Pinochle Classic 4+

I have been enjoying this app for a week now. Fun game. Fast play. Overall great game. However, on Pro I think some updates need to be made. There are moves that would NEVER happen in a real game. Like the players bidding on a hand and picking trump without an Ace or 10! Leading off with a 10 not trump would never happen in a real game. And holding on to a random 10 which is a counter and passing a 9 to your partner. In Pro the app should be a little closer to real play. You always clean the counters out of your hand and hold noncounters of an off suit if you have to hold anything. Also, the computer players play their losers too soon. There isn’t really a difference between beginner and pro on this app and it’s frustrating to someone who actually knows how to play.

Great app. After my first review I think the developer made some changes. The difficulty level is pretty much the same, but it feels like the way the cards are dealt has improved. I have never gotten a double run, triple pinochle, or any high melding hands for some time now. That adds another dimension of difficulty that I enjoy because anybody can play a strong hand and make their bid. There are some things that are allowed in the app that aren’t allowed in traditional pinochle. You have to have a marriage to even take a bid or you are set, but the app allows you to without a marriage. Also, you have to have at least 20 meld to take a bid or you’re set unless the bid is mathematically unreachable which usually takes real life discretion, but the app automatically makes you throw it in sometimes. I have hands in real life that seemed unreachable, but because of the way my hand was sitting I was able to win nearly every trick. Also, you should have the option to not play a hand if you know that you can easily make the bid.

The best AI Pinochle game I have played so far. With that being said it is not without its quirks. For instance your partner playing an ace on your ace leaving you to think it is a direct feedback when in reality he is only playing it as a counter so you play your counter thinking he is going play an ace or trump only to find out he is sitting over there with three non counters of that suit-very aggravating to say the least.

The game is best played on the Pro mode unless you are a complete noob. Game play gets just ridiculous in the way the AI plays otherwise.

Also there should be at least an option for adding in a point for last trick and having to have a marriage before you can call trump.

I would buy this game if I could just to get rid of the ads but they don’t bombard you with them at all during game play. They are non intrusive and come on after each round with the option of Xing out after 5 seconds. That’s doable for me.

I only play double deck with no passing so I can’t make a comment on the passing or on single deck play.

I suppose any of us could nitpick it to death but all in all it is a very well made game and I really enjoy playing it. Over time you will get use to how your AI partner plays (on pro mode) and adjust your play accordingly just like in real life. I’m not looking for perfection in an AI game, just enjoyment and this fits the bill.