Euchre
Euchre is a fast partnership trick-taking card game. This version uses the common 24-card North American deck: 9, 10, J, Q, K, and A in each suit.
How to Play Euchre
- Four players sit in two partnerships. You and your partner play against the two opponents.
- Each player gets five cards. One suit becomes trump for the hand.
- Starting left of the dealer, players may order up the turned suit. If everyone passes, they get a second round to call any other suit.
- When the turned suit is ordered up, the dealer takes the upcard and discards back to five cards. The dealer rotates after every hand.
- The jack of trump is the right bower and highest card. The same-color jack is the left bower and counts as trump.
- Players must follow the led suit if they can. If they cannot, they may play any card.
- A caller may go alone, which sits out their partner. A lone sweep scores 4 points; a normal sweep scores 2.
- The makers score 1 point for taking 3 or 4 tricks, and the defenders score 2 if they euchre the makers.
This table uses the common “stick the dealer” house rule: after seven passes, the dealer must name a legal suit instead of redealing.
Euchre Strategy
Trump strength matters more than raw high-card strength. Right bower, left bower, and trump ace can win a hand quickly, while off-suit aces are strongest when you can lead them before trump drains the suit.