Cutthroat Pinochle

The game controls are easy to use and the graphics are appealing. It works smoothly most of the time with occasional glitches. One improvement to the rules options would take it from 4 to 5 in my opinion. There should be a minimum pull option, that way even with a high meld the bid could be lost-this is a common practice and makes the game more challenging. Power in the hand should be a factor, not just high meld

My opposing players do not use the “ten” card in trump properly when playing out the hands. For example, if an opponent of mine of has 2 cards remaining, the queen and the 10 of trump, and I have the jack and the ace of trump, if I lead the jack of trump, my opponent will play the queen, winning the trick, but getting no points, and will then lose the ten to my ace. My opponent should have played the ten to beat my jack, in order to get a point.

I play cutthroat as a means to exercise my brain. At 75, I’ve started to see my brain lose its sharpness and I use Pinochle as a means to counter the creeping signs of dementia. Besides, I’ve been a pinochle addict most of my life. I recommend it to all my friends especially those who’ve forgotten how to play. This game teaches you! My daughter, who’d never learned the game, was able to learn it in a few hours! It’s fun!