- Aces Around
- A meld consisting of one Ace from each of the four suits, worth 100 points. Double Aces Around (both copies of each Ace) is worth 1,000 points and is one of the most valuable melds in the game.
- Bid
- The amount a player pledges their team will score (meld + trick points) in exchange for the right to name trump. The minimum opening bid is typically 250. Bidding proceeds clockwise from the dealer's left.
- Common Marriage
- A meld of a King and Queen of the same non-trump suit, worth 20 points. Compare with Royal Marriage (King and Queen of trump), which is worth 40 points.
- Counter
- A card that is worth points when won in a trick. Aces (11), 10s (10), Kings (4), Queens (3), and Jacks (2) are all counters. 9s are worth 0 points. The total counters in the deck equal 240, plus 10 for last trick.
- Dix
- Pronounced “deece.” The 9 of the trump suit, worth 10 points as a meld. It is the lowest-scoring meld in Pinochle. In two-player variants, the Dix may be exchanged for the upturned trump card.
- Double Pinochle
- A meld of both Jacks of Diamonds and both Queens of Spades, worth 300 points. This is a highly valuable meld and often justifies an aggressive bid.
- Follow Suit
- The requirement to play a card of the same suit that was led. In Pinochle, you must follow suit if possible. If you cannot follow suit, you must play trump if you have it.
- Jacks Around
- A meld of one Jack from each of the four suits, worth 40 points. Double Jacks Around (both copies) is worth 400 points.
- Kings Around
- A meld of one King from each of the four suits, worth 80 points. Double Kings Around (both copies) is worth 800 points.
- Last Trick
- The final trick of a hand, worth a bonus of 10 points to the team that wins it. This bonus is added to the counters from the cards in the trick.
- Meld
- A scoring combination of cards declared after trump is named. Melds are placed face-up on the table. There are three classes: Class I (Runs and Marriages), Class II (Around combinations), and Class III (Pinochle and Dix). A card can participate in one meld per class.
- Pinochle
- The Jack of Diamonds combined with the Queen of Spades, worth 40 points as a meld. This combination gives the game its name. See also Double Pinochle.
- Queens Around
- A meld of one Queen from each of the four suits, worth 60 points. Double Queens Around (both copies) is worth 600 points.
- Royal Marriage
- A meld of the King and Queen of the trump suit, worth 40 points (twice the value of a Common Marriage). A Royal Marriage is also part of a Run.
- Ruff
- To play a trump card on a trick led in a non-trump suit. You must ruff if you cannot follow suit and you hold trump. Ruffing is a key defensive tactic for capturing opponents' high-value counters.
- Run
- Also called a Flush. A meld of Ace-10-King-Queen-Jack of the trump suit, worth 150 points. The Run is the most valuable standard meld and a strong indicator of trick-taking power. A Double Run is worth 1,500 points.
- Schmear
- To play a high-value counter card (Ace or 10) on a trick your partner is winning, adding those points to your team's trick total. Schmearing is a key tactic for maximizing trick points.
- Set
- When the bidding team fails to reach their bid total. The bid amount is subtracted from their score, and they earn no points for that hand. Being set is a significant penalty, especially on high bids.
- Trump
- The suit declared by the winning bidder. Trump cards beat all cards of other suits in trick play. The trump suit also determines which marriages are royal (40 points) and which melds qualify as Runs and Dix.
- Void
- Having no cards in a particular suit. When void in the led suit, you must play trump if possible. Being void in a side suit early is advantageous because it allows you to ruff opponents' winners.
