Game Rules
PitchAuction meets Trick-Taking

An auctioned trump trick-taking game where bids and card values are closely intertwined.

Players3 – 7
Duration15 – 25 Min
Deck52 Cards · 1 Deck
LevelMedium
I · Game Idea

Bidding and
Scoring

I

Pitch (also known as Setback or High-Low-Jack) is an American trick-taking game. Players bid on the number of points they can achieve with a particular trump suit.

Points come from four sources: High (highest trump card), Low (lowest), Jack (trump Jack), and Game (most point cards in tricks).

II · Preparation

Before the
Game Begins

II
1
Deal Cards
6 cards per player.
2
Bid
Players bid in turn on expected points (1 to 4) based on their hand.
3
Determine Trump
The highest bidder determines the trump suit with their first card.
Before You Start

High, Low, Jack, and Game are four separate point sources – plan your bid based on which ones you can realistically achieve.

III · Card Values
Where Points
Come From
III
H
High
1 Point
The player who holds the highest trump card in play automatically gets 1 point.
L
Low
1 Point
The player who plays the lowest trump card gets 1 point.
J
Jack
1 Point
The player who wins the trump Jack in a trick gets 1 point.
G
Game
1 Point
The player who collects the most point cards (Ace=4, King=3, Queen=2, Jack=1, 10=10) gets 1 point.
IV · Gameplay

Trick by
Trick

IV
1
Bidding
Players bid in turn 1 to 4 points based on hand strength.
2
Determine Trump
Highest bidder sets the trump suit with their first card.
3
Follow Suit
Play the led suit if possible, otherwise trump or off-suit.
4
Collect Points
High, Low, Jack, and Game are distributed during the game.
5
Score Points
Bidder meets their bid: points are credited. Misses: points are deducted ("Set Back"). The first to reach 7 or 11 points wins.
V · Variants
Variants
V

Pitch has many regional American names and additional rules.

S
Setback
Alternative name with identical basic rules.
HLJG
High-Low-Jack-Game
Full traditional name of the game.
4
Four Cards
Variant with only 4 instead of 6 hand cards – faster game.
J
Joker Pitch
With a Joker as an additional scoring trump.
VI · Tips & Tricks

What really
Matters

VI
Strategy Tips
+

Before bidding, accurately count which of the four point sources (High, Low, Jack, Game) you can realistically achieve.

+

Keep a close eye on the trump Jack – whoever wins it secures a full point regardless of the rest of the game.

+

For the Game point, deliberately play high point cards if you can safely win the trick.

+

Bid conservatively with an average hand – a fulfilled low bid is better than a missed high one with a point deduction.

Common Mistakes
–

Confusing the four point sources or not calculating all four separately when bidding.

–

Playing the trump Jack carelessly without considering that it can bring a guaranteed point.

–

Making a bid that is too high, which costs more points if missed than a successful low bid would have brought.

–

Forgetting the Game point – in the end, the collected point cards count, not just the number of tricks.

Berlin Hold'em · Matching Decks
Get the right deck

Pitch requires strategic bidding – playable at the table immediately with a normal deck.

View all designs →
20s Playing Cards – Twin Pack For larger groups and long game nights. View Product Viking Playing Cards – Twin Pack Two decks, suitable for 5+ players. View Product
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