Euchre

Euchre is a plain trick taking games that works equally well with two, three or four players in two fixed-partnerships. Euchre is an extremely popular card game that has attracted something of a cult following among its avid devotees This can be attributed to its apparent simplicity which actually belies a rich and engaging opportunity for strategy.

Played widely in Australia, Great Britain, America and Canada, the game of Euchre has a number of variations. Such variations concern such things as whether the Joker is included in play or whether or not there is a call of "No Trumps", but do not alter the basic mechanics of the game. The version we will explain here is a fairly standard form of the game from which any other variations can be readily understood and incorporated into play. For anyone who is already versed in the game, it is recommended that you check out the Ten Commandments of Euchre and other useful information available at EucherLinks.com in order to refine your gamesmanship.

As it is explained here, Euchre is a game for four players in two fixed partnerships, with 32 cards and no Joker. If you are looking for a version in which "Benny" plays a cameo, try British Euchre at the Card Games Website.

The Cards

Shorten the pack to 7 and Up giving you a total of 32 cards. Cards rank Ace down through 7 except for the Trump suit, where the Jacks are elevated to the position of Bowers and rank above the Ace.

So, in the trump suit cards rank J, J*, A, K, Q, 10, 9, 8, 7 – where “J*” is the other Jack of the same colour.
In the other plain suits the cards rank as usual A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7.

Right and Left Bowers

In Euchre, the Jacks occupy and important position in play. When a trump suit is called, say for example Spades, the Jack of Spades now becomes the Right Bower and ranks above the Ace as the highest card. The Jack the same colour, in this case the Jack of Clubs is also recruited as a Spade and is called the Left Bower, ranking but one below the Right Bower and above the Ace. Thus, if the trump suit is black, either Clubs or Spades, the two black Jacks rise to the top while the two red Jacks rank as usual within their respective suits between Q and 10. On the other hand, if the trump suit is red, either Hearts or Diamonds, then the two red Jack ascend to supremacy but the two black Jacks ranks as usual below the Queen in their respective suits.

It is important to remember that the Left Bower is in all respects a member of the Trump suit. This is important as in Euchre it is vital that you follow suit to the card led. Therefore, if Spades are trumps, and a player leads the Jack of Clubs, all subsequent players must follow suit with a Spade if they have one. Similarly, if you hold the Jack of Clubs, and a Spade is led, and you have no other Spades, you must play the Left Bower. This is important because reneging carries stiff penalties in Euchre as following suit to the card led is integral to play.

Objective

The objective of the game is to win 3 or more of 5 tricks.

The Deal

Deal and play are clockwise and the deal proceeds to the left after each hand. Five cards are dealt to each player in batches of two and three, with the next card turned face up and placed on top of the deck. Starting left of the dealer, the each player in turn may either reject the card by saying “pass” or order it up by saying “Pick it up!” If a player orders it up, this suit now becomes trumps. The Dealer picks up the card, discards one of his own face down and play begins.

If all players pass, the Dealer can either pick it up, which make the suit trumps and play begins, or turn it down.

If the dealer turns it down, then beginning with the player to the dealer’s left, each player takes it in turn to “pass” or “call”. A player may call any suit Trumps but not the suit that was turned down. For example, if the 10 of Diamonds were turned down, you can call it anything but Diamonds.

Once a player calls a suit, that suit is made Trumps and play begins. The team or player calling trumps are called the 'Makers' and the opposing side are called the 'Defenders'.

If all players pass, including the dealer, then the cards are thrown in and the deal proceeds left to the next player.

The Play

Once trumps is made, play begins. The player to the Dealer’s left leads first, and thereafter, whoever wins the trick leads to the next.

Rules

Players must follow suit to the Card led.
If you can't follow suit, you can play any card.
The Trick is won by the highest Trump played to it. If no Trumps are played, the Trick is won by the highest card of the suit led.

Following suit is integral to the game of Euchre. This is the way you bleed your opposition of any trumps or catch people in an off suit.

The team who wins 3 or more Tricks scores points.

Scoring for Euchre
1 for a Call	Your team calls, Your team wins 3 or more Tricks.
2 for a Euchre	The Other team calls, and Your team wins 3 or more Tricks.
2 for a March	Your team calls, Your team wins all 5 tricks.
First Team to 11 wins the Game

Scoring

Scoring is the same for 2-player Euchre. Traditionally, players use the unused 5's and 6's to keep score.

Euchre for Two Players

Euchre works just as well for two players. In such a case, however, it is best to shorten the deck to 10 and up, giving you a total of 20 cards. The non-dealer leads first, and thereafter whoever wins the trick leads to the next.

Cut Throat – Three Player Euchre

In this variation, each player plays for themselves. At each hand the two Defenders gang up together and play it out against the Maker. Points are won by the Maker or shared equally between the two Defenders.

Scoring for Cut-Throat
2 for a Call	You call, You win 3 or more Tricks.
1 each for a Euchre	You call, and the Other two win 3 or more Tricks between them.
2 for a March	You call and You win all 5 Tricks
First One to 11 wins the Game