in Pitch?
Add up the cards in your tricks: 10 for each ten, 4 for each ace, 3 for each king, 2 for each queen and 1 for each jack. The side with the most wins the game point. A tie scores nobody.
What happens if you get set in Pitch?
You score nothing for the hand and lose the amount you bid. Bid 3 and take 2, and you score −3. Your score can go below zero, which is called being in the hole.
Who gets low in Pitch, the player who played it or who won it?
In the classic rules, low scores for whoever was dealt it, even if it's caught. Many tables give it to whoever wins the trick it's in. Agree before you deal.
How many points do you play to in Pitch?
Usually 11. Partnership games often go to 21, and some tables play to 7 for a quick game.
Who wins if both teams reach 11 in Pitch?
At most tables the bidder goes out first. If the bidder isn't one of them, count high, low, jack and game in that order, and the first to reach 11 wins.
Is Pitch the same as setback?
Yes. Setback is another name for Pitch, and so is high-low-jack. The four points are the same, though most families have their own house rules.