📌 Quick Info
- Name of the Game: Euchre
- Number of Players: 4 (2 teams of 2)
- Deck: 24 cards (9 through Ace in each suit)
🎯 Objective
To be the first team to reach 10 points by winning tricks and successfully playing the trump suit chosen during bidding.
🛠️ What You Need
- A 24-card deck (9, 10, J, Q, K, A of each suit)
- Score sheet or scoring app
- 4 players sitting in fixed partnerships (partners sit opposite each other)
🔄 How to Play – Step by Step
▶️ 1. Deal
- Each player is dealt 5 cards (in 2s and 3s).
- The remaining 4 cards form the kitty; the top card is turned face-up.
▶️ 2. Bidding (Calling Trump)
- Starting left of the dealer, players may “order up” the top card’s suit as trump or pass.
- If ordered up, the dealer picks up the face-up card and discards one.
- If all pass, a second round of bidding starts — players may name a new trump suit.
- If everyone passes again, the hand is void and redealt by the next dealer.
▶️ 3. Trump Hierarchy – The Bowers
- Right Bower: The Jack of the trump suit is the highest card in the game.
- Left Bower: The Jack of the same color (but different suit) is the second-highest trump.
- Example: If ♥ is trump → J♥ (Right Bower), J♦ (Left Bower)
▶️ 4. Playing Tricks
- Player left of the dealer leads the first trick.
- Players must follow suit if possible. Otherwise, play any card.
- Highest card in the lead suit wins the trick unless trump is played.
- Trump beats all other suits. Right and Left Bowers are the top trumps.
- Winner of the trick leads the next one.
📜 Scoring
- Team wins 3 or 4 tricks: 1 point
- Team wins all 5 tricks: 2 points
- Loner (player goes alone) wins 3–4 tricks: 1 point
- Loner wins all 5 tricks: 4 points
- If calling team fails (gets less than 3 tricks): Opponents score 2 points (“Euchred”)
🧠 Strategy Tips
- Pass weak hands — you don’t have to call trump if your hand is bad.
- Try to remember which trump cards have been played, especially the bowers.
- Protect your partner if they go alone — avoid leading strong suits they might not have.
- If your team calls trump, lead with low off-suits to force high cards from opponents.
🧪 Example Play
- You are dealt: J♣, A♣, 10♠, 9♥, Q♦
- Upcard is K♣ → You “order up” clubs as trump
- You know J♣ is Right Bower and strong — you can likely win 3+ tricks
- Partner discards and play begins
- You and partner win 4 tricks → Score 1 point
📚 History & Origin
- Derived from 18th-century German game “Juckerspiel.”
- Popularized in the U.S. and Canada in the 19th century — led to the invention of the Joker card.
- Still widely played in the Midwest, Canada, and online platforms today.