How to Play Euchre

Underrated Card Game?


Euchre is one of my favourite card games of all time.  Yes, most men would say their favourite is, of course Texas Hold'em which I enjoy too.  Euchre is sometimes seen as a "old person" game just like Bridge or Cribbage but they are all great games especially with groups.  Euchre is fast paced and involves a lot of strategy.







Euchre requires four people that are divided into two teams, team members sit opposite each other.  The only cards from the deck that are used are from 9 to Ace.  The most important cards out of the ones in play are the Jacks.  For each round a specific suit is chosen and it doesn't have to be different each time.  The Jack of the suit chosen becomes the most valuable card which is called the right bower.  The jack that shares the same colour as the chosen suit becomes the second most valuable card, called the left bower.  The suit chosen is called the trump.  Any card from the trump suit becomes more valuable then any card of any other suit.  So, the nine of the trump suit can beat the other three aces.

Here's what the ranking of the cards looks like, lets pick Hearts as Trump

Jack of Hearts (Right Bower)
Jack of Diamonds (Left Bower)
Ace of Hearts
King of Hearts
Queen of Hearts
10 of Hearts
9 of Hearts

At this point the left bower is considered as a trump (Hearts) card and must be played as such.






Starting Play

Five cards are dealt to each of the four players.  The remaining cards are put aside with the first card on the pile turned face up.  Everyone at this point can look at their hands.  The player to the dealers left has the opportunity to take the exposed card or pass.  If he takes the card, that suit is now trump if he passes it goes around the table with everyone getting the same opportunity, lastly the dealer.  If the dealer passes the card is turned face down and then the play continues until someone calls the suit.  If no one calls the suit, the hand is re-dealt.

First Round of Play

The player to the left of the dealer can lead with whatever card they want.  Whichever suit that card is, everyone must follow suit.  If spades is lead everyone must play a spade.  If a player does not have a spade they can play any other card even trump.  The only card that will beat the lead suit is higher card of the same suit or any trump.  Remember its played with partners.  If your partner is currently winning the trick you want to throw out a low non trump card if you can.

Continuing Play

Strategy really starts coming into play now.  The person that won the last trick leads first.  Lets say the player that leads plays a trump card.  Everyone now must play a trump card as well even if the player plays the right bower.  All player have to follow suit.  This is one way for players to suck out the trump cards from everyone's hands.  After that its a good idea for the winning player to start playing the highest cards possible of any suit, knowing, hopefully that there is no more trump left.

Scoring

When all five tricks are over the scores are determined.  The team with the most tricks gets 1 point.  If a team gets all tricks they get 2 points.  If  the team that called the suit gets less tricks, essentially losing, the winning team gets 2 points.  If the team that called the suit get zero tricks, getting euchred, the opposing team get 3 points.  First team to 10 points wins.

Going Alone

Going alone is a risky strategy.  But it can pay off with more points for the team.  If a player names a suit or picks up the exposed card he can declare that he is "going alone".  At this point the players partner does not participate in this deal.  Also, if a player orders the dealer to pick up the exposed card thus making it trump, this is also a declaration that he is going alone.  The player must have an excellent hand to successfully go alone and win.  The points awarded for going alone are as follows:

Lone player wins all tricks - 4 points
Lone player wins 3 out of 5 - 2 points
Team wins more than lone player - 2 points
Team wins all 5 tricks from lone player - 4 points

Other Rules

- no table talk.  Trying to tell your partner what cards you have.  Leads to a re-deal.
- if one person has: no face cards, no aces, and no trump cards. "No face, no ace, no trump."        Leads to a re-deal
- reneging.  If a player fails to follow suit when they could have.  Leads to a re-deal.

Many House Rules exist but the ones above are universal.

It will take a few hands to really get in the groove of playing since there is much to remember and lots of strategy involved but you will see that it is a great game to play when when you have four good players.