How to Play Euchre
Euchre is a fast card game for four players. Two players per team. Partners sit across from each other. The goal is to win tricks and be the first team to reach 10 points.
Euchre requires a regular deck of cards but only 9 and up are used. The rest of the deck is not used for play. Score is kept using all the 5’s or some prefer using the 4’s and 6’s. By revealing a mark for each point scored.
The Deal and Bid
Each player gets five cards. The dealer gives the cards in groups of two or three. The rest of the deck stays in the middle. The top card is turned face up. This card helps set the trump suit.
The suit of the face-up card can become trump if anyone “orders it up”. Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, each player can choose to order it up or pass. To order it up means to make that suit trump. Only the dealer picks up the card showing and gets to discards one card.
If all players pass, the dealer can turn the card down. Then, each player can name a different suit as trump. If all pass again, the cards are all thrown in and the dealer deals a new hand.
The Play
The player to the left of the dealer leads the first trick. Each player must follow suit if able. The highest card in the suit led wins the trick unless a trump is played. A trump card beats all cards of other suits.
In Euchre, the two top trump cards are the “bowers.” The right bower is the jack of trump. The left bower is the jack of the same color as trump. For example, if hearts are trump, the jack of hearts is the right bower and the jack of diamonds is the left bower.
- Right bower (Jack of suit called)
- Left bower (same color jack of suit called)
- Ace
- King
- Oueen
- 10
- 9
The team that named trump must win at least three tricks to score. Three or four tricks earn one point. Winning all five tricks earns two points. If the other team wins three or more tricks, the calling team is set. The set team gets no points while the other team is awarded two points.
Play continues until one team reaches the ten points. Euchre mixes luck and skill. A good player reads the cards, trusts the partner, and knows when to take a risk.
Other Rules
Players can also “go alone.” This means one player tries to win all five tricks without help from a partner. If successful, the lone player’s team earns four points.
Otherwise the same scoring rules apple : if three or four tricks are taken only one point is scored. If the other team takes three tricks they earn two points.
An optional rule is if a player’s hand is entirely 9’s and 10’s they can throw in that hand and redeal. .
In cases of experienced players, you don’t always have to play out the last few tricks. For example, you can lay down an unbeatable hand such as right bower, left bower, ace, queen, 9. But the other team always has the option to “play it out”.
Strategy
A general rule of thumb is calling next when a dealer passes on whatever card is showing. For example, if the dealer turns down a king of spades, a good call for the opposing team is clubs.
The opposite is also true for the dealing team. If the dealer turned down the king of spades, a good call for their partner is hearts or diamonds.
This strategy isn’t a guarantee. It assumes you have at least a decent hand to call. However, anytime the card showing is turned down, it’s a good indication of the which team is stronger in which suit, red or black.
Another strategy is calling alone when you’re sure to get 1 point. For example, right bower, left bower, queen, with an ace and 9 for off suit may be worth calling for inexperienced players. Yet, experienced players see that as an alone call.
Summary
Euchre is quick, lively, and full of turns. With practice, the rhythm of the game feels natural. It brings friendly rivalry and laughter to the table.
How to Play Eucre brought to you by: David M.
I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.
