Pinochle or
binocle (sometimes
pinocle, or
penuchle) is a
trick-taking card game typically for two to four players and played with a 48-card deck. It is derived from the card game
bezique; players score points by trick-taking and also by forming combinations of cards into
melds. It is thus considered part of a "trick-and-meld" category which also includes a cousin,
belote. Each hand is played in three phases: bidding, melds, and tricks. The standard game today is called "partnership auction pinochle."