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Because each hand in Pitch is very quick and offers the player relatively few choices it can seem as if there is little skill in the game. It can also seem like the Earth is flat, and in both assumptions you’d be wrong. The skill in Pitch is subtle and only manifests itself over a large number of hands. This observation leads us to our first rule.
Sometimes the cards are overwhelming and in these circumstances it’s best not to fret too much. There will be another hand in the time it takes to play six cards. The opposite is also true -- often no one has a decent hand. This leads to our second rule.
(With “Always” being defined as usually )
Since most of the deck is not in play, you can easily win a two bid on a lone Ace and sometimes on a lone Ten of Trump. Bidding two is almost always a decent bet. More importantly it can force your opponent, who might have a decent hand, to bid the much riskier three bid.
In the standard game, you are playing with a partner. Take this into account when bidding.
Unless you’re desperate, of course. Or crazy.
When you bid last, you have more information about everyone’s hands than they did when they bid. Leverage this advantage by betting more aggressively (if appropriate) when you are the last to bid.