Pinochle is a popular card game that belongs to the trick-taking genre, often played with four players in partnerships. The game uses a unique deck of 48 cards, consisting of two copies of each card from 9 to Ace in four suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades). Pinochle has a strong following in certain regions, particularly in the United States. The game revolves around players competing to win tricks in each hand, with the ultimate goal of accumulating points through various combinations of cards known as melds.