It is a CINCH to Play

In this game called Cinch, a standard pack of 52 cards is used and the cards on each suit rank in the normal order from the ace (high) down to the two (low). The five of trumps is called 'right Pedro', and the five of the other suit of the same color as the trump is the 'left Pedro'.

Although the left Pedro is not of the trump suit, it is played as a trump and ranks just beneath the trump five. In scoring, each Pedro is worth five points to the hand that wins it in a trick. Other points are scored by the cards known as 'high', 'low', 'jack', and 'game', each worth one point.

'High' is the ace of trumps and is scored by the player to whom it is dealt. 'Low' is the two of trumps and scores one point for a player taking it in a trick. 'Jack' is the jack of trumps, and 'game' the ten of trumps, each scoring one point when taken in a trick. Thus, there are 14 possible scoring points in each deal.

Cards are dealt three at a time until each player has nine, and then the bidding is opened by the player on the dealer's left. The bidding proceeds clockwise around the table with each player bidding for the privilege to name the trump suit. Bidders estimate the number of points they think they can take (when playing partners, the number of points that the partners' combined hands can take) and bid that number without naming the suit in which they intend to play the hand.

Players with weak hands may pass; but each bid must always be higher than that made by the previous bidder.

When the trump suit has been named, the players discard face up all of the cards in their hands except trumps. The dealer then gives players enough cards to bring each hand to six cards, and the dealer 'robs the pack' by fishing out the remaining trump cards to bring his own hand to six cards.

If there are enough trumps in the pack, the dealer 'faces' then in order that the other players may see which trumps are out of action; the dealer must also announce how many cards he took to fill his hand.

Also, cinch has many variations that are known by other names such as High-Low-Jack, Pedro, and All Fours. The Auction Cinch is a game for five or six players, and is played very much like Cinch; but it is not a partnership game. Only six cards are dealt, three at a time to each player, but the bidding, discarding, and restoring of the hands to six cards is performed as it is in Cinch.

When the bidding has been completed, the highest bidder names some card--- one that he does not hold--- in the suit that will be trump, and the player who holds that card becomes his partner for the hand.

The partners remain in the same seats, even if next to each other, and if the contract is made, each partner adds the partnership score to his own; if the contract is not made, each opponent gets his own points plus the amount of the bid.