Skat (card game) (in case of a "hand" game, when the "Skat" is not picked up). Players have therefore to exercise careful scrutiny during bidding, as not to incur an unnecessary loss. The bidding may also give away some information about what cards a player may or may not hold. Experienced players will be able to use this to their advantage. The game value (also called "hand value", ) is what the game will be worth after all tricks have been played. It is determined not only by the 10 cards held, but also by the two-card "Skat". The "Skat" always belongs to
Pinochle may also be used. There is an increased possibility that when one team declares trump another team may have an equal number of trump also, which may lead to an interesting game. An optional scoring rule rewards 1,000 points for a quadruple pinochle—four jacks of diamonds and four queens of spades in a meld. Alternate end games One variation on winning allows a team or individual to win instantly from any score by taking all the tricks in a hand. To win in this fashion, the winning player or team must play very skillfully to prevent opposing players from taking