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Step 1
Understand that "counters" are the cards that are counted at the end of each hand of pinochle that determine points for each player. Aces, kings and tens of every suit are counters. Aces are high in each suit, followed by tens and then kings. Queens, jacks and nines are not counters, but can win tricks. The counters in the suit that becomes trump outrank all other counters.
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Step 2
Follow suit in a hand of pinochle. You must always play a card in the same suit as the card that was led unless you don't have that card. If you play an off-suit card but have the suit that was initially played, that is called "reneging" and you can lose points as well as game respect if you renege on purpose.
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Step 3
Trump the lead card if you have no card in the suit that is initially led. If your opponent leads a high ace that is not trump and you don't have cards in the same suit as that ace, you must trump the ace if you have trump cards in your hand. You can play a counter (ace, king or ten) to ensure you win a counter point, or throw a low trump card (queen, jack or nine) to win the trick.
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Step 4
Play the highest card you have in your hand that follows suit. If your opponent leads with a queen of a suit that isn't trump and you have the king, you must play the king. You always have to play a higher card if you have a higher card in your hand. The only exception is if you trump your opponent's card, your trump doesn't have to be higher than your opponent's card.
