Pinochle is a trick-taking card game typically played by four players in two partnerships. The game uses a 48-card deck, consisting of two copies of the Ace, 10, King, Queen, and Jack in each suit. Players aim to score points by winning tricks and forming melds, which are specific combinations of cards. The game begins with a bidding phase, where players declare how many points they believe their team can achieve. After the bidding, players play tricks, and the team that wins the most points through tricks and melds wins the game. Pinochle is popular in the United States and has various regional variations.