One player deals each hand. The cards are dealt in 3-card batches to each player, such that the dealer distributes two sets of 3-card batches to each player. At the end of each hand, the dealer passes the cards to the player to his or her left. That player becomes the new dealer for that hand.

There are four possible scoring categories in Pitch.

High -- The highest ranked card of the trump suit among cards dealt in a hand is worth one point to the player or partnership holding that card in their scoring pile.

Low -- The lowest ranked card of the trump suit among cards dealt in a hand is worth one point to the player or partnership holding that card in their scoring pile.

Jack -- The Jack of the trump suit is worth one point to the player or partnership holding that card in their scoring pile.

Game -- The player or partnership with the highest tally of "game points" in their scoring pile earns one point. Every Jack is worth one "game point," every Queen is worth two "game points," every King is worth three "game points," every Ace is worth four "game points," and every 10 is worth ten "game points." For example, if Team A has a 10 and a King (10 + 3 = 13 "game points") among the cards it has taken as tricks and Team B has three Jacks and two Aces (3x1 + 2x4 = 11 "game points") among cards it has taken as tricks, then Team A earns one point for Game. In case of a tie, no point is awarded for Game.

In three-player Pitch, each player is independent of the other two players. No teams are formed. The dealer deals six cards to each player.*** Beginning with the player to the dealer's left and proceeding clockwise, players may bid for the privilege of declaring the trump suit for the hand. Valid bids are Pass, 2, 3, and 4 (some variants: Pass, 3, 4). The bid represents the number of points the player thinks he or she can earn that hand. If at least one bid has been made, the dealer may always match the top bid and claim the privilege of declaring the trump suit. If no bid has been made, the dealer must make the minimum bid (2 or 3) and declare the trump suit. The dealer may not pass if both other players have passed.

The player who made the high bid (the "making player") declares the trump suit. Beginning with the player to the dealer's left and proceeding clockwise, players may discard any number of cards from their hands and receive that many new cards from the dealer. (Typically, all cards of non-trump suits are discarded this way.) In some variants, players play with the hands they were dealt without discarding and receiving new cards; in this case, trump is determined by the first card played by the making player.

Beginning with the making player and proceeding clockwise, players then play one card from their hand. Each pass around the table is called a "trick." The first player to play in a trick is called the "trick leader." The trick leader may play any card from his or her hand. Players following the trick leader must play according to the following rules:

1. A card of the trump suit may always be played.

2. If a player can not or will not play a card of the trump suit, a card of the same suit as the card played by the trick leader must be played if possible.

3. If a player can not or will not play a card of the trump suit and can not play a card of the same suit as the card played by the trick leader, then any card may be played.

After each player has played a card, then the player who played the highest ranking card of the trump suit wins the trick. If no cards of the trump suit were played, then the player who played the highest ranking card that shares the suit of the card played by the trick leader wins the trick. That player collects all cards played that trick into his or her scoring pile and becomes the trick leader for the next trick.