Last Updated on September 9, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Pitch, also known as All Fours or Auction Pitch, is a classic American trick-taking card game with roots in 17th-century England. The game is played with a standard 52-card deck and is popular for its combination of strategy and luck. The objective is to win tricks, score points for High, Low, Jack, and Game, and reach a target score before your opponents.

Pitch is generally played by 3 to 8 players.

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How to Play Pitch

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Card Rank

The cards rank from Ace high down to 2:

A (high), K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2

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Setup and Dealing

1. Deal Direction: Clockwise around the table.
2. Number of Cards: Each player receives 6 cards.
3. Dealing Method: Deal three cards at a time to each player.
4. Rotation: After each hand, the dealer role passes to the left.

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Bidding

1. First Bidder: The player to the left of the dealer begins bidding.
2. Minimum Bid: The lowest bid is two points.
3. Successive Bids: Each player must bid higher than previous bids, except the dealer, who may bid the highest preceding bid and assume the contract.
4. Smudging: If a player bids four, this is called a “smudge.”
   • A smudge cannot be overridden by other players.

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Gameplay

Leading and Trump

1. The highest bidder (or dealer assuming the highest bid) becomes the pitcher and leads the first card.
2. The suit of the lead card becomes the trump suit for that hand.
3. Following Suit:
   • On a trump lead, each player must follow suit if possible.
   • On a non-trump lead, players may follow suit or play a trump card.
   • If unable to follow suit, a player may play any card.
4. Winning a Trick:
   • Highest trump wins the trick.
   • If no trump is played, the highest card of the suit led wins.
5. The winner of the trick leads the next card.

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Scoring

1. Point Categories: High, Low, Jack, and Game.
2. Pitcher’s Contract:
   • The pitcher scores points only if they meet or exceed their bid.
   • If the pitcher fails to meet the bid, they are “set back” by the amount bid.
   • Scores may become negative, known as being “in the hole.”
3. Other Players: Score points normally based on tricks won.

Winning the Hand:

• The first player to reach 7 points wins the game.
• The pitcher’s score counts first, so if multiple players reach 7 points simultaneously, the pitcher wins.
• In case two non-pitchers reach 7 points, points are counted in the order: High, Low, Jack, Game.

Smudging Bonus:

• If a player smudges and captures all 4 points, they win immediately—unless they were in the hole, in which case they only score 4 points.

End-of-Game Bonus:

• The winner receives 1 point from each player with 1 or more points.
• The winner receives 2 points from each player with zero or negative points.
• Variation: Additional points may be awarded for players who have been set back multiple times.

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Quick Reference: Points

Category	Points
High	1
Low	1
Jack	1
Game	1

Game points are totaled per hand, and the pitcher’s bid must be met to score.

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Pitch FAQ

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Pitch is a versatile and engaging card game that combines elements of strategy, bidding, and trick-taking. Its flexibility in the number of players and variations makes it a popular choice for different group sizes and skill levels.