Editing Pinochle (section)

===Playing tricks===
In playing cards for tricks, there are strict rules of forced play, which limit a player's ability to strategically retain high cards. The high bidder leads the play with the first card, which can be any card in the contract winner's hand just like basic [[Whist]],<ref>"Pinochle" in {{cite book|date=2018|title=50 Card Games: 50 Popular Card Games for Hours of Fun|publisher=Igloo Books|page=56|isbn=9781784409852}}</ref> although some rules require the first card led to be a [[Trump (card game)|trump card]]. Then there are two variations of following suit depending if you are playing post-1945 or pre-1945 rules.

According to the pre-1945 rules, every player must follow the lead suit if possible. Usually every player must play a winning card against those played so far, if it is possible to do so, even when the current player expects a later player to win the hand with a better card. The only exception is if a player played a trump card when trump was not the suit led. In that case, those following that player may play any card of the lead suit, since they must follow the lead suit but are already losing to the player who played trump. Likewise, if a player cannot follow suit, but has trump, they must play trump. Again, if a player does not have any cards of the lead suit and can play a trump card higher than any other trump played so far, the player must do so, even if the player expects that a later player will beat the card. If another trump has already been played that a player cannot beat, then they can play any trump in their hand, but they still must play a trump card if they can. Only when a player has no cards in suit, and has no trump, can the player choose to play any card in their hand.

Most books of post-1945 rules say that unless trump is led, there is no requirement to try to win the trick. It is only when trump is led that "heading" the trick is mandatory. In pinochle circles and tournaments the post-1945 rules are played about half of the time according to Pagat and Hoyle.<ref name="pagat.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.pagat.com|title=Card Games|first=John|last=McLeod|website=www.pagat.com}}</ref>

If two identical cards are played, the first one outranks the second.

After the first trick, the winner of each trick leads the first card for the next trick, until all the cards are played.