From the source rules

Who goes first in Pitch?

Bicycle Cards rules, standard 52-card pack (English)

The player on the dealer’s left bids first. The highest bidder, called the pitcher, leads the first card, and its suit becomes trump.

Source & edition

  • Pitch — How to PlayBicycle Cards (The United States Playing Card Company) · "The Deal", "The Bidding" and "The Play" sections · Checked 2026-10-01
All 16 Bicycle Cards (The United States Playing Card Company) starting rules

Rule details

After each hand, the deal passes to the left.

The dealer may take the contract at the highest preceding bid.

If there’s a tie

The rulebook doesn’t say.

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More starting rules about the player on the dealer’s left
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